National peak flow data - what next?

Records of peak river flow are vital for developing our understanding of the flood events and improving our ability to predict, manage and mitigate their impact. The beginning of the 21st century has seen both a heightened demand for hydrometric information and technological advances in data collection, management and exchange. These developments pose challenges, but also significant opportunities, for improving the way we integrate, communicate and use hydrometric information. In April 2014, responsibility for the provision of UK national flood peak data was transferred from the HiFlows-UK initiative to the National River Flow Archive (NRFA), which is maintained by CEH working in partnership with the UK’s hydrometric measuring authorities (EA, SEPA, NRW and Rivers Agency). Provision of flood peak data is in the process of being integrated with existing services for daily mean flow data, providing for the first time a single national portal for key UK hydrometric information. These developments are however, only the start. Much remains to be done to maximise the potential of our national data. While significant updates to flow and metadata records for many gauging stations have recently been completed by JBA Consulting, the need to review, revise and update the archive remains a perpetual requirement. Furthermore the integration of the national databases provides new opportunities for enhanced tools and services, designed to meet user’s changing data needs. This poster presents an update on recent developments and provide the user community with an opportunity to challenge the theory and practice of what comes next