We review the role of science in shaping river flood risk management policy in England, highlighting the relatively recent influence of fluvial geomorphology, river ecology, climate change and ecosystem services in evidence-based decision-making. These disciplines, together with an historical perspective, catchment-scale delivery, integrated land and water management planning, and adaptive management are crucial in managing future flood risk. A central tenet of previous land drainage policy was a professional (and public) mindset about flood ‘prevention’ solutions for river flooding. As a direct consequence, more than 8,500 km of rivers were ‘improved’ by mechanical dredging during the 1930s to 1980s; habitats were destroyed, but flooding continued. A more enlightened, long-term approach has since evolved in response to environmental imperatives and lessons learnt from several major floods during the last two ‘flood-rich’ decades. River science, local knowledge and land management incentives allow more natural processes to be restored in river catchments. The natural capital and ecosystem service benefits of river systems are now better understood and quantified, whereas the importance of sediment transport is fully recognised, with sources and sinks treated more holistically than in the past. Evaluating the outcomes of innovative runoff and river management techniques from both physical and socioeconomic perspectives will determine the success of a catchment-based approach. We highlight some of the uncertainties, nuances and assumptions associated with recent initiatives such as Natural Flood Management, Citizen Science and Flood Action Groups. Further integration between policy, strategic planning and local delivery is needed to anticipate and respond to climate and catchment land use changes. River science will play a crucial part in identifying the most effective way of improving flood management and in a way that helps to deliver the recovery of nature. It will inform adaptive management to cope with climate change.

我们回顾了科学在制定英格兰河流洪水风险管理政策中的作用，强调了河流地貌、河流生态、气候变化和生态系统服务在循证决策中的相对较新的影响。这些学科与历史视角、流域规模交付、综合土地和水资源管理规划以及适应性管理一起，对于管理未来的洪水风险至关重要。以前的土地排水政策的一个中心原则是专业（和公众）关于河流洪水“预防”解决方案的心态。直接结果是，在 1930 年代至 80 年代期间，8,500 多公里的河流通过机械疏浚得到了“改善”；栖息地遭到破坏，但洪水仍在继续。一个更开明的，此后，随着环境要求和在过去两个“洪水泛滥”的几十年中从几次大洪水中吸取的教训，制定了长期方法。河流科学、当地知识和土地管理激励措施使河流集水区的更多自然过程得以恢复。河流系统的自然资本和生态系统服务效益现在得到了更好的理解和量化，而沉积物运输的重要性得到了充分认识，源和汇的处理比过去更加全面。从自然和社会经济角度评估创新径流和河流管理技术的结果将决定基于流域的方法的成功。我们强调了与自然洪水管理等近期举措相关的一些不确定性、细微差别和假设，公民科学和洪水行动小组。需要进一步整合政策、战略规划和当地交付，以预测和应对气候和集水区土地利用变化。河流科学将在确定改善洪水管理的最有效方法和有助于恢复自然的方式方面发挥关键作用。它将告知适应性管理以应对气候变化。