Flood Protection and Drainage of the East and West Fens Engineering and Economics

Abstract

A large number of options were identified to reduce flood risk and improve drainage in the East and West Fens. Selection between these options was by a three-stage process involving increasing detail. The first stage used criteria of comparative costs or practicality and the second stage involved backwater analyses to give a sound basis for comparing costs of channel improvements and options requiring pumping. The last stage covered 9 alternative projects for the lowland system and a range of options for the catchwater system, each of which was designed using an unsteady state numerical model to give common standards of flood protection and drainage. Final project selection was made on grounds of cost.