Somerset Rivers Authority 1.86

Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) was launched on January 31, 2015 to play a key role in flood protection for the county.

It was one of the Actions of the Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan, set up at the Government’s request to reduce the severity, duration and frequency of flooding like that experienced in 2013/14.

The SRA’s purpose is to deliver higher standards of flood protection than would be funded nationally, and to create better flood protection and resilience against further flooding by joint planning and delivery (where possible).

Somerset Rivers Authority oversees all the work being done as part of Somerset’s 20 Year Flood Action Plan. The overarching aim of the plan is to reduce the frequency, duration and severity of flooding.

Other flood risk management authorities at work in Somerset are the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Internal Drainage Boards, Wessex Water, Somerset County Council (the Lead Local Flood Authority), and the five district councils of South Somerset District Council, Mendip District Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council, Sedgemoor District Council and West Somerset District Council.

In addition, work is done by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group SW (FWAG SW) together with the Hills to Levels partnership which is led by the Royal Bath & West Society and also includes the RSPB and Somerset Wildlife Trust.

Involvement with the SRA means that work can be co-ordinated to ensure that organisations’ collective experience and knowledge benefits Somerset’s flood risk management.