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This report presents a step by step guide on how to use the Ecological Impact Assessment (EIA) tools for fluvial flooding (EIA F tool) and coastal inundation (EIA C tool). These tools have been developed within the Ecological Consequences of Flooding (ECF) project and may be used to support an environmental risk assessment (Old et al., 2010). When developing plans to manage flood risk, economic, social and environmental impacts are considered. There are many tools that help to estimate the economic impacts. However, there is currently no standard approach for evaluating the impacts on the natural environment within a flood risk assessment. Impacts of floods on the natural environment are often complex and include benefits and disbenefits. The Broad Scale Ecosystem Assessment (BSEA) toolkit is based on GIS data sets (existing or producible) that already exist or can be easily created and that have an apparent relationship with ecological characteristics. It is largely left to experts to interpret the ecological implications of these data. The GIS based tools presented here build on this work by introducing more scientific knowledge and objectivity to the assessment of ecological impact. The prototype tools will be used to provide an initial assessment of environmental assets at risk of fluvial flooding and coastal inundation. In this way it will help the authorities responsible for Flood and Coastal Risk Management to fulfil their duties under the EU Floods Directive, Habitats Directive, Bird’s Directive and Water Framework Directive. In the future it is envisioned that the tools will be embedded within software and made available to general users through an application like the Modelling Decision Support Framework that is currently in use by the Environment Agency. This will support Environmental Impact Assessments and Strategic Environmental Assessments for flood risk management activities. The prototype tools guide the user in making an objective and quantitative

This report presents the scientific basis and development of the Ecological Impact Assessment (EIA) tools for fluvial flooding (EIA F tool) and coastal inundation (EIA C tool). These tools have been developed within the Ecological Consequences of Flooding (ECF) project and may be used to support an environmental risk assessment. When developing plans to manage flood risk, economic, social and environmental impacts are considered. There are many tools that help to estimate the economic impacts. However, there is currently no standard approach for evaluating the impacts on the natural environment within a flood risk assessment. Impacts of floods on the natural environment are often complex and include benefits and disbenefits. The Broad Scale Ecosystem Assessment (BSEA) toolkit is based on GIS data sets (existing or producible) that already exist or can be easily created and that have an apparent relationship with ecological characteristics. It is largely left to experts to interpret the ecological implications of these data. The project reported here builds on this work by introducing more scientific knowledge and objectivity to the assessment of ecological impact by developing prototype GIS based tools that will support decision making. The prototype tools developed here will be used to provide an initial assessment of ecological assets at risk of fluvial flooding and coastal inundation. In this way it will help all Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) authorites fulfil their duties under the EU Floods Directive, Habitats Directive, Bird’s Directive and Water Framework Directive. In the future it is envisioned that the tool will be embedded within software and made available to general users through an application like the Modelling Decision Support Framework that is used by the Environment Agency in the preparation of Catchment Flood Management Plans. The tools will thus support Environmental Impact Assessments and Strategic Environmental Assessments for flood