H20:Source2Seas

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H2O will create new LoCaM & SEARCHRECORD GIS tools. It will implement evidence based Nature based Solutions (NbS)  which will reduce public money spent on managing water issues. It will include a valuation of natural capital (NCV) which currently is novel & not adapted for lowland areas. Flooding costs EUR 1bn in UK & 400m in France annually. By adapting the way of managing flood & drought risks we will introduce a potential cost saving of up to 90% & improve water quality, reducing  nutrients, pollution, & sediment by 15% in pilot areas (Rivers Stour, Authie).   Flooding affects local communities & businesses as rapid water run-off increases pollutants (phosphates, agro-chemicals) & sediments in rivers; drought damages ecosystems & quality of rivers, transitional & coastal (TRAC) waters by concentrating pollutants. Pollutants also affect coastal fish spawning grounds (e.g. mackerel) & quality of tourist beaches. Currently NbS are implemented based on best judgement, rather than scientific data.   Water management is publicly funded & requires expensive hard structures. The project will implement natural flood management (NFM) through tree & hedge planting, creation of leaky dams (WPT1) & natural drought management (NDM) techniques, e.g scrapes & channels (WPT2). These implementations will be chosen by mapping & ground analysis to maximise efficiency.   H2O  implementation is in 4 stages: Evidence based mapping: Create LoCaM tool and map FR and UK River Catchments selecting 4 test areas (2 UK, 2 FR ) for NFM and 2 test areas (1 x Uk, 1xFR) for NDM (WPT1 and WP T2) Land intervention models: Implementation of NbS measures in selected test areas (WP T1 and WP T2) Monitor and Measure results through a) use of water quality technology b) general public monitoring programme (WP T1) (new: SEARCHRECORD to log results) c) valuation of natural capital benefits (WP T3). Evaluation: a) partners and beneficiaries NCV trained (WPT3) demonstrate value of NbS  b) reduced cost to implement NbS versus current approaches c) improved water quality  UK & FR environmental agencies recognise the benefit of a new approach with NbS and agree that NCV in managing water is beneficial. Active contributors (inc. National Agencies, local councils, business, University & NGOs), will bring additional expertise. Pilot areas offer a full range of lowland habitat types & land use. FR experience in environmental communication (PP3) and ecosystem management (PP2); UK experience in ecosystem & water management (PP1), water management & public policy engagement (PP4) will enable the partnership to implement pilots and roll out LoCaM.

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