Invergowrie residents have been asked to provide their views on the findings of a flood defence survey in their area.
The council’s Natural Flood Management (NFM) study aims to improve understanding of flood risks to homes and businesses in and around the village.
Carried out by consulting engineers Sweco the study also explored the potential natural flood management options available to manage, and where possible, reduce the identified risk.
The study highlighted that its projections were based on a one in 200 year flood (the flood with a 0.5 per cent chance of occurring in any given year) with particular focus on Invergowrie Burn, Fowlis Burn and Lochee Burn.
The village has experienced severe flooding in the past from the Invergowrie Burn and other small watercourses.
In August 2004 the Invergowrie Burn overflowed, affecting properties on Main Street, Burnside Road, Balruddery Farm and the road at Boniface Road and Boniface Place.
In January 2011 the burn overflowed, affecting roads and a residential property and the most recent flood was recorded in January 2016 when one residential property flooded.
Under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, Invergowrie was designated as a Potentially Vulnerable Area within the Tay Estuary and Montrose Basin Local Plan District.
But despite the extensive research the flood study states teams were “unable to identify a viable option” that provided flood protection for Invergowrie and the surrounding area and no flood scheme has been recommended.
In-channel measures, woodland management, distributed surface water storage, de-culverting watercourses, and removing embankments to reconnect with floodplains were all considered as options.
Instead, the study has recommended a number of localised actions to help mitigate flood risks in the future.
These include residents installing door guards and air brick covers and PKC continuing to inspect watercourses and carry out clearance and/or repair works of known ‘at risk’ areas.
Landowners are encouraged to “adopt sustainable land use management and private NFM measures”.
The report also suggests the implementation of a monitoring strategy along the Invergowrie Burn and its tributaries, such as the installation of river depth/flow gauges.
The report adds: “[Introduce] more detailed analysis of several structures which may influence flows reaching Invergowrie. This includes a large embankment across the Balruddery Burn, as well as several culverts and structures along the upper Fowlis Burn.”
Despite the lack of recommendation the views of the local community have been sought on the draft outcomes of the study with the deadline set for today (September 23).
It concludes: “Residents are encouraged to provide their views on the draft study findings and recommendations. The NFM study will then be updated and finalised.’’
The report can be found at https://consult.pkc.gov.uk/communities/invergowrienfm/
