A catchment systems engineering approach to managing runoff in rural catchments

After many parts of the UK suffered record January rainfall resulting in flooding, it is clear flooding is a problem which is here to stay. Intense farming plays a key role in increasing local scale runoff and erosion rates, resulting in water quality issues and flooding problems. There is potential for agricultural management to become a major part of improved strategies for controlling runoff. In catchments across N. England and Scotland, a Catchment Systems Engineering (CSE) approach has been explored to solve the above problem.