River Exe Case Study

Where is the river Exe

South West England, running from Exmoor to Dartmoor, its mouth entering the English Channel

What rock type is its drainage basin

93% is moderate- little permeability

What is the main land use

Farmland - 57% is grazing/grasses

What is the topography

Steep sided valleys with a max altitude of 516m

What does having a high drainage density mean

Many tributaries, so water reaches the channel quicker

What is its river regime like

Flashy/ very variable, often going over max discharge = flood risk

What is the wimbleball reservoir

Aims to slow water flow to exmouth, and stores excess discharge

How much did peatland restoration cost?

£2.2million

How much space does the peatland restoration cover

2000 hectares

What was the aim of exmoor mires project

To block drainage ditches to regulate flow and reduce flooding

What are the benefits of increased moss growth in peatland

Sphagnum moss stores 20x more water then soil, significantly reduces flooding

What other benefits of the exmoor mires project

Absorbs more carbon, less silt carried to river so cleaner water, restores water table

What was the success of exmoor mires project?

Increased the water table by 2.2cm.