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River Exe and the Exmoor Mires Project (River Exe (Impermeable rock…
River Exe and the Exmoor Mires Project
River Exe
High drainage density
Impermeable rock
Mostly Devonian sandstones
Causes high runoff due to lack of infiltration
Drainage ditches reduce soil water storage
Most rainfall is absorbed by the peaty moorland soils
The Exe responds relatively slowly to rainfall events
High runoff
The rural nature of the lower catchment means that discharge recedes slowly after flooding
Peatland restoration
Drainage ditches were dug to make the land more suitable for farming but this made the water flow more quickly into the Exe reducing water quality because there was more silt in the water
Peat has also been dug up to be used as fuel
leaving behind ugly scars
As the peat surface dries out decomposition occurs, releasing carbon from this important carbon store
The Exmoor Mires project
Works to restore the peat bogs by blocking the drainage ditches
This returns the ground to the saturated, boggy conditions that would naturally occur
Helps to retain carbon stored in the peat
Data shows that water tables have started to rise
Storm flow and flood peaks have been reduced and base flow has increased
reduced chance of flooding
Wimbleball reservoir
An upland tributary of the river exe was dammed to create Wimbleball reservoir
It supplies water to Exeter and parts of East Devon
I regulates water flow and prevents the peaks and troughs of discharge
This makes flooding and drought less likely