Water resources and hydrological modelling for catchment management

We have extensive experience in resource assessment utilising both modelled and observed data. We continue to develop methodologies for estimation of flow statistics within ungauged catchments with our staff being the authors of all recognised design methods within the UK since the 1980s. Complementary to this we continue to develop rainfall-runoff models for providing natural daily flow time series. These include bespoke catchment rainfall-runoff models calibrated using local gauged data and a national model which can be applied within ungauged catchment to estimate river flows.

We have undertaken catchment and national scale determinations of water use. Our projects include the use of LowFlows to support the WFD initial characterisation within England and Wales. This is currently been refined through the full characterisation and evaluation of water use within England and Wales on behalf of the Environment Agency. This ongoing work ensures that we are fully familiar with the Environment Agency's CAMS process and accompanying Resource Assessment Methodology.

The rainfall-runoff models have been used for a number of projects to improve understanding of the impacts of climate and land use change. On behalf of the Environment Agency we have used the national model to complete the first assessment of climate change on river flows at a national scale.