Catchment and Water Management
Catchment and Water Management
Our research
An innovative catchment systems approach and Nature-Based Solutions to water management.
Innovative river basin management
Over two decades, our Group has developed a distinctive catchment systems approach. We:
- provide the science and engineering base for the management of flooding, pollution, and water resources
- pioneer the use of Nature-Based Solutions to water management
Real world impacts
We draw on our own field studies across Northern England as well as data from around the world to develop multi-scale monitoring strategies and modelling tools. We use these to research the impacts of interventions in the landscape. Our work in this area includes:
- a comprehensive assessment of land use management impact on catchment scale flood generation
- development of multi-functional controls on water and nutrient runoff for agricultural land management
- Natural Flood Management (NFM) soft engineering interventions with measurable impacts on flood peak
Our catchment systems studies have shown when the effects of pollution mitigation are detectable. We are also improving the management of the water, energy, and food nexus alongside our colleagues from Agriculture and Energy.
Working with landowners and regulators
We have developed our multi-scale scientific approach through collaboration with landowners and regulators. Done across a range of spatial scales, we have shown that this provides the solid evidence needed to underpin national policy.

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Belford Catchment Management Scheme
Project Leader(s): Dr Paul Quinn -
Eden DTC Phase 2: Demonstration Test Catchments
Project Leader(s): Paul Quinn -
Future Urban Flood Risk Management
Project Leader(s): Chris Kilsby (Newcastle PI)
Project Dates: October 2016 - September 2019 -
GCRF: Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub
Project Leader(s): Richard Dawson (PI)
Project Dates: February 2019 - January 2024 -
SINATRA: Susceptibility of catchments to INTense RAinfall and flooding
Project Leader(s): Hayley Fowler (Newcastle PI)
Project Dates: September 2013 - May 2019 -
TWENTY65
Project Leader(s): Richard Dawson (Newcastle Co-PI)
Project Dates: January 2016 - January 2021 -
Urban Green DAMS (Design And Modelling of SuDS)
Project Leader(s): Richard Dawson (PI)
Project Dates: January 2019 - December 2021
Dr Stephen Birkinshaw
Researcher in Water Resources
Email: stephen.birkinshaw@ncl.ac.uk
Dr Nathan Forsythe
Newcastle University Research Fellow
Email: nathan.forsythe@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: 0191 208 6875
Dr Caspar Hewett
Lecturer
Email: caspar.hewett@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5950
Dr Jennine Jonczyk
Researcher in Water Resources
Email: jennine.jonczyk@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 8599
Dr Greg O'Donnell
Senior Researcher in Land Use Management Effects in Extreme Floods
Email: g.m.o'donnell@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5221
Dr Paul Quinn
Senior Lecturer in Catchment Hydrology
Email: p.f.quinn@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5773
Dr Eleanor Starkey
Research Associate
Email: eleanor.starkey1@ncl.ac.uk
Dr Brian Thomas
Senior Lecturer in Hydrology
Email: brian.thomas@ncl.ac.uk
David Walker
Research Assistant
Email: david.walker4@ncl.ac.uk