Channel maintenance
The Environment Agency routinely considers dredging and vegetation management in watercourses to reduce flood risk. We do this work where it is:
- technically sound,
- economically viable,
- environmentally acceptable and sustainable.
We spend around £3 million per year on dredging in England and Wales. A further £8 million is spent on weed removal to let rivers flow freely in their natural channels
We also de-silt rivers at critical locations, where we are also the navigation authority, to allow passage for boats.
Find out more in the briefing note below.
