Somerset Rivers Authority annual report for 2023-24 is now available online at SRA Annual Report 2023-24

SRA was launched as a partnership in January 2015 following the devastating flooding that hit Somerset over the winter of 2013-14 and the production of a 20 Year Flood Action Plan.

The SRA fund extra flood-related work over and above that which the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Boards, Wessex Water and other agencies are able to do.

A decade on and SRA have achieved a lot, but there is still much more to be done. 2023-24 showed climate change intensifying flooding problems across our county, and recent rains suggest another worryingly unpredictable winter to come.

Summarised in the annual report is the SRA’s new Strategy for the next ten years. Their focus is now on whole river catchments, which they were unable to do before the advent of the unitary Somerset Council.

They face some hard constraints and challenges (not least financial), but are determined to push on with a range of schemes and activities across river catchments in Somerset.

One pilot initiative being launched soon, which may be of particular interest to you, is a small grants scheme for local flood risk reduction measures. This scheme will be known as a Community Flood Action Fund, and grants will be disbursed from April 2025.

Further details about how to apply will be shared in December.

SRA Annual Report 2023-24 - Somerset Rivers Authority.

2nd October 2024