SRA Annual Report 2025-26: Main River Maintenance on the Somerset Levels and Moors
The SRA funded 10 additional packages of main river maintenance work by the Environment Agency on and around the Somerset Levels and Moors.
The Agency focused particularly on clearing excessive weed growth from channels. It did this primarily because – when channels are not choked with weed – they can convey more water out to sea, which helps to reduce flood risks. During drier summer months, there are other benefits. Having a network of channels which can carry fresh flowing water helps to provide drinking and ‘wet fences’ for cattle, habitats for wildlife, and valued possibilities for people and businesses: recreation, fishing, sport, navigation.
In recent years, because of increased costs and reduced funds, the Environment Agency has been doing less main river maintenance work. One reason the SRA chose to enable more was to complement other SRA-funded projects, such as River Parrett dredging and the funding of a new pump at Screech Owl near Huntworth.
Extra strands of work were: weed control on St Andrews/Kewards Brook (Wells) and Glastonbury Millstream: weed control – with initial grass cutting to enable access – along the Cheddar Yeo, Mid Axe and Bleadney Branch; along the River Brue from Glastonbury to the River Cripps; along the Parrett from Slabgate to Langport to Thorney; along West Moor Main Drain; and along Huntworth Brook, where heavy vegetation growth, plus higher than-expected costs, meant not all planned work could be completed. Hamp Brook and Middle Stream were fully hand-pared. Weedboat work along the River Tone at Curry Moor was 88% completed, descoped in December because river levels were too high. Outfall jetting and desilting on the Parrett and Tone covered Dunwear Pond, Sam Gamlins, Newhouse Farm, Elson’s Clyce, Moats, and Screech Owl.
The Environment Agency calculate this work reduced flood risks for 447 commercial properties, 416 homes, 2,198 hectares of farmland, 6.34 miles (10.2km) of minor roads and 2.2 miles (3.5km) of the rail Owl near Huntworth.
