Professional summary
John's research focuses on evaluating the potential of Working with Natural Processes to mitigate water quality issues such as diffuse pollution in agricultural landscapes.
The study system for his PhD project is the Littlestock Brook Natural Flood Management pilot scheme in the Evenlode catchment of the Thames basin. This scheme includes the creation, installation and implementation of floodplain woodland, instream leaky barriers — woody dams, retention ponds, wetland areas — on-line ponds, and conservation agriculture practices. The Littlestock Brook waterbody is being intensively monitored through the Evenlode Catchment Partnership using a range of high-resolution environmental sensors and gauges. These data will enable better understanding of the functioning and multiple benefits of Natural Flood Management in this hydrologically 'flashy', lowland catchment.