Flood Hydrology Improvements Programme

Welcome!

We are a cross-cutting initiative taking on some of the biggest challenges in flood hydrology across the UK.

Working in collaboration with teams across the Environment Agency and the other UK nations, we are delivering projects that will modernise our approach to hydrological modelling. This includes supporting and promoting our hydrological data, expanding and refining the range of hydrological methods we use, and enhancing the way we work.

We are an enabling programme, and our projects will lay the foundations for future change in both technical and business processes. 

Background - why is FHIP needed?

Flood hydrology underpins all flood risk management decisions. It is the foundation of all the mapping and modelling used to inform forecasts and warnings, assess, maintain and operate assets, underpin capital investments, give planning advice and regulation enforcement, and produce and share national flood risk products.

We’re on a mission to improve the way we analyse flood hydrology to effectively manage flood risk considering our changing climate and bring the latest science into operation.

Programme objectives

  • Deliver a set of targeted improvements to flood hydrology ways of working, methods and data that underpin our flood models, laying the foundations for giving us greater confidence in creating climate resilient places.  
  • Set out a framework for the next generation of national hydrological methods and models, which will allow us to understand the impacts of climate change and work towards integrating all sources of flood risk to provide a holistic picture of flood risk.
  • Work with all users and practitioners of hydrology within the Environment Agency to bring all aspects of the modelling chain closer together.
  • Take a leadership role in implementing the UK Hydrology Roadmap, creating and working with the UK hydrology community so that scientific and technological developments continually improve operational approaches.  

Benefits

We are implementing some actions from the UK Flood Hydrology Roadmap, and contributing to the FCERM Strategy, EA 2025 and the 25Year Environment Plan. Our work will have multiple benefits, including:

  • Improved use of resources – New tools and streamlined ways of working means we can use our existing people or money more efficiently or effectively, freeing up time or money for other activities.     
  • Increased confidence in outputs/evidence - Our flood risk evidence is more robust as it is based on the latest hydrological methods and data, supporting more effective FCRM decisions.   
  • Increased reputation - We are trusted as an international front-runner in operational hydrology, increasing opportunities for collaboration and decreasing challenges. 
  • Increased staff wellbeing - Staff are valued and supported with hydrology skills and experience in the right roles, clear processes, and reliable assurance. 
  • Decreased flood risk - More effective FCRM decisions means that we can target investment more effectively and make more climate resilient communities. 

Timeline

Time line showing phase 1 (programme design and evidence building) taking place in years 1 to 2, Phase 2 (Strengthening foundations) taking place from years 2 to 5, and Phase 3 (Embedding new methods and practices, including operational change) taking place in Years 5 and 6

Our Team

The Programme Management team includes the Programme Executive - Selena Peters, Programme Manager - Caroline Brannon, Lead Hydrologist - Anita Asadullah, and Communications and Engagement Specialist - Sarah Bazley.

Each project has a dedicated Project Manager, Lead Hydrologist and Senior User. You can find out who they are on each project page.

10 members of the Flood Hydrology Improvements team standing in line for a photo.

Get in contact...

  • Are you working on projects which share the same objectives as ours?
  • Are you keen to use our outputs?
  • Would you like to us to talk to your team, organisation or at a conference to spread the word about our programme and the UK Hydrology Roadmap.

Email: FHIP@environment-agency.gov.uk

Welcome!

We are a cross-cutting initiative taking on some of the biggest challenges in flood hydrology across the UK.

Working in collaboration with teams across the Environment Agency and the other UK nations, we are delivering projects that will modernise our approach to hydrological modelling. This includes supporting and promoting our hydrological data, expanding and refining the range of hydrological methods we use, and enhancing the way we work.

We are an enabling programme, and our projects will lay the foundations for future change in both technical and business processes. 

Background - why is FHIP needed?

Flood hydrology underpins all flood risk management decisions. It is the foundation of all the mapping and modelling used to inform forecasts and warnings, assess, maintain and operate assets, underpin capital investments, give planning advice and regulation enforcement, and produce and share national flood risk products.

We’re on a mission to improve the way we analyse flood hydrology to effectively manage flood risk considering our changing climate and bring the latest science into operation.

Programme objectives

  • Deliver a set of targeted improvements to flood hydrology ways of working, methods and data that underpin our flood models, laying the foundations for giving us greater confidence in creating climate resilient places.  
  • Set out a framework for the next generation of national hydrological methods and models, which will allow us to understand the impacts of climate change and work towards integrating all sources of flood risk to provide a holistic picture of flood risk.
  • Work with all users and practitioners of hydrology within the Environment Agency to bring all aspects of the modelling chain closer together.
  • Take a leadership role in implementing the UK Hydrology Roadmap, creating and working with the UK hydrology community so that scientific and technological developments continually improve operational approaches.  

Benefits

We are implementing some actions from the UK Flood Hydrology Roadmap, and contributing to the FCERM Strategy, EA 2025 and the 25Year Environment Plan. Our work will have multiple benefits, including:

  • Improved use of resources – New tools and streamlined ways of working means we can use our existing people or money more efficiently or effectively, freeing up time or money for other activities.     
  • Increased confidence in outputs/evidence - Our flood risk evidence is more robust as it is based on the latest hydrological methods and data, supporting more effective FCRM decisions.   
  • Increased reputation - We are trusted as an international front-runner in operational hydrology, increasing opportunities for collaboration and decreasing challenges. 
  • Increased staff wellbeing - Staff are valued and supported with hydrology skills and experience in the right roles, clear processes, and reliable assurance. 
  • Decreased flood risk - More effective FCRM decisions means that we can target investment more effectively and make more climate resilient communities. 

Timeline

Time line showing phase 1 (programme design and evidence building) taking place in years 1 to 2, Phase 2 (Strengthening foundations) taking place from years 2 to 5, and Phase 3 (Embedding new methods and practices, including operational change) taking place in Years 5 and 6

Our Team

The Programme Management team includes the Programme Executive - Selena Peters, Programme Manager - Caroline Brannon, Lead Hydrologist - Anita Asadullah, and Communications and Engagement Specialist - Sarah Bazley.

Each project has a dedicated Project Manager, Lead Hydrologist and Senior User. You can find out who they are on each project page.

10 members of the Flood Hydrology Improvements team standing in line for a photo.

Get in contact...

  • Are you working on projects which share the same objectives as ours?
  • Are you keen to use our outputs?
  • Would you like to us to talk to your team, organisation or at a conference to spread the word about our programme and the UK Hydrology Roadmap.

Email: FHIP@environment-agency.gov.uk

  • FHIP will be presenting at EGU 2025

    Anita Asadullah (Lead Hydrologist) and Chris Skinner (Senior Hydrologist) will be presenting at this years European Geoscience Union General Assembly - Europe's largest gathering of geoscientists.

    Find out how to join them: Flood Hydrology Improvements Programme at EGU



    Anita Asadullah (Lead Hydrologist) and Chris Skinner (Senior Hydrologist) will be presenting at this years European Geoscience Union General Assembly - Europe's largest gathering of geoscientists.

    Find out how to join them: Flood Hydrology Improvements Programme at EGU



  • FHIP & UK Hydrology Roadmap used as a case study in FCERM research outcomes & impact collection

    We're really pleased to be included as a case study helping to highlight how research is being used to improve flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) by connecting people who have operational problems with researchers who have solutions.

    You can read the case study using this link: Flood Hydrology Roadmap - Case study - GOV.UK


    We're really pleased to be included as a case study helping to highlight how research is being used to improve flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) by connecting people who have operational problems with researchers who have solutions.

    You can read the case study using this link: Flood Hydrology Roadmap - Case study - GOV.UK


  • FHIP features in the latest issue of the Flood Industry Magazine

    supporting image

    Check out the feature about FHIP in the latest issue of the Flood Industry Magazine (page 24) - followed by an article on the Flood Hydrology Roadmap (page 25)

    You can read the article using this link: Flood Industry Issue 5

    Quote from the Flood Magazine Editors: "... we're also delving into the engine room of our industry with a look at the Flood Hydrology Improvements Programme (FHIP). This vital work behind the scenes is all about making sure our understanding of flood risk is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. It’s the science that underpins everything we do, so

    Check out the feature about FHIP in the latest issue of the Flood Industry Magazine (page 24) - followed by an article on the Flood Hydrology Roadmap (page 25)

    You can read the article using this link: Flood Industry Issue 5

    Quote from the Flood Magazine Editors: "... we're also delving into the engine room of our industry with a look at the Flood Hydrology Improvements Programme (FHIP). This vital work behind the scenes is all about making sure our understanding of flood risk is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. It’s the science that underpins everything we do, so these advancements are crucial".



Page last updated: 08 Aug 2025, 11:34 AM