SRA

Somerset Rivers Authority is recruiting a Community Engagement Officer. The job's main purpose is to help people across Somerset be better prepared for flooding. The deadline for applications was 22 June 2023. However, the SRA is also going to be advertising for a Community Engagement Support Officer. This item is therefore being kept for people to read, because it might provide some useful background information for anybody thinking of applying for the Support Officer job.

A new briefing from Environment Agency Wessex, a partner in Somerset Rivers Authority, about upcoming events and activities on the Somerset Levels and Moors. The main subjects public drop-in events in Moorland on 20 March and Burrowbridge on 27 March, the demobilisation of temporary pumps at five places this March, and a public drop-in about Currymoor reservoir on 22 March.

A new briefing from the Environment Agency about the latest situation on the Somerset Levels and Moors, following a period of very wet weather - the eighth wettest since 1891 - then several weeks of unusually dry weather. This dry weather has allowed catchments to dry out and river levels to recede. The forecast remains dry, and there is now a great deal of capacity in the Somerset Levels and Moors water storage system. This means that many smaller temporary pumps have been returned to storage, and locations, and larger temporary pumps can now be removed as planned.

This is the last in a series of Environment Agency Wessex updates about the Somerset Levels and Moors published in the first five weeks of 2023. All spillways have stopped running and river levels are stable. Most moors have returned to their normal winter water levels. Immediate risks of flooding are now greatly reduced. Activities will be organised soon to help people recover from recent events.

An Environment Agency Wessex update on a further improved situation, with no spillways running, river levels stable and the volume of water stored on moors down to about 11.3 million cubic metres. Riparian owners are again encouraged to check their culverts and ditches, and clear any blockages to ensure free flowing water to pumps. Many of temporary pumps will be kept in place through the winter, though some smaller pumps are no longer providing benefit and require servicing. They will be returned to the local depot, from where they can be quickly re-deployed if needed. Pumps at Fordgate and Bridgwater Docks have been demobilised. However, any pumps requiring more time to install will be kept in place.

An Environment Agency Wessex update about an improved state of affairs on the Somerset Levels & Moors, with reduced flood risks. The situation is no longer classed as a major incident, but matters are still being closely monitored and a lot of pumping activity is still happening. Furthermore, the Environment Agency intends to keep extra pumping capacity until the end of the winter.

The latest Environment Agency briefing about an improving situation on the Somerset Levels & Moors. River levels are falling, no spillways are running and the amount of water stored on the levels and moors is reducing. As the water recedes, riparian owners are requested to check and clear their culverts, gullies, gutters and ditches to ensure the free flow of water, which will assist the pumping operation and speed the evacuation of water from the moors.

The latest update on the Somerset Levels & Moors 'Major Incident' from Environment Agency Wessex. Partners working together continue to get results. The total capacity being pumped across the Parrett and Tone catchments is 59.5 cumecs (cubic metres per second). Currymoor is no longer full and is now at 88% capacity, with levels continuing to drop. All spillways have stopped running, and levels on both Saltmoor and Northmoor are falling.

The latest update from Environment Agency Wessex, whose pumping operations over the last day have helped to bring down the volume of water stored on the Somerset Levels & Moors Moors from 37 million cubic metres to 31 million cubic metres. Pumping activity is currently underway at Currymoor, Saltmoor, Northmoor, West Sedgemoor, Westover, Huish Episcopi, Midelney, and Westonzoyland. There are also four temporary pumps running in Haymoor and eight at Dunball. There are six pumps at Fordgate and five on the docks in Bridgwater, where the Environment Agency is using the canal to remove further flood waters from North Moor and the Fordgate area, pumping it back into the River Parrett in Bridgwater.

The latest briefing from Environment Agency Wessex about the constantly evolving situation on the Somerset Levels and Moors. In the last 24 hours, pumping operations have moved 4 million cubic metres of water from moors.