Environment
Agency teams are out in force to wage war
on weeds in Chichester watercourses as part
of an annual river maintenance programme
to reduce flood risk and improve habitats
for wildlife.
Environment Agency teams
are out in force to wage war on weeds in
Chichester watercourses as part of an annual
river maintenance programme to reduce flood
risk and improve habitats for wildlife.
This essential work
will now take place and continue throughout
the autumn and winter until March 2011.
Vegetation management is the control of
aquatic weeds, grass cutting on river banks
and the trimming or removal of trees, which
if left unmanaged could block the flow of
watercourses and cause an increased risk
of flooding.
Barry Killner, Area
Operations Delivery Team Leader, said: “It
is essential that we keep river channels
clear of blockages in built up or urban
areas where the impact of flooding is greatest,
especially where the watercourse is a single
channel.
“Weed growth in the
summer can be a problem as it reduces the
amount of water a river can carry. Some
rivers are classed as special areas for
conservation, so any work that is carried
out will fully take into account the need
to protect wildlife habitats and the local
environment. “
The Environment Agency
spends around £8 million per year
on weed removal in England and Wales to
ensure that rivers flow freely in their
natural channels.
A summary of the planned
annual routine maintenance work for 2010
to 2011 can be viewed online at:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/109548.aspx
With climate change
likely to increase the risk of extreme weather
events and floods, the Environment Agency
has launched three simple flooding guides
that offer crucial advice on how to protect
your home and family - before, during and
after flooding.
The guides form an essential
part of the Environment Agency’s ongoing
Flood Awareness Campaign which urges every
household and business to check their flood
risk by calling Floodline on 0845 9881188
or using the online postcode checker at
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood.
