Progress has been made on a number of flood risk management schemes in the south-west. This helps reduce flood risk to local residents and businesses. This helps to form a more sustainable approach towards flood risk management.

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and Environment Agency’s Steart Marshes scheme are the UK’s biggest ever coastal realignment project. This was completed with high tides entering the area. Which was done through the Parrett Estuary coastal embankments. Steart Marshes will not only provide flood protection to the local area, but will also replace the loss of inter-tidal habitat. This is predicted to occur within the Severn Estuary. Which is a result of rising sea levels due to climate change.

However, further up the River Parrett, the Environment Agency have reported that they remain on programme to complete dredging work. As part of the Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan, 8 km of the rivers were scheduled to be dredged. This was to increase the capacity during flood events and remove ‘pinch-points’.

Finally, the Environment Agency have begun the first phase of a £30 million flood defence scheme. This is in Exeter. The first phase will increase the flow capacity of the Trew’s flood relief channel. This, when completed, will reduce flood risk to 3,000 homes and businesses in the city.

Here at RMA we provide Flood Risk and Hydrology services: Find out more