Fingal, East Meath Flood Risk Assessment & Management Study



Client: Fingal County Council
Services Provided: Services to be provided by Halcrow Barry under FEM FRAMS include the following:

  • Collection and analysis of data relevant to flooding within the study area
  • Identification of condition and performance assessment of flood defence assets
  • Analysis of the hydrology of the catchments within the study area
  • Hydraulic modelling of flood prone watercourses and mapping of flood hazard and potential risk zones
  • Implement and overall management of the channel and structures survey within the study area
  • Undertaking of a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the study area
  • Determination of risks to human health, the environment, cultural heritage, the economy and critical infrastructure
  • Flood risk assessment of the future development scenarios in the study area
  • Development and appraisal of possible flood risk management measures, options and strategies to achieve the defined objectives for coastal and potential significant flood risk areas.
  • Identification of the most appropriate flood risk management strategy for the catchments in the Study Area
  • Recommending to facilitate the consideration and management of flood risk in the preparation of Development / Local area Plans.
  • Preparing a Flood Risk Management Plan for the study area and of reports on the findings of the FEMFRAMS Project
  • Consultation with public and stakeholder, including maintaining Website for the project and Newsletters publications
  • Web based platform for the implementation of FEMFRAMS project


Key Features:
The Fingal East Meath study catchment covers an area approximately 771.69 sq km. Located to the northern part of Dublin city, the study area includes 20 urban areas of different sizes. The region differs from other catchments in Ireland; despite a low annual rainfall, the region is highly susceptible to extreme flood events, as particularly demonstrated in recent years.
  • The study area consists of 20 named river/streams and few un-named rivulets. Approximately 164km stretch of these watercourses are of high flood risk and approx 141km are of medium flood risk. The study area also includes approximately 50 km of coast line in the Dublin and Meath counties.
  • Study involves hydrological analysis to estimate fluvial floods and joint probability analysis for tidal floods. Approximately 300 km of rivers will be modelled in the ISIS-1D using 2300 surveyed channel X-sections and 700 nrs of structures. Tidal flood will be modelled using the ISIS -2D model.
  • Outcomes of the study are flood risk maps; strategic environmental assessment; flood management options and selection of preferred strategy option; and preparation of flood risk management plan for the study area.


Environmental Constraints:
The key environmental constraints associated with the flooding and flood risk within the study area will be identified during the SEA of the project. These constraints are related to the following aspects:
  • flora and fauna, fisheries and angling in the project area
  • amenity, tourism and recreational use of waters in the project area
  • archaeological, architectural and cultural heritage in the project area
  • geology, soil, land use and various features in the landscape
  • morphology, fluvial and coastal process in the project area
  • flood-related social or socio-economic issues


This project is a Halcrow Barry Project, the Joint Venture Company between Halcrow Group Limited and J. B. Barry & Partners.