Video: How woody dams help slow the flow from hills to levels

Dozens of woody dams are being installed across Somerset to help reduce flooding.

Historically, woody dams that occurred naturally were taken out, because they were believed to impair fish migration and cause local flooding.

But things change.

Somerset’s award-winning Hills to Project is now re-introducing woody dams in carefully selected locations, as research has shown that they usefully slow the flow of water and boost the health of streams.

Leaky woody dams:

• Function as natural downstream flood prevention
• Improve physical and chemical water quality
• Provide benefits for wildlife

Somerset Rivers Authority has been one of the main backers of Hills to Levels since 2015, initially using Growth Deal money from the Heart of the SW Local Enterprise Partnership and, more recently, council tax and contributions from Somerset’s Internal Drainage Boards.

This video features Ben Thorne of FWAG SW, who leads the SRA’s workstream on Land Management.

It’s the second in a series demonstrating natural flood management techniques across Somerset. Filming took place on a day when various interested parties were invited to come along to see some woody dams being created in the Blackdown Hills south of Taunton, hence the shots of a crew from BBC Points West and local people such as Bryony Sadler of the Flooding on the Levels Action Group (FLAG). The filming and editing of this video were done by Watershed PR.

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