WN11: Install temporary water storage features
This item is part of Higher Tier Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Higher Tier Capital Grants 2025 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.
If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the CSHT applicant’s guide to understand the rules and how to apply.
How much you’ll be paid
£7.36 per square metre (m2) - this will be converted into hectares in your agreement.
How this item benefits the environment
A temporary water storage feature holds and stores water for a limited period. This helps:
- slow the flow of water through the landscape, allowing sediment and nutrients to settle out
- more water infiltrate through soil and into the groundwater on permeable geology and soils
- reduce the speed that surface water reaches watercourses, improving flood resilience and reducing the risk of flooding for communities
- create additional storage capacity and temporary habitat for fish and other wildlife on floodplains
Where you can use this item
You can use this item to install temporary water storage features on:
- grassland
- arable land
- woodland - where it’ll benefit flood resilience or water resources
You must do this item alongside one of these management actions or supplements:
You’ll need to get any necessary consents or permits from the relevant flood risk management authority, the Environment Agency or the local highways authority before starting any work.
You cannot use this item:
What you must do to use this item
You must:
- agree a detailed specification in a plan with Natural England or the Forestry Commission in woodland
- follow the agreed specification to capture surface water, or water from rivers and streams within the floodplain
You can fund a plan through PA1: Implementation plan or PA2: Feasibility study.
Create the temporary storage features either:
- where the land is naturally lower than its surroundings
- where several flow paths usually combine
Allow any water stored by the feature to subside naturally. This can be through infiltration into the ground or by allowing it to seep back towards the watercourse or nearby water management feature.
Evidence you must keep
You must keep photographs of the completed work and provide them with your claim. You must also keep and provide on request:
- the specification agreed with Natural England or the Forestry Commission
- photographs of the site before works start
- any relevant permits or consents connected with the work
Read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants for more information.
If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT applicant’s guide.
Other items you can use with this item
You can use this item with FG1: Fencing with the agreement of your Natural England or Forestry Commission adviser.
Advice to help you use this item
The following advice may help you to use this item, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.
Creating features above the floodplain
You can create water storage features with or without a bund. If bunded, you must make sure the storage capacity is limited so there’s no additional flood risk. You can create multiple small features where the topography allows.
Where using a bund, make sure:
- it’s substantial enough to hold back water
- no weakness in the bunding is visible which could allow water to flow through
- an overflow is designed into the feature
Creating features within the floodplain
Temporary water storage features must:
- provide a preferential flow route that allows fish and other aquatic wildlife to return to the watercourse as the water subsides
- have shallow sloping sides to ensure the feature drains entirely as water subsides – there should be no ponding water
- be at least 30cm deep at the deepest point
You must not include a bund within a floodplain.
Install temporary water storage features in the lower parts of the topography where multiple flow pathways combine. These features could have multiple purposes. For example, as part of a natural flood management scheme or to support drought resilience by improving infiltration into the ground. Base your choice of location on the primary purpose of the feature.
[CSHT]: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier
[m]: metres
*[HEFER]: Historic Environment Farm Environment Record