Conservation Policy

Introduction

The West Mendip Internal Drainage Board has adopted this Conservation Policy, to set out how it intends meeting the duty placed on Internal Drainage Boards under the provisions of the Land Drainage Act 1994 and other relevant legislation, to undertake watercourse maintenance and water level management in a way that iscompatible with nature conservation interests.

The Board recognises the need to positively demonstrate that its watercourse maintenance and water level management and maintenance operations, and capital works, are undertaken in a manner that, whilst reducing flood risk and managing flows, also safeguards nature conservation interests and, wherever possible, makes a positive contribution to the enhancement of the natural environment.

The Drainage District

The West Mendip Internal Drainage Board has an operational area (Drainage District) covering some 5,860 hectares (14,500 acres) of the low-lying North Somerset Moors and Levels, inland from Weston-super-Mare and Kewstoke, to Wick St Lawrence, Congresbury, Churchill, Sandford, Banwell, Locking, Hutton and Uphill. All of this area is below sea level at Mean High Water Spring Tides.

The District is protected from tidal and fluvial flooding by sea defences and a network of rivers, rhynes, drains and other interconnecting watercourses. These predominantly man-made, or heavily modified natural features, demonstrate the significance that several hundred years of water control has made in creating the present, valued, landscape from a natural marshland. Within this area the Board has a supervisory role in respect of all matters relating to the drainage of land.

Whilst the Board has powers to undertake works on any non-main river watercourse within its Drainage District, direct maintenance is limited to the Viewed Rhynes, which form the strategic arterial drainage system. These Viewed Rhynes extend to 95km (62miles) length and include 38 water control structures and 2 sea outfalls.

Oldbridge River at Puxton Bow showing retained marginal planting

Plan showing West Mendip IDB Drainage District

Key:
Drainage District Boundary Red
West Mendip IDB Viewed Rhynes Blue
Environment Agency ‘Main’ Rivers Green

The Board also manages water levels in the strategic arterial drainage system - particularly during summer months, to maintain an adequate water supply for agricultural purposes and wet grassland conservation, and in winter for land drainage and flood defence.

The balance between these, sometimes conflicting, functions can be very fine and present management practices have evolved from close co-operation between the Board, the farming community and the needs of those living in the urban areas served, over many years.

With the exception of ‘main rivers’, which are watercourses under the control of the Environment Agency and the ‘Viewed Rhynes’ (watercourses under the control of the Internal Drainage Board), the responsibility for maintenance of all other watercourses and field ditches rests with the adjoining landowner, known in law as the ‘riparian owner’.

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