Newsletter about River Parrett dredging in January 2026
Dredging of the River Parrett downstream of Burrowbridge and the River Tone upstream of Burrowbridge was a key project identified in Somerset’s original 2014 20-Year Flood Action Plan.
Dredging was carried out by the Environment Agency in 2014.
Since 2015, the Parrett Internal Drainage Board has delivered a programme of maintenance work to ensure that the channel profile achieved following the 2014 dredge is maintained to maximise conveyance during flood flows. This work has only been possible with funding from Somerset Rivers Authority.
This winter’s work is planned to start on 6 January 2026, to coincide with some of the larger tides of the winter. The extent of this winter’s work, from Burrowbridge down to Northmoor Pumping Station, is shown in the image below.
This work is expected to be completed in two to three weeks.
Project details
An identical method of working was carried out in January 2025 utilising a craft called the Borr operated by contractors Van Oord and a floating platform in the river with an excavator mounted on it operated by WM Longreach.
The platform mounted excavator pulls silt off the shoulders of the river bank and deposits it in the channel: see image below.
The Borr then uses powerful jets of water to agitate and disperse the material placed in its path, so they get washed out on the outgoing tide. In the image below, the water injection bar is shown in the raised position.
The image below – showing one of the screens in the Borr’s cabin – tells the Borr’s crew the position of the water injection bar and the Borr itself in relation to the river channel.
If you have any queries about River Parrett dredging in January 2026, please e-mail admin@somersetdrainageboards.gov.uk citing Water Injection Dredging as the subject of your email.
Alternatively, you can contact the Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium office on 01278 789906.
Download a PDF of this newsletter: Newsletter PDF about River Parrett dredging in January 2026