Section 18 reports: Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management in Wales 2011 to 2019

Natural Resources Wales has a statutory duty under section 18 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, to produce a report for the Welsh Ministers about how flood risk and coastal erosion is being managed across Wales.

Natural Resources Wales does this on behalf of all Risk Management Authorities who operate in Wales, which includes Natural Resources Wales, Local Authorities and Water and Sewerage Companies. 

Implementation of National FCERM Strategy

The report also provides an update on how well Risk Management Authorities are implementing the Welsh Government’s National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy.

This sets out national level priorities, policies and objectives to help manage and reduce the impact of flood risk and coastal erosion both now and in the future.

Standard reference document

Each report has been produced using information provided by Risk Management Authorities (RMAs). They summaries the investment, key developments and operational improvements made to reduce flood risk and coastal erosion in Wales and to improve awareness and preparedness of those at risk. 

Building resilience

Recent flood events help to demonstrate just how well the investment and actions by risk management authorities are working to protect communities and crucial infrastructure.

However, climate change is likely to increase pressure on Wales’ ability to effectively manage flood risk and coastal erosion. RMAs are investigating and planning future activities around increasing pressures, including:

• work more with nature rather than against it to reduce risk
• working more collaboratively to share information, knowledge and resources
• looking at a wider range of flood resilience, mitigation and awareness measures at the catchment scale to address flooding risks and consequences and to plan for coastal change

An overview of the way in which RMAs are planning for future flood and coastal erosion risk is reflected at the end of each report.