Author(s): Borjana Bogatinoska; Jord Warmink; Negar Moghtaderi; Annemargreet De Leeuw; Suzanne Hulscher

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Keywords: Nature-based solutions; Multifunctionality; Hybrid flood risk solutions; Ecological restoration; Flood resilience; River management; Design frameworks

Abstract: With escalating climate risks, the design of flood-resilient landscapes that prioritize multifunctionality has become essential for sustainable urban and rural planning. Hybrid flood risk management (FRM) measures, integrating nature-based solutions (NbS) such as floodplain restoration, wetland restoration, and riparian buffers with technical measures like levees and retention basins, present a multifunctional approach to enhancing flood resilience specifically in riverine systems. Recent studies emphasize the need for strategies that not only mitigate flood risks but also offer co-benefits such as biodiversity enhancement, carbon sequestration, and recreational opportunities. Additionally, as prolonged periods of low flows and droughts become increasingly common due to climate change, it is crucial to assess NbS effectiveness under these conditions. Studies such as van Brenk et al. (2022) underscore the necessity of understanding the resilience of NbS during both high-flow and low-flow periods, ensuring they contribute to long-term water availability, habitat stability, and ecosystem health (van Brenk et al., 2022). When it comes to flood-resilient landscapes, more evidence is needed to mainstream nature-based solutions alone or their combination with traditional engineering measures as hybrid flood risk management strategies (Awah et al., 2024). In this paper we investigate key design principles that enhance flood resilience while delivering added ecological, social, and economic co-benefits. Through a detailed analysis of recent literature, this study highlights the strategies that enable landscapes to function as both flood mitigation assets and multifunctional community resources. The review examines the literature to (1) provide an overview of the current state of research on the impact of hybrid approaches for flood resilience, (2) group the different design principles/frameworks for assessing the performance of hybrid approaches by identifying the main research areas, methods, types of measures and their achieved benefits, and (3) highlight important future prospects in hybrid measures for flood resilience and their multifunctionality. Additionally, river case studies -- representing diverse hydraulic and morphological conditions -- are used to showcase the best and worst practices. The findings will demonstrate how hybrid FRM measures provide enhanced flood mitigation while supporting other benefits such as habitat connectivity, water quality improvement, and local economic development.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64697/978-90-835589-7-4_41WC-P1984-cd

Year: 2025