river river originates parish somerset england reaches sea kilometres west originally took different route sea changed twelfth century river provides important drainage route water low lying area prone flooding man tried manage canals artificial rivers centuries ecological conservation project based managed valley includes sites special scientific interest including area centre extraction project commenced january restore habitat support wildlife aim able sustain face climate change farmers landowners continue use land increasing number landscape scale conservation projects course river originates hills southwest area close border hills sources flow south descends quickly narrow valley point joined takes route broad flat valley time reaches metres sea level surrounding countryside drained way numerous passes acts natural boundary nearby village street flowing largely artificial channel sea joined white river takes water artificial channel connects drainage connect channels controlled tidal new bridge bow bridge 15th century bridge grade listed building scheduled monument bridge built link bridge restored floods long history flooding lower reaches close sea level river drains area square kilometres steep narrow valley protective dam built kilometre upstream town valley includes sites special scientific interest including area centre extraction large areas laid particularly period ice sheets melted extraction known taken place roman times carried levels drained extraction somerset continues today reduced history area known occupied people exploited natural resources started construct wooden sweet post tracks sweet track named discovered dating world oldest timber thought world oldest engineered roadway track built early 4th millennium island ridge high ground close river remains similar tracks uncovered nearby connecting settlements including way levels contain best preserved prehistoric village lake village discovered inhabited people living built artificial foundation timber filled rubble clay valley period site salt extraction time king arthur formed lake south hilly ground stands according legend lake locations suggested legend home lady lake bridge stood western end lake guarding south suggested sir threw waters king arthur fell battle noted 16th century bridge arches illustration having arches pointed probably 14th 15th century round excavations found remains second round arch regarded 12th century work current concrete arch bridge built extended carries road alteration route 13th century direct route sea blocked gravel banks near course river partially encircled south western north gap join river axe north route difficult officials transport produce outlying estates abbey valley river axe flood backed flood new channel constructed westwards pool north westwards divided channels cut flowing north mark join axe near directly west sea monastic times fish lower reaches river nets fishing rights belonging wells abbot drainage improvements series took place valley annual floods filled valley work commissioners led drainage act enabled sections bridge straightened new channels constructed built replaced moved downstream area suffered centuries earliest recorded damage stone bridge destroyed river rose rapidly june millimetres rain fell hours leaving water mark pub feet normal level river extensive flooding occurred town result protective dam built kilometre upstream town 19th 20th 21st centuries mouth river extensive harbour roman saxon times medieval period small harbour 17th 18th centuries port formally opened river new wharf known built river mouth import coal export bricks tiles agricultural products port closed built early 19th century connected river course bridge ran miles locks entered canal authorised parliament opened operated abandoned navigation railway built second world war incorporated constructed river near mill cattle feed kilowatts hydroelectric turbine recently installed site mill 13th century current building built following summer floods prolonged flooding formed partly funded organisations including countryside agency water aim tackle areas combined significant contribution reducing adverse effects flooding include conversion land adoption approach controlling runoff developed areas raising improving pumping facilities studies possible beneficial effects woodland reducing flooding undertaken winter flooding river overflowed new year rain storms residents asking resume river january light continued flooded extent forecast new rainfall winter storms united_kingdom declared major incident defined civil act time acres agricultural land having water month village abandoned cut flood waters month commonly known severely affected end january acres agricultural land including hay water month partly flooded february ready deployed houses flooded flooding disrupted services including trains bristol exeter line work title river maintenance pilot project led controversy need maintenance river water quality dam nearest measuring station source river normal level river metres metres highest level recorded metres town normal level metres metres downstream normal level metres metres downstream monitoring station hole near street records normal range metres metres purposes monitoring water quality axe considered water bodies area considered moderate water quality poor good quality agriculture rural land management largest factor affecting water quality followed water industry transport industry manufacturing effect ecology conservation project managed project commenced january aims restore habitat aims help wildlife sustain face climate change farmers landowners continue use land increasing number landscape scale conservation projects project covers area approximately hectares acres encompassing river little east west quarter project area designated special protection area spa site project area accounts half special protection area area includes land managed conservation organisations including natural england hawk owl trust include national nature reserve lows national nature reserve wall scheduled monuments project area including internationally important sites research crucial understanding natural human history wetlands project based solely based soils extend marine clay soils westerly levels project set major objectives include mapping research engagement local government farmers conservation sector interest community members produce shared local vision hoped create larger better connected patches important habitats way benefits local economy rural society project received funding wave project wetland vision credits scheme project goals protect restore create areas grazing marsh raised lowland meadow purple grass rush wet woodland species conservation concern biodiversity action plan priority species likely benefit project include plants divided english sticky greater water lesser butterfly marsh tubular water flora provides habitat species invertebrates include narrow bordered bee hawk narrow bordered bee hawk butterfly species include small heath pearl bordered small pearl bordered beetles found valley include lesser silver water beetle diving beetle shining ram horn bees river tributaries support population european reptiles found include european grass snake multiple bird species include swan european circus house marsh circus marsh northern reed short owl song willow species interest include brown hare harvest mouse european water recreation find pike excess pounds good stocks perch trout upper reaches access points river suitable river far recent rain public alongside stretches river
River Brue