LONDON, Nov. 25 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
The Environment Agency has announced the completion of majormaintenance investmentstoessentialflood storageareasacross the Somerset Levels and Moors, as part of a £90 millioncapitalinvestment programme tocontinueprotectingcommunities from flooding.
The programme of works, which beganon site in2022, has strengthenedresilience to floodingat three key sites: West Moor, Curry Moor, and Southlake Moor Reservoirs.This maintenancewillhelp manage resilience to floodingfor villages, farms, and major transport routes including the A361 Taunton-Glastonbury trunk road.
The Somerset Levels and Moors face unique flooding challenges, with 18% of Somerset lying below average tide level. The upgradedflood storage areasform part of an interconnectedfloodwater managementsystem, meaning improvements to individual sites strengthen the resilience of the entire network.
Millions invested into flooding
Southlake Reservoir view from Burrow Mump
The Environment Agency is investing tens of millions inmaintainingthe flood storage areas in the Somerset Levels and Moors.
This investmentintocapitalmaintenanceis funded through the Government's £5.2 billion programmeinvestmentto protect 336,000 properties from flooding and coastal erosion by 2027, recognising the vulnerability of this low-lying region which extends over 60,000hectares, equivalent toover84,000standard football pitches.
These flood storage areas were built in partnership by construction company Kier.
Located approximately 3.5km south of Langport,West Moor Reservoir has undergone substantial improvements, including the replacement of a connecting pipe between the two moors and construction of a new outlet spillway from South Moor and a new inlet and outlet spillway at West Moor.
These improvements help protect Thorney village and surrounding areas during periods of high-water levels, when the area stores 8.5 million cubic metres of water from the wider catchment- the equivalent ofthe volume of3,400Olympic swimming pools. With favourable conditions, current planned completion of works is now programmed for October 2026.
At Curry MoorReservoir, located 9km west of Langport, improvements have included the installation ofadebrisscreen, bankrepairs, and the completion of critical embankmentand spillwayworks along a 200-metre section of the River Tone between Hook Bridge,and New Bridge.These works, scheduled to finish in 2026, will protect local farms, settlements, and the vital A361 transport link.
Southlake Moor Reservoir has seen significant strengthening of the right bank of the River Parrett and reinstatement of the left bank of the RiverSowy. A new spillway for preferential overflowin and out of themoorhas been constructed, withadditionalperimeter works planned for April 2026.
Construction of one end of the connecting pipe for West and South Moor reservoirs
Ian Withers, Wessex Area Director, Environment Agency, said:
Thesevitalmaintenance investmentsrepresent a significant step forward incontinuing toprotect Somerset communities from flooding.
The £90 million investmentdemonstratesour commitment to building resilience across the Somerset Levels and Moors, an area we knowhas a unique and persistent flood riskdue to its geography.
By strengthening theseessentialflood storage reservoirs,we'renot only protecting homes and businesses today but ensuring these communities are better prepared for future flood events. The interconnected nature of our flood cell systemin low-lying Somerset catchmentsmeansthesemaintenanceinvestments benefit a much wider area.
Jason Flagg, Catchment Engineer for Wessex West reservoir projects, Environment Agency, said:
The technical complexity of these reservoir upgrades has been immense, but the engineering solutions we've implemented will make a real difference when communitiesare most at risk.
From the new spillway systems at West Moorand South Moorto the comprehensive bank reinforcement at Southlake, every element has been designed to work as part of the wider flood management network.
We've also ensured our work protects the local environment - our careful approach to preserving wildlife habitats, including the reed canary-grass stands that support rare species,as well as conservation of archaeological finds,shows that effective flood defence and environmental protection can go hand in hand. These reservoirs are now ina strengthenedcondition to serve communities for decades to come.
The Somerset Levels and Moors have a long history of flooding, with records dating back to the 1600s and significant recent events in 2014, 2012, 2000, 1997, 1960, and 1929. The 2014 floods particularly affected the Parrett and Tone River catchments.
Protection of nature
Currymoor Reservoir with Athelney spillway overflowing near King Alfred's monument
Comprehensive environmental protection measures were implemented throughout the reservoir upgrades to safeguard local wildlife, through collaboration with Natural England.
At Southlake Reservoir, bat surveys preceded all works at Burrow Wall, whileWest Moor required the careful relocation of fish across eight watercourses during summer 2023 to enable construction access.
At CurryMoor, teams created a new artificial badgersettto replace one affected by River Tone embankment works and conducted specialist water vole detection dog surveys to ensure no disturbance to these protected species or their burrows.
Field teams have also takenspecial measuresto protect reed canary-grass stands along the River Tone, preserving the habitat for hairyclick beetle larvae.
The work balanced essential flood protection with preserving the rich biodiversity of the Somerset Levels and Moors.
Notes to Editors
*
The Somerset Levels and Moors consist of 'The Levels' (the higher coastal clay belt) and the 'Moors' (the low-lying basin into which rivers overspill and flood). Much of the area has been historically drained for agricultural and residential purposes.
*
The EA is the largest undertaker of reservoirs in England with over 200 in their portfolio.
*
Thesereservoirsassistinprotectinglarge areas of the Somerset Levels and Moors from flooding and are a means of managing flooding in an effective way in what would otherwise be a constantly wet marsh land.
*
Theflood storage areasare dry most of the time and only fill up during flood conditions.
*
West Moor, CurrymoorandSouthlakereservoirs areclassified as a 'large raised' reservoir under the Reservoirs Act 1975 andaremaintainedby the Environment Agency as part of its flood risk management responsibilities.Curry Moor Reservoirhasacapacity of10.8million m3.Southlake Reservoirhasacapacity of1.6million m3.West Moor Reservoirhasacapacity of8.5million m3.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
