Main river maintenance works funded by Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) are set to begin on the Somerset Levels and Moors from Monday 10 August, 2026. These works will be delivered by the Parrett and Axe Brue Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs), acting as a partner in the SRA. The SRA's main aim is to help reduce flood risks, but these works are also of great importance in times of drought.
The Government has given Somerset Council £50 million to help Somerset’s homes, farms and businesses better withstand the growing threat of flooding. Somerset Council says it will use the £50 million to develop a two-year programme of initiatives to reduce flood risk, improve preparedness and strengthen long-term resilience.
Members of the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) Board met Floods Minister Emma Hardy when she visited Langport, Thorney and Drayton in Somerset to see this winter's flooding on the Somerset Levels and Moors. The visit followed a debate in Parliament about Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) - and preceded another about Storm Chandra flooding.
An Environment Agency update. No more property flooding has been reported for Somerset, and levels on the River Tone have stabilised. The Environment Agency is opening Monk's Leaze Clyse at the entrance to the River Sowy, also known as the Parrett Flood Relief Channel. Water flows into the Sowy not far from Langport, goes down to King's Sedgemoor Drain (KSD), then goes back into the Parrett through Dunball Sluice, north of Bridgwater. The aim is to move as much water as possible, to help reduce the impact of high tides next week. The Environment Agency has also installed contingency pumps at Aller Drove and Westonzoyland.
Water levels across the Somerset Levels and Moors are stabilising, although the weather remains unsettled. Two further pumps have been installed at Northmoor, bringing the total to eight. At Saltmoor, three additional pumps are operating. Two pumps installed at Elson Clyse should be operational today (Friday 30 January 2026). Pump installation is underway at Westonzoyland, and is due at Haymoor on Saturday. Pumps are being arranged for installation at Dunball for next week.
A briefing prepared on Thursday 29 January 2026 by local Environment Agency staff. In summary, the Environment Agency now has excess capacity in place to ensure that evacuation of water is maximised whenever conditions allow. Pumps can now remove water from the moors quicker than the system takes to fill the moors with water from further up the catchment. Two more extra pumps are going into Northmoor, extra pumps should be operational at Saltmoor tonight (Thursday 29 January), pumps are going to be installed overnight at Elson's Clyse, other options are being assessed, for example at Dunball.
Water levels are rising across the Somerset Levels and Moors following Storm Chandra. There are currently 16 flood warnings and 13 flood alerts in force across Somerset. A flood warning for Saltmoor and Northmoor including Moorland has been issued this evening (Tuesday 27 January). Somerset Council have declared a major incident with the support and agreement of partners in the Local Resilience Forum, including the Environment Agency.
A briefing prepared by the Environment Agency (a partner in Somerset Rivers Authority). January 2026 in Somerset has been very wet, rivers across the county have responded rapidly, and water has moved down the catchments into the Levels and Moors. Anticipating trigger points being met, the Environment Agency initiated the deployment of pumps for Currymoor, Saltmoor and Northmoor. This briefing contains many useful links for getting further information.
With Storm Chandra approaching, and Somerset facing numerous flood warnings and alerts, here are some tips for keeping safe.
A short guide to the SRA-funded dredging being carried out between Burrowbridge and Northmoor Pumping Station in January 2026.
A pioneering river restoration project on the National Trust's Holnicote Estate in West Somerset has won a Silver award at the Global Good Awards 2025. In the River Aller and Horner Water catchments on Exmoor, the National Trust has been creating new waterscapes and wetlands to help reduce flooding and improve habitats. The Trust's wide range of partners in this endeavour has included Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA), which has funded or part-funded 15 individual schemes.
Somerset Council's Executive Committee has reaffirmed its commitment to improving flood defences along two sections of the River Tone in Taunton. The council is working with the Environment Agency on a £6 million project to help protect homes and businesses in Taunton from flooding. More design work will now be done and it is hoped to start building in 2026. This project is part-funded by Somerset Rivers Authority.