Ousewem
Are you ready to embark on a journey towards a more flood-resilient future? With Ousewem we are bringing innovative solutions to flood and water environment management to North Yorkshire’s Swale, Ure, Nidd and Ouse (SUNO) catchments.
Join us as we explore the potential of nature-based solutions (NbS), natural flood management (NFM) and land management changes, taking an integrated catchment-scale, long-term approach to safeguarding our North Yorkshire communities.
Our vision:
Unlocking flood resilience: Ousewem takes a holistic view of flood resilience, harnessing the power of nature to improve the resilience of our communities from the ever-present threat of flooding. Through innovative modelling, we delve into the benefits of land management adjustments and NFM measures.
Nature solutions in action: Working hand-in-hand with our partners, we actively implement NbS and NFM solutions within the catchment.
Our engagement efforts extend throughout the catchment, upstream to downstream, ensuring that affected communities’ voices are heard. We are not just talking about change; we are making it happen.
Climate change mitigation: Our ambitious project spans the Yorkshire Swale, Ure, Nidd and Ouse (SUNO) catchments, focusing on reducing climate change impacts across York and smaller communities in North Yorkshire. By investing in NbS and NFM measures, we bolster community resilience and bring innovation to the forefront.
Community empowerment: Ousewem is committed to building partnerships and community capacity. We want everyone to understand how water connects us all. Together, we will explore sustainable financing models, ensuring a lasting legacy of NbS and NFM investment opportunities.
Our innovation approach:
Understanding risk: We explore the impact of land management changes on the downstream flood risk.
Slowing the flow: Our projects demonstrate how water can be managed effectively to mitigate flooding.
Community engagement: We connect communities through water, increasing awareness and collaboration.
Capacity building: We are fostering a legacy of “natural flood management” work within the catchment.
Our project will:
Improve understanding: Enhance our comprehension of land management’s role in SUNO catchment flood risk and dynamic catchment modelling.
Boost resilience: Deliver NbS and NFM measures that fortify at-risk North Yorkshire communities against flooding.
Engage communities: Heighten community engagement and awareness of the link between land use and flood risk.
Provide evidence: Offer new evidence of the effectiveness of various NbS and NFM actions to inform policymakers.
Strengthen capacity: Increase NbS and NFM delivery capacity within the catchment, ensuring a sustainable future.
Why invest in NbS and NFM measures?
Community Resilience: NbS and NFM measures directly reduce flood-related damage and disruptions in vulnerable North Yorkshire communities. We aim to safeguard vital services and enhance the region’s resilience.
Environmental benefits: Beyond improving flood resilience, our efforts benefit the environment, supporting North Yorkshire’s thriving tourist industry. Nature is our ally, and we are harnessing its potential.
Innovative Modelling: Cutting-edge modelling and design guides local land management decisions, optimising benefits and informing national practices for the future.
Policy advancements: Through our project learning, we are actively shaping flood and agrienvironment funding policies, leading to more informed decision-making.
A lasting legacy: Ultimately, Ousewem will deliver an NFM strategy and legacy of NbS tools, partnerships, projects and investment opportunities collectively able to deliver improved flood resilience to communities throughout North Yorkshire, York and beyond.
Join Ousewem on this exciting journey towards a flood-resilient tomorrow. Together, we will safeguard our environment and communities.
How you can get involved
To find out more, please email us at ousewem@york.gov.uk.
Testing innovation
As part of the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation programme we are testing 2 resilience actions and 1 policy challenge
- Nature-based solutions
- Integrated water management solutions
- Balancing agricultural, flood and environmental priorities in low-lying agricultural land.
Visit the programme evaluation page to find out more.
Our partners
The project is led by City of York Council in close collaboration with North Yorkshire Council alongside our delivery partners JBA, Natural England, Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust and the University of York.
We also work with a wide range of catchment partners including the Environment Agency, Dales to Vales Rivers Network, ICASP, NFM Practitioners, Nidderdale National Landscape, St Nicks, Yorkshire Peat Partnership, White Rose Forest, Woodlands Trust, WY FLIP, YRFCC, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, Yorkshire Dales National Park, Yorkshire Water, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and many more.
What else would you like to know about our project?
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