Somerset Rivers Authority
Dear councillors,
I’m pleased to be sending you our 11th Annual Report, for 2025-26. The report is attached in a choice of two versions, illustrated or text only. Alternatively, you can read the whole report online at SRA Annual Report 2025-26 - Somerset Rivers Authority.
In the report, you will find details of dozens of SRA-funded activities across Somerset between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, all done to reduce the risks and impacts of flooding.
At the SRA, we fund extra flood-related work so that our partners (and others) can do more for Somerset than they would otherwise be able to.
The last year has been perhaps the most significant year since the SRA was launched in 2015. Last September saw the completion of our major improvements along the River Sowy - King’s Sedgemoor Drain (KSD), where bank-raising means more water can now be discharged faster from the Somerset Levels and Moors. Since then, events have included near-disastrous floods in January, a ministerial visit in February, the May 2026 report of the government’s Climate Change Committee, and June's announcement from the Government of £50million extra for Somerset flood resilience.
Some would judge that January was the peak of our endeavours, because the completed KSD work protected Moorland from flooding. Others would say that we are now launched on a period of significant improvement thanks to the £50m additional funding from government. I would say that we will never completely prevent flooding, but we will keep persevering with keeping it under control to the extent that climate change permits. Right now we're awaiting storm deluges following the summer's heatwaves; they'll fall on dry ground so may cause flash flooding.
Local organisations – parishes and local flood groups – will play an increasing role.
Our own Community Flood Action Fund (CFAF) is already helping many communities reduce risk.
Please consider whether this Fund could help your area too.
Because a lot can be achieved through working together on local priorities, as I hope you will see throughout this annual report.
This is my last annual report as I am standing down from Somerset Council next May. I am deeply grateful for the efficient and good-humoured support of the whole SRA team over the past 4 years, and wish my successor well.
Please get in touch with us if you have any comments or questions.
Regards,
Mike
Cllr Mike Stanton, Chair of Somerset Rivers Authority