Floodplain agricultural systems: functionality, heritage and conservation

Floodplain infrastructural features reduce flood risk and have the potential to enhance habitat, biodiversity, water quality and provide societal benefits. Man-made water management systems common in southern England are both flood tolerant and form part of the functional floodplain. Historic floodplain features should be incorporated into agri-environmental policy, as climate change and increasing climate variability makes flood detention areas ever more desirable. Of major importance are floodplain meadows, grazing marshes, water meadows and riparian vegetation, and there is a trend to restore river channels to more natural conditions. This paper describes the operation of historic floodplain water management systems and considers the features associated with canals and mills. The major themes in achieving conservation and restoration goals are presented, and it is demonstrated that a refinement of policies on the ground is required.