Hydraulic Efficiency of Green-Blue Flood Control Scenarios for Vegetated Rivers: 1D and 2D Unsteady Simulations

• Published in: Water (Basel) 2021-10, Vol.13 (19), p.2620
• Main Authors: Lama, Giuseppe Francesco Cesare, Rillo Migliorini Giovannini, Matteo, Errico, Alessandro, Mirzaei, Sajjad, Padulano, Roberta, Chirico, Giovanni Battista, Preti, Federico
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agroforestry; Aquatic ecosystems; Best management practices; Creeks; Creeks & streams; Flood control; Flood hazards; Flood peak; Flooding; Floods; Hazard mitigation; Mitigation; Reed beds; Rivers; Urban areas
• ISSN: 2073-4441; 2073-4441
• DOI: 10.3390/w13192620

Flood hazard mitigation in urban areas crossed by vegetated flows can be achieved through two distinct approaches, based on structural and eco-friendly solutions, referred to as grey and green–blue engineering scenarios, respectively; this one is often based on best management practices (BMP) and low-impact developments (LID). In this study, the hydraulic efficiency of two green–blue scenarios in reducing flood hazards of an urban area crossed by a vegetated river located in Central Tuscany (Italy), named Morra Creek, were evaluated for a return period of 200 years, by analyzing the flooding outcomes of 1D and 2D unsteady hydraulic simulations. In the first scenario, the impact of a diffuse effect of flood peak reduction along Morra Creek was assessed by considering an overall real-scale growth of common reed beds. In the second scenario, riverine vegetation along Morra Creek was preserved, while flood hazard was mitigated using a single vegetated flood control area. This study demonstrates well the benefits of employing green–blue solutions for reducing flood hazards in vegetated rivers intersecting agro-forestry and urban areas while preserving their riverine ecosystems. It emerged that the first scenario is a valuable alternative to the more impacting second scenario, given the presence of flood control areas.