Get used to Welshpool weather extremes
The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are gathering local views on a new approach to managing water in the Upper Severn Valley and said the Welshpool area should “adapt to these extremes in weather”.
The Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales alongside Shropshire Council and Powys County Council have released their proposal for how plans will be progressed to make the Severn a more vibrant and resilient river catchment.
The Severn Valley Water Management (SVWMS) strategy aims to deliver a long-term sustainable plan for the communities who live and work in the area and for the next five weeks they are inviting the community to share their views on the long-term approach for the area via a new consultation.
What’s the problem?
The Upper Severn catchment went from winter flooding to drought within the space of eight months, with groundwater and reservoir stores being used to support the people and wildlife who depend on the water supply provided by the Severn.
To help address these issues, the SVWMS is adopting a regenerative approach, meaning that interventions will seek to positively contribute to addressing the climate crisis and halting biodiversity decline, whilst also providing significant flood risk benefits.
It will investigate interventions including natural flood risk management measures that slow the flow of water upstream such as the creation of leaky dams and land management practices as well as engineered solutions such as the construction of flood storage areas and embankments.
The SVWMS team have already undertaken scoping work to better understand the potential scale of both nature-based and engineered interventions that might be required to enable effective water management across the area, upstream of Shrewsbury.
What the experts are saying:
David McKnight, Flood and Coastal Risk Manager at the Environment Agency:
“Delivering the SVWMS is a long-term solution to sustainable water management, and we are right at the beginning of a complex journey to achieve our vision.
We are looking forward to developing and testing options in collaboration with partners and communities across England and Wales in 2024 as we begin the consultation.
We want to hear from all areas of the Severn community as we embark on the transformation programme that the catchment needs to be able to adapt to our changing climate and continue to thrive.”
Gavin Bown, Natural Resources Wales’ Head of Operations for Mid Wales:
“The impact of flooding can be devastating for communities, and the reality of the climate crisis means that we have to adapt to extreme weather conditions in the future.
We are a partner of the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme because it has the potential to enhance our work to reduce flood risk to communities in north Powys while also providing important benefits for nature and the environment.
This consultation is an important step in learning about what is important for communities across the catchment, and it will influence how we move forward to protect people and the local environment.”
Have your say on the consultation by May 21.
Respondents in Wales can respond in Welsh at: https://bit.ly/SVWMSCYM0424
Respondents in Wales can respond in English at: https://bit.ly/SVWMSENG0424
Respondents in England can respond at http://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/west-midlands/svwms.
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