Dartmoor Headwaters
JAZZ AUSTIN, DARTMOOR HEADWATERS COORDINATOR, DNPA
Why is Dartmoor important for flooding?
• The headwaters of many of Devon’s rivers originate on Dartmoor
• Over 21,000 properties at risk of downstream flooding
• Catchments respond rapidly to rainfall due to geology, topography and land use
• Climate change predictions for more intense and frequent rainfall events, alongside increased periods of drought
Priority catchments
• Yealm
• Erme
• Bovey
• East and West Okement
• Mardle and Dean Burn
• Colybrook
• Black Brook
National context: rainfall intensity
If we do nothing, Dartmoor will face:
• 27-33% higher peak flows by 2050s
• 50% increase in rainfall intensity by 2070s
• 40% increase in flood peak by 2080s
Natural Flood Management (NFM)
Increase flood resilience to downstream communities by restoring or mimicking natural process to:
• Increase infiltration
• Slow flows
• Store water
Dartmoor Headwaters NFM project
Delivering capital works and advice on Dartmoor since 2018.
Creating, enhancing, restoring, and maintaining habitats and structures that will deliver objectives to reduce flood risk as well as improving biodiversity and other benefits.
• Improving soil condition
• Floodplain reconnection
• River restoration
• Peatland restoration
• Tree planting
• Leaky dams
• Wetland restoration
• Valley mire restoration
• Water storage ponds
Policy and cultural context
Agriculture and the Commons – privately owned with commoners rights to graze livestock. e.g. land management priorities and agreements required for NFM.
Landscape Character Assessment – guides planning decisions within the Dartmoor Local Plan and land management activity to preserve qualities of National Park. e.g. fencing and tree planting.
Military use – firing restricts restoration season and historical military use requires costly UXO surveys for groundworks.
Archaeology – internationally significant features which are protected to different levels.
Protected sites network – variety of environmental designations including SAC and SSSI protection.
Lots of projects – catalogue of Dartmoor Natural Environment Projects
https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/wildlife-and-heritage/dartmoor-naturalenvironment-projects
jaustin@dartmoor.gov.uk
