Three Powys projects have been awarded nearly half a million pounds of Welsh government funding to reduce flood risks across Wales.
Three local projects will get a share of £4.6 million as part of the new Natural Flood Management Accelerator Programme which is hoped will create natural flood defences which the Welsh government said was “critical to protecting and enhancing our environment, homes, and communities”.
The Nant Abel and Afon Cain NFM Scheme has received £200,000 for an extension to work completed under the Sustainable Management Scheme. This will include “a wide range of measures proposed, including leaky barriers, tree planting, hedgerows and wetland” around the Cain, a tributary of the Vyrnwy.
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A project led by SoiL (Solving Intractable Land-use issues) and the Wye and Usk Foundation has also received £191,728 for “a range of interventions” proposed in the Onnau Fach and Upper River Usk catchments including planting woodland, attenuation and cross slope hedgerow.
The Catchment Scale Leaky Woody Debris Scheme has been awarded £85,000 to trial “low risk, low cost leaky wooden structure interventions” in eight sites across Powys.
The new funding will pay for 23 projects across eight different Risk Management Authorities across Wales and is expected to reduce flood risk for around 2,000 properties.
Climate Change Minister Julie James said: “As Wales contends with the growing impacts of climate change and the devastation flooding can inflict, the need to reduce risk to communities now and into the future is more apparent.
“Developing and delivering wider nature-based sustainable solutions to reduce flood risk is critical to protecting and enhancing our environment, homes, and communities."
Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, Lesley Griffiths, added: “With the support of farmers, foresters, land managers and food businesses we can develop the rural economy and our natural environment in a sustainable way.
“This will further enhance our knowledge and experience in delivering co-ordinated collaborative projects within known flood prone areas. Through continued delivery and knowledge gained from schemes like this, we are also reducing instances of pollution, reducing surface water runoff and encouraging new methods to adapting to a changing climate.
“We all recognise the need to be more collaborative in our thinking whilst exploring and encouraging new ways of working that will deliver at pace and scale. This investment will allow Risk Management Authorities and local communities to lead on projects and reduce the risk of flooding within their area."
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