Devon’s rivers, streams, canals and ditches form a network of watercourses that’s around 15,600 kilometres long.
This network provides wildlife habitat and critical connectivity right across the county.
78% of our river and estuary waterbodies are not in good ecological status.
River Dart, David Chamberlain
River Dart, Adrian Colston
River Okement
Clear, unpolluted water in a natural channel that reflects the local geology and conditions and is teeming with wildlife. The banks and surrounding land are diverse and create a natural wildlife corridor that weaves through the landscape. Floodplain grasslands support nesting wadersLong-legged and long-billed birds that forage in shallow water, mudflats, and wetlands. such as Lapwings.
Freshwater mammals: Otter, Beaver, Water Vole.
Fish: migratory fish (including Atlantic Salmon and European Eels).
Invertebrates: Freshwater Pearl Mussel, native White-clawed Crayfish, a fly (Leucophora sponsa)
Lichens, bryophytes: aquatic lichens, mid-river bryophytes
Vegetated watercourse corridors provide critical habitat and connectivity for a range of other special species including bats, butterflies and birds.
UK Priority Habitat: Rivers and streams that meet national criteria.
Statutory irreplaceable habitatIrreplaceable habitat, if destroyed, is very difficult (or takes a significant time) to restore, recreate or replace because of its age, uniqueness, species diversity or rarity.: Natural watercourses aren’t statutory irreplaceable habitats but could be considered as such.
Other benefits: Food, water resource, flood control, recreation and tourism.
Rivers, streams, canals and their vegetated banks and floodplain habitats are the wildlife-rich veins of Devon’s nature network. They provide unique habitats and critical connectivity for wildlife. Because of its high rainfall and diverse geology, Devon has a higher density of watercourses than most other counties.
Most natural watercourses in Devon start life as fast-flowing streams (headwaters) in the bogs of Dartmoor and Exmoor or rise on the wetlands of north Devon and the Blackdown Hills. However, there are springs and streams all across the county that feed into our complex watercourse network.
Each watercourse has its own assemblageA group of different species that are found together in one place. of species suited to its unique character and history. The faster-flowing upper reaches of rivers support species such as Dippers, Grey Wagtails, Salmon, Bullhead and Trout. Slower, calmer waters in the lower reaches support plants, invertebrates and birds such as Herons and Kingfishers. The ancient woodlands that have survived along many of Devon’s steep river valleys support moisture-loving mosses and lichens. Vegetated riverbanks provide connectivity for lots of wildlife, including rare bats.
All watercourses across Devon are in one of the Environment Agency’s four management catchments: Tamar, North Devon, South Devon and East Devon. These management catchments are designed to improve how water resources are protected and managed. Each has a Catchment Partnership that works together to ensure a healthy water environment.
Tamar catchment: Includes the Plym, Tavy, Thrushel, Wolf and Lyd, which all rise on Dartmoor, and the Tamar, which rises in the Culm on the Cornish border south of Hartland. All flow into Plymouth Sound. This catchment also includes the Yealm and its tributaries, which flow into the Yealm estuary.
South Devon catchment: Includes the Erme, Avon, Dart and Teign, which start as streams on Dartmoor’s bogs and flow into their own estuaries.
North Devon catchment: Includes the Taw, which rises on Dartmoor and is joined by the river Mole and its major tributaries and by the Bray and Yeo, flowing from the edge of Exmoor. Also includes the Torridge, which rises in the Culm wetlands south of Hartland and is joined by the Okement flowing from Dartmoor. The Taw and Torridge flow into a large shared estuary on the north Devon coast. The north Devon and Hartland streams are a collection of short streams which flow to the sea through deeply-cut wooded river valleys.
East Devon catchment: Includes the Exe, which rises on Exmoor, and its tributaries such as the Creed, which rises north of Crediton, the Clyst, which rises near Clyst Hydon, and the Culm, which rises in the Blackdowns. All flow into the Exe Estuary. This catchment also includes the Axe, Sid and Otter, which all rise in the wetlands of the Blackdown Hills scarp slopes, and their tributaries.
See Find out more below for more information on Devon’s Catchment Partnerships.
Canals: There are seven canals across Devon, including the Grand Western Canal north of Tiverton, which is a Local Nature Reserve, Exeter Ship Canal, one of the oldest artificial waterways in the UK, and Tavistock canal. See Find out more below for a full list.
Watercourses are at the heart of complex natural systems that are much more than the water flowing between the banks. A healthy and diverse watercourse system has a wide range of wildlife habitats that support invertebrates and plants, which in turn form the base of a food chain topped by predators such as Otters and Kingfishers.
Healthy watercourse systems need:
Watercourses
Riparian zone (bank tops and floodplain)
The riparian zone is the land adjacent to and influenced by a watercourse. Its width can vary hugely. Along smaller watercourses it can be very narrow, extending from the stream bank to where the slope breaks. On larger rivers it can extend into wide floodplains. The riparian zone can also include steep valley sides that are affected by high humidity and water spray, such as in gorges.
Wider landscape
Many protected species depend on Devon’s rivers. Some rivers once supported good populations of Freshwater Pearl Mussels and White-clawed Crayfish, but both species are now at risk of extinction in the county. The Atlantic Salmon is present in several Devon rivers, but populations are in steep decline in most and several other fish species, including Allis and Twaite Shad and European Eel, are at high risk (see Fish). However, there are signs that some protected species are recovering. Devon now has a growing population of European Beavers, Water Vole populations have recovered in some places, Otters have returned and Allis Shad are thought to be spawning again on the Taw. All these species are also identified as Devon Special SpeciesDevon Species of Conservation Concern that have been 'shortlisted' as needing particular action or attention. in the LNRS.
Many other species that depend on our rivers are notable for their rarity and are classified as Devon Species of Conservation Concern (Devon Special Species are listed in Snapshot above). These include:
Birds: Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Goosander and Sand Martin.
Mosses and lichens: River Jelly Lichen, Atlantic Pocket-moss and Welsh Thread-moss.
Bugs and beetles: Brass-necked Water Beetle, beetles associated with riffleA shallow part of a river where water flows quickly over rocks and stones. habitats and a Long-toed Water Beetle.
Dragonflies: Scarce Chaser and White-legged Damselfly.
Relevant current strategies to improve watercourses include River Basin Management Plans, Diffuse Water Pollution Plan, Landscape Recovery Fund, catchment sensitive farming and the emerging Nature Restoration Funds (see links in Find out more below). However, because these strategies do not focus action on certain rivers, the Environment Agency and Westcountry Rivers Trust have prioritised rivers for wildlife and holistic recovery as part of the LNRS to maximise the potential for real recovery.
National: Only 16% of rivers and lakes achieve Good or High ecological status under the Water Environment Regulations in England. “Freshwater habitats across the UK are under pressure. Populations of many freshwater species are declining, with over 10% threatened with extinction. An estimated 90% of wetlands, have been lost over the last century, while most rivers and lakes are not considered to be close to their natural state in any part of the UK.” (UK Parliament Post Note 709).
Devon: There are 695 river and estuary waterbodies across Devon. Under the Water Environment Regulations, the Environment Agency classifies the main rivers and tributaries according to their ecological status (see the link to River Basin Management Plans in Find out more below). Of those classified in 2019:
The key factors affecting these assessments include pollution from rural areas, pollution from wastewater and physical modifications. See Key pressures and opportunities below.
None of Devon’s rivers are now in their natural condition as they’ve all been heavily affected by human activity over centuries. The degree of damage varies, but most have lost so much of their original structure that returning them to their natural state is no longer a realistic goal. Instead, the goal should be to maximise their value for wildlife in the form they’re in now.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSISite of Special Scientific Interest)
The lower section of the River Axe is Devon’s only legally protected river (a tiny section of the Barle SSSI is in Devon but the majority is in Somerset). The Axe is designated as SSSI and SACSpecial Area of Conservation because of its important plant communities and is classified by Natural England as being in “unfavourable condition, declining”. This is mainly due to nutrient enrichment, especially from phosphates and siltation.
County Wildlife Sites (CWSCounty Wildlife Site)
Rivers are not currently designated as CWS but are considered to have comparable value. See the Devon CWS Guidelines. Funding is needed to review and apply CWS designation to Devon’s rivers. A number of canals are designated as CWS such as the Grand Western Canal. However, data is captured as part of the broad habitat type, Standing Open Water and Canals. Data on individual sites is available from Devon Biodiversity Records Centre.
Agriculture
Agriculture has intensified since World War Two, driven by the need for food security. As a result, we now have higher numbers of livestock (that generate more manure), more land drainage, the widespread use of artificial fertilisers and frequent cultivation of wet ground. All can cause topsoil, fertilisers, pesticides, manure, antibiotics and other pollutants to run off into rivers.
Funding for land management changes that can help improve rivers is now available to all farmers and landowners through the Environmental Land ManagementUK government schemes where farmers are paid to farm productively and in a way that benefits the environment. Scheme. The LNRS can help target this funding to where it can have the most impact. Several Landscape Recovery Schemes in Devon have water quality and quantity, including river restoration, as their main or a significant focus.
Human waste
Population growth and lifestyle changes mean we’re creating an ever-increasing volume of wastewater that needs to be treated. In addition, this wastewater contains increasing amounts of chemicals including pharmaceuticals, herbicides and solvents. Our treatment plants – both public and private – are often not up to the task. However, the Environment Agency and South West Water have plans in place to tackle these problems. See Find out more below for more information.
Roads
Run-off from roads can contain damaging pollutants and often runs directly into watercourses. However, there’s growing awareness of the problem and the need for more treatment to reduce its impact.
Acidification
A few rivers that flow from Dartmoor, such as the West Dart, have been identified as being in ‘acid vulnerable catchments’. This may be due to conifer plantations, flushes off degraded peat or other human sources such as acid precipitation from historic industry. See the map showing rivers vulnerable to acidification in Find out more below.
In some stretches of river a lack of tree management has caused the water to become too shaded. In others, a lack of trees has exposed the water to high temperatures, reducing habitat for fish and invertebrates and leaving river banks vulnerable to erosion. In the wider watercourse corridor, the loss of many habitats to agriculture and development have caused rivers to lose essential connectivity and buffering from pollutants.
Invasive species can spread rapidly in rivers and damage ecosystems. Examples include Himalayan Balsam, which can blanket riverbanks and shade out other species (although it’s a good source of nectar and pollen for insects), and the American Signal Crayfish, which outcompetes our native White-clawed Crayfish and can destabilise riverbanks with its burrows. See Invasive non-native species for more information.
Flooding
Higher and more intense rainfall, our more intensively-managed landscape and a legacy of straightening and channelling rivers all mean that flooding is a growing problem. Some soils are easily compacted so that rainfall, rather than soaking into the ground, quickly runs off into rivers and can cause flooding downstream. Flooding is not only a risk to property, it can also harm wildlife.
Nature-based solutions such as natural flood management are increasingly being used to reduce flood risk. These solutions often provide good habitats for wildlife. For example, the re-introduction of Beavers is a huge opportunity as these natural engineers create wildlife-rich wetlands that slow the flow of water in times of flood.
Abstraction
Some of Devon’s rivers are important sources of drinking water and most are also used to irrigate crops. Artificially managed flows below reservoir dams can interrupt natural river processes and affect river species that depend on natural river flows during their lifecycle, such as migrating Salmon and Trout. Population growth and increased tourism mean that urgent action is needed in some rivers. This has been recognised by government and the Environment Agency and South West Water are developing plans that include reducing household water-use, fixing leaks in the system and, as a last resort, desalination plants or building new reservoirs (although none are planned in Devon). Beaver-created wetlands can also help maintain water levels.
More intense rainfall as a result of climate change is causing flooding that seriously erodes riverbanks and scours river beds. It’s also causing periods of drought and high temperatures that can harm and kill many river-dependent species. High temperatures can be intensified in stretches where there are no riparian trees.
More frequent and intense floods and droughts are affecting people’s lives and the viability of businesses to a degree not seen before. As a result, climate change is making people more aware of how central water is to our lives, which could encourage action.
Humans have modified river channels for many reasons, often to try and reduce flooding or erosion. Modifications include straightening, building embankments, dredging stone and removing woody debris and bankside trees. However, these changes are often unsuccessful because they can cause the river to behave in a more damaging way somewhere else in the system. The loss of gravels from dredging reduces suitable spawning spots for fish and increases erosion of the riverbed. Weirs and dams create barriers for migrating fish and are a particular issue on many Devon rivers.
Since the Bronze Age, farming and woodland clearance have caused soil to run off from valley hillsides, causing thick layers of sedimentSmall pieces of rock, sand, mud or organic material that settle at the bottom of rivers, lakes or the sea. to build up over the floodplain in the valley bottom. Many rivers now cut deep channels through these sediment layers. Because the river channels are deeper, water that would spill onto the wider area of the floodplain at times of high flow, now stays concentrated in the narrow river channels. This causes further scour, often going down through the original base layers of stone that once protected the riverbed into softer material below. All of this increases the sediment in the river and flowing out to sea, causing loss of valuable habitat, which further damages ecosystems. Reconnecting our now drained and cultivated non-estuarine floodplains as part of a natural system is likely to be extremely costly. In most cases it would be better to establish a wide diversity of other habitats on the floodplain wherever possible.
There’s growing awareness that the state of our rivers has declined alarmingly and action is needed to reverse these declines. This is driving changes to legislation and policy, which mean businesses and the state have access to more resources to tackle the problems.
Local communities are part of this drive for change. More and more people are coming together to put pressure on decision-makers to improve our rivers. Many are launching public campaigns or training as citizen scientists to monitor water quality and river ecology. This is helping to grow awareness of, and skills in, working with nature and using nature-based solutions to tackle the impacts of flood and drought.
New opportunities to restore rivers and wetlands under Countryside Stewardship (CS) are a chance to expand wetland habitats and encourage good management of rivers, wetlands and riverside habitats. However, there are concerns about limiting this to Higher Tier CS and the potential need to write a competitive farm-scale application.
The English Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) provides funding to create nature-rich riparian corridors.
The Environment Agency has developed the water industry national environment programme (WINEP), a set of actions all 20 water companies operating in England must complete to meet their environmental obligations.
Historic structures such as quays, weirs and leats have archaeological, historic and landscape value. Where mitigation for historic ‘obstacles’ is needed, it should favour less destructive options.
Devon’s historic engineered canals provide a range of habitats in their watered and dewatered forms. They also provide opportunities for recreation and access to nature and heritage, for example the Grand Western Canal and Stover Canal.
Wildlife-rich and resilient watercourse corridors that are connected to a network of habitats across the county, benefiting Devon Special Species and achieving wider benefits such as water resilience and health and wellbeing.
See Find out more below for links to relevant national and local targets, detailed guidance and sources of funding and advice.
Develop a comprehensive barrier inventory, using existing datasets from the Environment Agency, The Rivers Trust, and the AMBER project. This is essential in order to understand the scale and impact of in-river barriers and target action. Each barrier can then be assessed for:
Develop a catchment-wide plan to target action to where it’s most needed and align restoration efforts with areas failing Water Framework Directive targets for fish and/or where reconnecting habitats will have the most impact.
More detailed actions for Devon Special Species are on other LNRS pages. Follow the links below:
Many of the actions listed above (such as reducing pollution and creating wildlife habitats) are needed across catchment landscapes in order to improve the condition of our watercourses.
High Opportunity Areas are shown on the Viewer and include:
Watercourse corridors and floodplains.
All rivers, streams and canals provide critical wildlife habitat and connectivity. They are all identified and mapped as High Opportunity Areas. Mapping includes:
– The watercourse itself
– Flood Zone 2 (where the probability of flooding is between 1 in 100 years and 1 in 1,000 years).
– A buffer of 10m out from the bank top in places where Flood Zone 2 doesn’t apply.
Full restoration rivers
To be effective, river restoration needs to be targeted and delivered at scale. This is very expensive and so funding needs to be targeted to where it will make most difference. Rivers where full river restoration actions have the greatest chance of success have been identified for the LNRS by the EAEnvironment Agency and West Country Rivers Trust. These are shown as dark blue on the Watercourse and floodplain layer on the Viewer (see the legend). The methodology used to choose these rivers and the actions needed are here. The actions are summarised here.
Full restoration rivers are split into two groups:
Floodplain grassland opportunity areas: Areas where actions are most needed to restore floodplain meadows have been mapped as High Opportunity Areas on the Exe and Axe.
The River Teign Restoration Project is a four-year initiative launched in 2021 to improve habitats for migratory fish such as Salmon and Sea Trout. Led by the Teign Angling and Conservation Association, the project involves partners such as the National Trust and Environment Agency and focuses on restoring riverbanks, removing barriers and engaging the community through art and education.
The Wild River Dart Action Plan has been developed by the River Dart Catchment Partnership, which aims to transform the River Dart and coordinate the activities of multiple stakeholders engaged with the river. A key target is to prevent the extinction of Atlantic Salmon in the Dart.
If you’re doing something to help nature thrive, please share it on the Devon Nature Recovery Delivery Map to inspire others to take action.
Always follow the Countryside Code and keep to footpaths and sites that are managed for public access.
A peaceful riverside route rich in wildlife that stretches from the village of Otterton to the estuary at Budleigh Salterton. This path winds through meadows, reed beds and salt marshes, providing excellent opportunities to spot Kingfishers, dragonflies, Herons and wading birdsLong-legged and long-billed birds that forage in shallow water, mudflats, and wetlands. such as Redshank and Curlew. Managed in part as a nature reserve, the area includes viewing platforms and hides, making it ideal for birdwatching and family-friendly exploration.
A range of conservation action is taking place along the River Axe. There’s an active catchment partnership and river restoration and widespread water pollution plans are in place. The Upper Axe Landscape Recovery Feasibility Pilot is in development. Farming in a Protected Landscape, Water Environment Investment Fund and Countryside Stewardship schemes are being used throughout the catchment. Farm advice and focus enforcement has also been carried out.
River restoration projects on the Axe include large woody debris at Magdalen farm and the addition of riverbed stone on the Yarty (one of the tributaries of the Axe).
Westcountry Rivers Trust have a page on their website where you can find rivers in your area in the South West. Use the map to find your local river and discover more about the wildlife that lives in and along it. You can also read some local river stories, where people share their connection to nature and watercourses near them.
For information on visiting these and other sites that are open to the public please see the Explore Devon website.
The West Country Rivers Trust website has information on rivers in Devon, including current and recent projects.
The River Basin Management Plan website developed by the Environment Agency shows the condition of each waterbody.
The EA Catchment Data Explorer has detailed information about the EA management catchments in Devon.
UK Forestry Standard Practice Guide: Creating and managing riparian woodland.
The Farming Advice Service includes information on Catchment Sensitive Farming including the Environment Agency’s ALERT tool (Agricultural Land Environmental Risk and Opportunity Tool), which aims to help guide crop planting and other land management decisions.
The Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) is an inclusive, civil society-led initiative that works in partnership with government, local authorities, water companies, businesses and more, to maximise the natural value of our environment. CaBA partnerships are actively working in all 100+ river catchments across England and cross-border with Wales, helping to achieve many of the targets under the government’s 25-Year Environment Plan. Their website includes links to the Devon Catchment Partnerships.
The Water Industry (Special Administration) Regulations 2024
Forest Research has a map showing rivers vulnerable to acidification.
Watercourses designated as ‘main rivers’ are overseen by the Environment Agency. These are usually larger watercourses that pose a higher flood risk. The rest of the network, known as ‘ordinary watercourses’, is overseen by the lead local flood authority, which in Devon is Devon County Council. Both authorities have permissive powers to carry out maintenance, improvement or construction work on watercourses to manage flood risk and protect the environment.
The Environment Agency has a publication,Your watercourse: rights and roles, that explains the rights and roles of anyone who owns land beside a watercourse.
The Inland Waterways Association has information about Devon’s canals.
The Canal and River Trust has lots of useful information including a report on Canals: Vital Connectors for Nature and People and a report on Supporting Nature Recovery on Canals.
Devon’s canals include:
– Grand Western Canal: This canal runs between Tiverton and the hamlet of Lowdwells, close to the Somerset border. It’s now a designated country park and local nature reserve.
– Exeter Ship Canal: One of the oldest artificial waterways in the UK, it connects Exeter to the River Exe.
– Stover Canal: Near Newton Abbot, this canal was originally built to transport ball clay.
– Tavistock Canal: This canal runs from Tavistock to Morwellham Quay on the River Tamar.
– Rolle Canal: Near Great Torrington, this canal was primarily used to transport limestone and coal.
– Braunton Canal: A small canal near Braunton, used historically for drainage and irrigation.
– Cann Quarry Canal: Near Plympton, this canal was used to transport granite.
