Powys has received nearly £700,000 to help build natural flood defences across the county.
Powys County Council secured £676,728 from the Welsh Government’s Natural Flood Management Accelerator Programme.
The two-year programme aims to deliver “nature-based flood management solutions” in flood risk areas, and follows the work already carried out under the previous Natural Flood Management programme which has taken place over the last three years.
Among them are various projects to install "leaky wooden dams", which help hold back water upstream.
Councillor Jackie Charlton, cabinet member for a greener Powys, said: “We are all aware of the devastating effects of flooding, and are looking forward to working collaboratively with partners and communities to find practical, sustainable, nature-based solutions to reduce the flood risk across Powys.
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“The Natural Flood Management work, whilst providing benefit in flood risk management terms, also supports wider environmental enhancements through the introduction of new and improved wildlife habitats and more sustainable land management practices in our rural areas.”
The funding will be used across four different schemes.
The Upper Teme received £200,000 to work with landowners on defences including “leaky woody dams", "scrapes, bunds and ponds", planting of cross-slope hedges and trees and the introduction of "riparian woodland”.
This is aimed at reducing flood risk in the catchment, with a primary focus on Knighton.
The SiOL (Solving Intractable Land-use issues) project which is led by the Wye and Usk Foundation (WUF) will be working in two areas received £191,728. In their Onnau Fach (Llangattock) project the WUF will work with the local Community Flood Group to look at installation of various flood defences measures.
The Upper Usk will see landowners in the Nant Bran and Ysgir tributaries joining a study exercise which will “influence what natural flood management interventions could be introduced in the future”, along with informing landowners what Sustainable Farming Scheme options they could apply for.
The Nant Abel and Afon Cain Natural Flood Management scheme was awarded £200,000 to implement a “wide range of measures planned to include leaky barriers, tree planting, hedgerows and wetland” to protect the area around Llanfyllin and Llanfechain.
Tirweddau Cymru Landscapes Wales have also been given £85,000 to build leaky woody dams. The scheme will work with landowners to trial low-risk, low-cost leaky wooden structure interventions at various sites in Powys, subject to community agreement.
The council has said the aim of this project is “to boost skills and awareness around natural flood management installation for the communities in those areas”.
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