Soil and Water
Flooding
Farmers and landowners with property or land adjacent to a river or other watercourse have a number of responsibilities including:
- Maintaining the bed and banks of the watercourse
- Clearing any debris, natural or otherwise even if it did not originate from your land
- Not causing any obstructions to the free passage of fish
- Keeping the bed and banks clear of any matter that could cause an obstruction, either on your land or by being washed away by high flow to obstruct a structure downstream
- Keeping clear any structures that you own such as culverts, trash screens, weirs and mill gates
If you plan to carry out work on land adjacent to a watercourse plans must be submitted to the Environment Agency and the local authority before starting.
If you are worried about flooding phone the Environment Agency’s Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
You can also register for Floodline Warnings Direct, a free service that provides flood warnings direct to you by telephone, mobile, fax or pager. You will also get practical advice on preparing for a flood, and what to do if one happens.
View current flood warnings (updated every 15 minutes)
Am I at risk of flooding?
What is the likelihood of flooding in your area? Use the EA’s Flood Map to find out. You can also find out how your home insurance might be affected, about how flooding can occur miles away from rivers or the sea, and how you can receive early warnings of floods.
Advice to Farmers: Managing manure after prolonged wet weather – click here to download
Environment Agency: http://environment-agency.gov.uk/ or 0845 988 1188
Met Office: www.metoffice.gov.uk
Defra Public Enquiries: www.gov.uk/defra or 08459 335577
