Description
Sediment is an integral part of catchment functioning, however generally there is a lack of detailed information in our catchments in relation to sediment. This is further complicated by the balance needed for sediment – too much and ecology can suffer, treatment costs escalate and flood risk may increase, too little and erosion can occur, undermining infrastructure. In recent years there has been a move to more holistic catchment management, with catchment management interventions aiming to gain multiple benefits, including a reduction in fine grained sediment as a diffuse pollutant. I will showcase a NERC Knowledge Exchange fellowship (KEF) and lessons learnt in translating research to a range stakeholders to generate impact. Knowledge Exchange is a two-way process and the KEF is being co-designed by multiple stakeholders to ensure outputs are tangible and useful for decision making within catchments. The pathways to impact will be explored, highlighting routes of engagement and processes to achieve impact. Sediment is framed in terms of water quality, natural flood management and payment for outcomes, and the KEF contains interlocking themes of modelling, monitoring and cost and value of sediment. I will showcase case studies of projects to demonstrate advances in sedimentological research and how this can be used by stakeholders. The major challenge identified with partners is the need to establish a valuation for sediment to help unlock investments across a catchment, and potentially into coastal areas.| Period | 2023 |
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| Held at | British Society for Geomorphology, United Kingdom |