Create to partner with Brown&Co to complete Local Resource Options (LRO) Studies

A joint venture between Brown&Co and Create’s Norwich-based offices have secured a series of new contracts with the Environment Agency to complete Local Resource Options (LRO) Studies for four farming groups within the Nar Catchment, Alde Catchment, and two in the lower and tidal River Bure.

Together the combined team will undertake an identification, screening and ranking study of local resource options available to each group of farmers, following a comprehensive on-site data gathering process and extensive desk based hydrological, geological and flood risk related review.

The Local Resource Options centre around methods which allow the saving and/or better use of water in agricultural situations to reduce pressure on local water abstractions. These could include, but are not limited to, water sharing agreements, improving soil moisture retention or looking at better capturing rainfall/flood water.

After selection of the top three LRO options for each study area, detailed PyWR modelling will be carried out to understand their effectiveness in the catchments and to quantify any particular benefits. Reports will then be produced which will provide data summaries and cover areas such as yield and cost analysis, environmental and social impacts, farming regimen, and baseline water supply-demand balance across the study areas.

“This is a really exciting and necessary Environment Agency project, it gives us a great opportunity to make a positive contribution to agriculture in the region. Create are a fantastic partner to be working with, their expertise takes us so much further forwards in developing powerful solutions to the challenge of providing sustainable water for agriculture.”

Andrews Spinks, Agricultural Business Consultant, Associate at Brown&Co

The projects are expected to take up to 3 months to complete. The scope of works will combine Brown&Co’s expertise in agricultural water demand, cropping patterns and their extensive working relationships with several of the participant landowners with Create’s specialist hydrological and data analysis capabilities.

The project involves close collaboration with all key stakeholders including the individual farming groups, the Environment Agency, Water Resources East, internal drainage boards, the relevant water authorities and Natural England.

“We are thrilled to be working with Brown&Co on these four projects and personally I am particularly looking forward to the diversity in LRO options they will produce, with the four catchments being so hydrologically diverse. The studies are a fantastic opportunity for us to further strengthen our service offer, along with our strong local working relationships.”

Graham Sinclair, Technical Director (Water & Flood Risk) at Create