The high ground of Exmoor with its heavy rainfall is the catchment area for Exmoor’s eight main rivers and numerous tributaries. Many springs also feed into the river system. The rivers are clear and fast-running. They provide excellent spawning grounds for salmon and trout and the presence of salmon particularly indicates good quality clean water which is valuable for the reservoirs which supply water to much of Devon and Somerset.
The river banks are generally owned by the local farmer or landowner while the fishing rights may be owned or leased separately. The water itself is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. Exmoor’s rivers provide fine opportunities for fishing but in order to fish, permission and licences must be obtained. For rod fishing these are needed for all but tidal waters.
Rivers, streams and reservoirs all attract visitors and easy access points at places like Tarr Steps and Horner quickly become congested. Other problems can include damage to river banks, pollution and disturbance to wildlife.
Water has been an important source of power via water wheels on Exmoor for centuries. Used first for grinding corn, the water wheel was gradually adapted to a variety of tasks and only in this century has it been ousted by modern power supplies. In the Medieval villages there were mills for fulling woollen cloth. With the introduction of machinery, farmers installed wheels to work threshing machines, feed crushers and root pulpers. On estates there were saw-mills. water wheels drove the pumps, whims and crushers in the Exmoor mines and pulled loads and worked pumps in the limestone quarries.
Rainfall in mm. Selected sites in West Somerset and North Devon. 1996
| |
Minehead
SS 963 457
58m AMSL |
Tivington
SS 931 458
80m AMSL |
Dunkery
SS 874 417
518m AMSL |
Chains Barrow
SS 734 420
518m AMSL |
| Jan |
90.3 |
107.3 |
92.0 |
122,0 |
| Feb |
78.4 |
89.9 |
143.6 |
179.5 |
| Mar |
76.4 |
76.5 |
81.6 |
61.5 |
| Apr |
75.0 |
77.1 |
94.4 |
98.5 |
| May |
72.1 |
91.9 |
154.0 |
185.0 |
| Jun |
9.1 |
10.3 |
31.4 |
44.0 |
| Jul |
29.1 |
32.0 |
51.4 |
78.0 |
| Aug |
89.4 |
92.5 |
157.6 |
130.0 |
| Sept |
27.7 |
34.4 |
79.0 |
124.0 |
| Oct |
92.1 |
104.3 |
191.0 |
298.0 |
| Nov |
153.0 |
171.9 |
245.0 |
318.5 |
| Dec |
29.3 |
41.7 |
60.0 (est.) |
71.0 |
| Total |
821.9 |
929.8 |
1381.0 |
1710 |
There are more than 483 km (300 miles) of rivers and streams on Exmoor flowing down narrow combes or valleys, usually wooded in the lower stretches. There are plenty of fish in the clear water, including brown trout and loaches. Some rivers are spawning grounds for salmon. Water insects,
including damselflies and dragonflies, are abundant. Nesting birds include the dipper and grey wagtail. In some places you might see a stately grey heron or the blue flash of a kingfisher.
The otter has gradually increased in
numbers since the 1970s but still needs help to protect its habitat.
Sadly, the water vole appears to be virtually extinct, and this is believed to be the result of the changes in the way its habitat has been managed and predation by mink.
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