River Dour management work reduces flood risk in Dover

The Environment Agency has completed a range of maintenance activities to improve the River Dour and help reduce the risk of flooding in the Dover area.

A wide range of activities took place as part of the work, including cutting back overhanging tree branches, removing vegetation growth from buildings, and reducing vegetation within the channel. The River Dour is fed by groundwater and responds very quickly to rainfall, and these works will help high river flows and surface water escape quickly which will reduce the risk of flooding to properties in the local area.

Environment Agency Operations Field Teams cleared the River Dour of debris and excess weed, removing 14 ½ tonnes of aquatic waste. The work took four weeks to complete, and was timed to avoid brown trout spawning season as the River Dour is home to one of the strongest populations in Kent.

This was the first in what will become an annual programme of maintenance work, the Dour Management Plan, which was developed after a number of studies and investigations into the river. The plan sets out a comprehensive and sustainable maintenance programme which ensures that water flows freely through the channel, reducing the flood risk to people and properties without affecting the wildlife in and around the river.

Ian Nunn, Environment Agency Operations Manager, said: "We are delighted that we have been able to set the Dour Management Plan in place and that the first set of work was so successful. Our team will be returning year on year to carry out the maintenance programme and will be carrying out patrols throughout the year to ensure effective flood risk management is maintained.

"Riverside landowners and other local residents can help us to keep flood risk as low as possible by ensuring they dispose of their garden waste responsibly and keeping banks clear - anything on them could be carried off by high flows and block the channel, culverts or bridges, causing flooding to properties.

"This work has reduced the flood risk in Dover, however flooding can still happen and I would urge people to find out their flood risk and sign up for free flood warnings at the Environment Agency website."