Contents of Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Annual Report 2025-26
The Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Annual Report 2025-26 concentrates on dozens of schemes and activities funded by the SRA across Somerset between the start of April 2025 and the end of March 2026 (while reflecting some developments up until August 2026).
Download a PDF of the illustrated version of the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Annual Report 2025-26 – 40 pages, 4 MB. This file may not suitable for users of assistive technology.
Download a PDF of a text only version: SRA Annual Report 2025-26 PDF TEXT ONLY version – 34 pages, 0.3 MB. This version is more straightforwardly accessible and easier and cheaper to print.
Alternatively, use the links in blue in the sections below to explore different parts of the Report.
Note: the version of the Annual Report spread across pages on this website is closely based on the 40-page print and PDF version but does not reproduce it exactly. For example, some graphics are missing because they do not work so well on screen. Cross-references to page numbers have also been taken out and replaced with links.
Preliminary materials
SRA strategy and objectives 2025-26
Somerset’s main river catchments (2025-26)
Forewords
Foreword by SRA Chair Councillor Mike Stanton for 2025-26
Foreword by SRA Manager David Mitchell
Workstream 1 (W1): Dredging and River Management
This workstream has always been the one on which the SRA has spent the most. Especially this year, with the completion of the SRA’s major Sowy-King’s Sedgemoor Drain scheme, more combined dredging, main river maintenance, River Brue modelling and more besides. These schemes and activities accounted for just over 57% (£2.588 million) of the total spent by the SRA in 2025-26 (£4.534 million).
The SRA takes a workstream and catchment approach because it enables flooding problems to be tackled in different but cohesive ways. So, as will be seen in this report, all sorts of methods may be used as different parts of Somerset do have different needs and different parts of the landscape offer different possibilities. Ultimately, everything is connected, from riverbank dredging to back-garden water butts.
Workstream 1 in numbers
£2,588,000 spent in 2025-26 on Workstream 1, 57.1% of the year’s total spending by the SRA.
25% more flood water flows through Sowy-KSD after 1.22 miles of bank raising completes multi-year £10million scheme.
2.5 miles of dredging helps to protect 1,300 homes and 7,500 hectares of land.
10 sets of main river maintenance work helps to protect 447 commercial properties, 416 homes, and 2,198 hectares of farmland.
Workstream 1 pages
Dredging and silt-monitoring 2025-26
River Sowy – King’s Sedgemoor Drain Enhancements 2025-26
Main river maintenance on the Somerset Levels and Moors 2025-26
Bridgwater Tidal Barrier 2025-26
Holnicote estate project 2025-26
Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements Scheme (TSFAIS) 2025-26
Workstream 2 (W2): Land Management including Natural Flood Management
For the last 10 years, this workstream has been led for the SRA by the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group SouthWest (FWAG SW). In 2025-26, FWAG SW advisors continued to work with landowners, farmers and communities eager to turn ideas into action to help the places where they live. As part of the SRA’s Somerset catchment-driven approach to tackling flooding from different angles, this workstream slows the flow of rural water down to vulnerable areas, in ways that work with nature. Some smaller schemes address specific local priorities: others are far more ambitious, like Heal Rewilding near Frome, which has been getting national praise.
Workstream 2 in numbers
£441,000 spent in 2025-26 on Workstream 2, 9.7% of the year’s total spending by the SRA.
21 varied NFM schemes in Somerset catchments.
91 visits, walks, workshops by FWAG SW advisors.
2,950 trees and shrubs, 1,386 metres of hedgerow planted to help slow the flow.
Workstream 2 pages
Natural Flood Management schemes across Somerset 2025-26
Referrals, soil visits and community Natural Flood Management (NFM) 2025-26
Trees for Water Action Fund 2025-26
Workstream 3 (W3): Urban Water Management
The two main aims of the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Urban Water Management workstream are reducing local flood risks and making places better to live and work. Five projects progressed in 2025-26.
Workstream 3 in numbers
£622,000 spent in 2025-26, 13.7% of total.
26 places with flooding problems assessed for action.
2 detailed proposals drawn up for drainage improvements.
Workstream 3 pages
Local flood risk management measures 2025-26
Watchet town centre and Lower Keyword, Frome 2025-26
Taunton Integrated Catchment Study: 25 Year Flood Action Plan 2025-26
Workstream 4 (W4): Resilient Infrastructure
In the Somerset 20 Year Flood Action Plan, drawn up in 2014, two of the six main objectives were about making the county’s infrastructure more resilient. They urged that access should be maintained for people and businesses travelling within Somerset or through the county.
This imperative was picked up in the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Strategy for 2024-34, the second of whose five objectives is to “Maintain access and connections during times of flood for communities and businesses across Somerset”. The SRA therefore deals with flooding along highways as well as waterways.
Workstream 4 in numbers
£303,000 spent in 2025-26 on Workstream 4, 6.7% of the year’s total spending by the SRA.
Workstream 4 page
CCTV surveys – Road drainage – Robins Lane in Burtle
Workstream 5 (W5): Building Local Resilience
This workstream helps to deliver the SRA Strategy by concentrating mostly on ‘working with communities’ and ‘building resilience, encouraging adaptation’. The aim is to foster better understanding, collaboration and preparation across catchments. Individuals and communities say they value being able to do three main things. Firstly, understanding and monitoring the various flows of water through the landscapes in which they live. Second, helping to reduce their own future flood risks. Third – if floods do occur – being able to act, having acquired some requisite mix of knowledge, training and equipment.
Workstream 5 in numbers
£290,000 spent in 2025-26 on Workstream 5, 6.4% of the year’s total spending by the SRA.
191 events and visits involving the SRA’s community team.
Workstream 5 pages
Building local resilience 2025-26
Grants for training and equipment 2025-26
Adaptation and Moor Associations 2025-26
Community Flood Action Fund
One of the main themes in the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Strategy 2024-34 is working with communities across Somerset to reduce the risks and impacts of flooding. In December 2024, therefore, the SRA launched a Community Flood Action Fund (CFAF). This enables not-for-profit
organisations, such as parish councils, to take practical actions with obvious benefits that can be achieved quite quickly.
Community Flood Action Fund in numbers
£75,000 spent in 2025-26 through the Community Flood Action Fund 1.7%% of the year’s total spending by the SRA.
7 schemes done, 7 started, 11 new grants given.
Community Flood Action Fund page
Community Flood Action Fund 2025-26