Landscape and Urban Planning 81 (2007) 246–256 Classification methodology for Sustainable Flood Retention Basins Miklas Scholz ∗ Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, School of Engineering and Electronics, The University of Edinburgh, William Rankine Building, Mayfield Road, The King’s Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3JL, Scotland, United Kingdom Received 23 April 2006; received in revised form 8 January 2007; accepted 10 January 2007 Available online 6 March 2007 Abstract This paper recommends a rapid classification methodology for Sustainable Flood Retention Basins to control runoff in a temperate climate. Particular emphasis is given towards vegetated retention basins in Baden (Germany). The most important groups of variables were of engineering, environmental and land use nature. The classification methodology can be used by urban and landscape planners to determine the type of Sustainable Flood Retention Basin based on a total sum of weights obtained for 34 qualitative or quantitative variables. The following six types of Sustainable Flood Retention Basins (SFRB’s) were defined: Hydraulic Flood Retention Basin, Traditional Sustainable Flood Retention Basin, Sustainable Flood Retention Wetland, Aesthetic Flood Retention Wetland, Integrated Flood Retention Wetland and Natural Flood Retention Wetland. The methodology was developed with a general database (approximately 460 basins) and a very detailed database (24 basins). Most of the thoroughly researched SFRB of the latter database are Traditional Sustainable Flood Retention Basins. The most important variables for Baden were Elevation, Dam Existance, Flotsam, Forest, Dam Length and Vegetation. These variables were applied to determine the type of Sustainable Flood Retention Basin (predominantly used for hydraulic purposes) with an error of <8% in comparison to the application of all 34 variables. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Classification methodology; Floodplain management; Landscape planning; Rural runoff; Sustainability; Water resources design 1. Introduction 1.1. Overview, definitions, aim and key objectives This original research paper introduces the concept of Sus- tainable Flood Retention Basins (SFRB’s) and presents a novel methodology for their classification. The classification scheme will then be applied for a case study data set in Baden (Germany). The outcome of this application and the wider implication of this methodology and potential variations will finally be discussed. A SFRB is defined as an aesthetically pleasing retention basin predominantly used for flood protection adhering to sustainable drainage and best management practices. The concept of sustain- ability in the context of landscape planning has been outlined by Decamps (2001). In comparison to a SFRB, a traditional flood retention basin is a typical flood attenuation, retention, deten- ∗ Tel.: +44 131 650 6780; fax: +44 131 650 6554. E-mail address: m.scholz@ed.ac.uk. tion and/or storage basin that is not used for direct economic purposes such as drinking water supply production. The aim of this paper is to define different types of SFRB typical for temperate climates. The key objectives are as follows: • to determine all relevant and particularly the key classification variables; • to assess the uncertainty associated with each classification variable; • to determine weights for all classification variables depending on various basin applications; • to provide landscape and urban planners with a rapid classifi- cation methodology based on a set of inter-connected tables; • to apply the classification methodology on a detailed case study data set; and • to discuss examples of different types of SFRB. 1.2. General classification proposals Schnitzler et al. (1992) indicated that floodplains could be classified according to plant species, which usually segregate 0169-2046/$ – see front matter © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.01.010