River Parrett

River Parrett
River Parrett near Burrowbridge
Map of the river and major tributaries
Location
CountryEngland
CountiesDorset, Somerset
DistrictSomerset Levels
Towns and villagesBridgwater, Langport, Cannington, Combwich
Physical characteristics
SourceChedington
 • locationDorset, England
 • coordinates50°50′48″N 2°43′58″W / 50.84667°N 2.73278°W / 50.84667; -2.73278
MouthBridgwater Bay
 • location
Burnham on Sea, Sedgemoor, Somerset, England
 • coordinates
51°13′45″N 3°00′31″W / 51.22917°N 3.00861°W / 51.22917; -3.00861
Length37 mi (60 km)
Basin size643 sq mi (1,670 km2)
Discharge 
 • locationChiselborough
 • average67.45 cu ft/s (1.910 m3/s)
 • minimum2.5 cu ft/s (0.071 m3/s)
 • maximum6,109 cu ft/s (173.0 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftKing's Sedgemoor Drain, Cannington Brook, River Yeo
 • rightBridgwater and Taunton Canal, River Tone, River Isle

The River Parrett flows through the counties of Dorset and Somerset in South West England, from its source in the Thorney Mills springs in the hills around Chedington in Dorset. Flowing northwest through Somerset and the Somerset Levels to its mouth at Burnham-on-Sea, into the Bridgwater Bay nature reserve on the Bristol Channel, the Parrett and its tributaries drain an area of 660 square miles (1,700 km2) – about 50 per cent of Somerset's land area, with a population of 300,000.[1][2]

The Parrett's main tributaries include the Rivers Tone, Isle, and Yeo, and the River Cary via the King's Sedgemoor Drain. The 37-mile (60 km) long river is tidal for 19 miles (31 km) up to Oath. The fall of the river between Langport and Bridgwater is only 1 foot per mile (0.2 m/km), so it is prone to frequent flooding in winter and during high tides. Many approaches have been tried since at least the medieval period to reduce the incidence and effect of floods and to drain the surrounding fields.

In Anglo-Saxon times the river formed a boundary between Wessex and Dumnonia. It later served the Port of Bridgwater, and enabled cargoes to be transported inland. The arrival of the railways led to a decline in commercial shipping, and the only working docks are at Dunball. Human influence on the river has left a legacy of bridges and industrial artefacts. The Parrett along with its connected waterways and network of drains supports an ecosystem that includes several rare species of flora and fauna. The River Parrett Trail has been established along the banks of the river.

  1. ^ Nursey, Keith (1 December 2009). "Parrett Catchment Flood Management Plan" (PDF). Environment Agency. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  2. ^ Thomas, H.; Nisbet, T. R. (2007). "An assessment of the impact of floodplain woodland on flood flows". Water and Environment Journal. 21 (2): 114–126. doi:10.1111/j.1747-6593.2006.00056.x. S2CID 54619195.

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