Keywords: Ecosystem, Corridors, Buffer-strips, Biodiversity, Agri-environment, Glastir
Current FRM initiatives seek to connect catchment managers, stakeholders and delivery teams on multiple levels – in particular, recognition of Attenuation as an EcoSystem Service has been explored as a strategy for delivery of Multiple Benefits.
- Exceedance attenuation of flood waters, particularly Q30 – Q40 (c. 2%-3% risk & currently uninsurable) events which so blight people and property.
- Biodiversity Corridors (more . . . more . . . more . . .)
- Agri-environment buffer strips (more . . .)
- Community access to rivers (more . . . & more . . . ) for amenity, health and effective regulation of rural best practice for public benefit.
- Benign geomorphology
- Statutory infestation (invasive species) compliance.
Ultimately the challenge/request is that central government consider the validity of the hypothesis that hydraulically robust biomass structures (aka 3m wide water retentive ‘Glastir’ boundary hedges) will perform as anticipated and offer a simple and practical reduction of the risk of flood damage to people and property. There is solid evidence that rigorous assessment of perceived multiple benefits would be worthwhile. Atrepo is seeking to weave liaison between water_supply, insurance, agri industry, and academia.
Multiple Benefits of High Friction Floodplains 
Very interesting piece of research. The River 2D modelling software could do with a re-write, perhaps. Current modelling software of this type could make significant advances in speed and performance by using GPU capability. I would hazard a guess that one could achieve near real-time modelling. The current hardware/software combination, often yields performance in orders of magnitude compared to just using CPU . There are many references, here is one example which can be viewed here. http://www.theverge.com/2011/11/3/2535607/cpu-and-gpu-the-convergent-technology
Yes, GPU technology has facilitated remarkable speed increases in two-dimensional flood inundation modelling, and facilitated monte-carlo simulations. Various implementations have been made by research institutes and consultancies e.g. JFLOW-GPU meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2010/EGU2010-12043.pdf
For a recent discussion of monte-carlo approach see the journal paper in flood risk management:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1753-318X.2011.01123.x/abstract