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The River Severn watershed is located in between Great Britain and Wales. The River Severn serves as a physical boundary separating the two countries. The River Severn has served many purposes for the people residing in and around the area as well as the two countries as a whole. The physical boundary of the River Severn has created many small conflicts between the two societies, however all of them have been resolved very quickly (Britannica). The environmental impact that the people have on the River Severn watershed has changed the projection on how long the river can continue to provide the area with natural resources and energy. The River Severn has four tributaries, Teme, Stour, Tern and Avon which leads into three rivers; Thames, Mersey and Trent (BBC).

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The River Severn is an impressive 180 miles long winding through Great Britain and Wales (Seven Wonders). The Severn Estuary adds another 40 miles to the total length, making the River Severn 220 miles long (BBC). The River Severn is the largest river in the area and is known for not only its' length but also the river's volume (BBC). The 107 m^3/s flow of water travels down the river, into the Bristol Channel at Apperley, Gloucestershire (BBC). In total, the River Severn holds a grand total of an estimated 11, 000 million gallons of water (BBC).

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The River Severn twists and meanders through the hilly regions of Wales and Great Britain. Along the river many animals reside in the flood plains and river edges. The River Severn often floods the surrounding areas creating an unsafe environment for humans to live. However, many animals live along the edges of the switchback river. Many tributaries join to form the River Severn to form its complete watershed.

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Many people and animals rely on the River Severn for water. Surrounding the river there are many smaller agriculturally driven towns which the River Severn supplies water to (Britannica). Along with many small towns along the river, the River Severn supplies Liverpool with drinking water through the Lake Vyrnwy reservoir located just outside Liverpool (Britannica). The Lake Vyrnwy reservoir holds around 59.7 gigalitres of water (BBC). In total, six million people rely on the River Severn for daily drinking water (Environment Agency).

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The River Severn serves many purposes to the region. Along with drinking water and a geographical boundary, the river serves as a means for transportation, recreation and draws tourism to the area. Many ships and boats travel down the River Severn and before entering the Severn Estuary, turns onto the Sharpness canal, which is a port for the UK. Sharpness port is located in Gloucestershire (BBC).  Recreationally, many people cruise along parts of the river in boats for fishing or scenery. The River Severn draws many tourists in annually at the Severn Bore to surf the tidal waves (Sabrina Boat). Along with surfing there are a variety of informational cruises that take tourists around noteworthy spots along the River Severn.

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With the nearly six million people that rely on the River Severn for drinking water, the water quality is very good in comparison to other water sources in the region (Environment Agency). According to the Clean Rivers Trust, the River Severn scored 'good to moderate' for water quality across 95% of the river, however the other 5% suffers from pollution (Clean Rivers Trust). Although pollution causes many problems pertaining to the water quality of the River Severn, environmentalists have created many solutions to prevent any further issues.

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Gaining access to the River Severn is fairly easy. Providing water to the nearly six million people has been made easier with the increasing use of technology through water purification systems (Environment Agency). For both Wales and Great Britain, the drinking water is held in reservoirs where they are then put through a purification process to remove any potential toxins (Clean River Trust)

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The River Severn is primarily used for drinking water and tourism. The land surrounding the river is used for agriculture and farm land. Many different small towns reside along the banks of the River Severn. A study done showed that 43% of land along the Severn was for farming, 34% is rural land and the remaining 10% are woodlands (Geographical Association). Wind farms can also be found along many modernized parts of the river. The agricultural parts along the River Severn grows wheat and barley, while other farms are dairy farms (Geographical Association).

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The Severn Estuary is a crucial aspect of the River Severn Watershed. The estuary is a 5 miles wide and 40 miles long that empties into the Celtic Sea (BBC). The estuary is known for its tidal bore. The tidal waves are caused by the force coming from both the River Severn and the Celtic Sea through the Bristol Channel. The estuary provides many services to the people and animal that live in the area. Every year, tourists and locals travel to the estuary so they can surf the tidal waves, fish and enjoy the beautiful scenery (The Complete Guide).

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Many environmentalists from both Wales and Great Britain have been working to maintain the pristine land and water that plays a role in the River Severn watershed. Much of the farm land along the river is regulated and has certain protocols for draining fertilizer and waste in a way that won't impact the river. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA's) are done regularly to observe levels of natural, public and private waste contents (Ecosystem Service). Currently, Wales and Great Britain have settled on an anthropocentric approach, which pays close attention to the link between nature and human impacts. Another crucial aspect of management for the River Severn is flood management. Experts manage the levels in flood reservoirs as well as the floodplains soil to ensure that if a flood does happen, the marine life along with the agriculture will be minimally impacted.

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The River Severn in Ebb Tide....can you hear the wildlife?  12th March 2012

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Along the River Severn various farms are found. Wheat and Barley are produced annually providing food to the region. The farming for these crops are found in the Middle Severn region and are considered arable farming (Geographical Association). Along with various crops, pig, dairy and poultry farms aid in food security (Geographical Association). In the River Severn, a wide variety of fish thrive in the environment, a recorded 83 species of fish (Ecological Service). Some of the most popular fish species are sprat, whiting and poor cod, along with many others that fisherman come to catch annually (Ecological Service). The area is self-sustaining with the abundance of agriculture and fishing opportunities.

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The various reservoirs that hold drinking water from the River Severn are a key aspect in producing renewable energy. Some reservoirs that are from the multiple tributaries have hydroelectric power plants that are self functioning (Clean Rivers Trust). Although many of the hydroelectric plants produce energy for the dam, only a few produce extra energy to supply the surrounding regions with renewable energy. A huge portion of the renewable energy could be generated from the Severn estuary using the tidal bore. A proposed plan says that the Severn Estuary could generate 5% of our current electricity generation (Severn Tidal Power). However, currently the resource is not being utilized to the rivers full potential. Many plans have been proposed to generate large amounts of energy while also protecting the various nature conservations. The total cost for the project is estimated at around 20 billion pounds which is equivalent to $30 billion (Renewable Energy UK).

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The River Severn has experienced a variety of changes over the past decade, but mostly over the past 20 years. With the use of synthetic fertilizers and the increase of carbon emissions, the River Severn has tried to adapt to the environment. Some of the most critical ecosystem changes over the past few decades include, species introduction/removal, change of land usage, technology use, climate change and external inputs/drivers (Ecosystem Service). With the increase of carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, the global temperature is slowly rising causing an increase of concern for flooding in the River Severn region. Many things drive climate change however with even the slightest change in temperature or precipitation, it effects the overall function of the Severn River and estuary (Coastal Adaptation). With more frequent floods, some species are moving farther from the river's edge (their natural habitat) and therefore making the ecosystem adapt to the species loss.

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Agriculture plays a huge role in maintaining the balance of life along the River Severn. Barley and wheat fields are found along the middle parts of the River Severn, in a region that has nutrient rich soil (Geographical Association). Many small towns that are found along the river survive off of the agriculture that is found within or around their town. Due to the production of these crops, many fertilizers and synthetic nutrients are used to help maximize the crop size. The harmful mixture of chemicals often drains into the river, however with recent new protocols, farmers are trying to limit the toxic substances that are draining into the river due to agriculture.

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Polluted runoff is the biggest problem at the River Severn Watershed. The runoff is hotter than the creek which is effecting the reproduction of many species that live in the river. The runoff also contains a variety of mixtures of chemicals that are very dangerous to both animals and humans (The River Keeper). Around 12% of water bodies are affected from pollutions created in towns/transport and around 29% of water bodies are affected from waste water that is produced from untreated sewage (Severn River management). Phosphorus and nitrates greatly affect the quality of water and technology treatments aren't advanced enough to move the levels of toxins that are being found (Severn River Management).

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The River Severn Barrage Tidal Power is the biggest proposed future projects that the River Severn could possibly see within the next few years. The project is very controversial among many different groups in both Wales and Great Britain. Both countries have different goals and ideas on how to maintain the level of recreation, agriculture and travel while also producing large amounts of energy that could have potential to generate much of the two countries energy needs.

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The river was given the name 'Severn' after a famous myth of a nymph that drowned in the river whose name was Sabrina. The River has many different tributaries that played a key role in connecting the region during early developmental times of each country. During the Industrial Revolution, the river was used to transport coal and iron through Bristol Channel (BBC). Prior to railroads, the River Severn was one of the busiest rivers for transporting goods in the region. The River Severn was crucial to the development of Great Britain, Wales and surrounding regions that utilized the river for transportation.

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At one point, Wales was known as a sanctuary for refugees, however in more recent years the country has had to comply with Europe's refugee and asylum policies to combat with the spike of refugees migrating into their various countries. The Severn River serves many purposes, one being transportation. The river has a direct entrance from the Celtic Sea through the Bristol Channel, however with the harsh tidal waves, it could keep refugees from access Wales or Great Britain this way. The River Severn supports as many people as it can with food and drinking water. Many people depend on the services that the River provides, however it is easy to exasperate and overuse many of the resources. For example, over fishing could pose a problem for both the fisherman, who rely on the profits to feed their families, as well as the consumers who rely on the fish for food.

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The River Severn watershed maintains a fairly balanced ecosystem, however one of the biggest struggles the watershed faces today is pollution. In a variety of forms, pollution wreaks havoc on the ecosystem, however the biggest struggle is polluted runoff. The increased use of synthetic substances not only on farms, but in residents too, causes concern for the river's water quality especially during floods. Due to the large amount of people that rely on the river for drinking water, environmentalists in the region have devised a system to ensure that nothing happens to many of the reservoirs that hold the drinking water. Keeping the various chemicals found in runoff during rainfall is crucial in the survival of the river and the people it supports.

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Community involvement is crucial to the survival of the River Severn watershed. Limiting overfishing, the use of synthetic chemicals and toxins are all valuable conversations to have within the community to help prevent further damage of the River Severn. Many local groups have volunteer opportunities for people that live along the river. The project aims to restore 158 miles of the 180 long river (Unlocking the Severn). The Canal & River Trust is the lead of the project, with the help of other various organizations reach out to schools and non-profits in the area to make cleaning up the river a community effort.

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Severn Barrage Tidal Power is a proposed plan to maximize the amount of renewable energy that would be produced by the River Severn in future years. The proposed project was originally supposed to help combat UK's promise to supply 15% of its energy through renewable energy by 2020 (Severn Tidal Power). Although the project did not get approved in time to meet these needs, the solution is still on the table to help meet the next goal that the UK will set. The predicted annual energy that the Severn could produce according to the proposed plan is, 19,700 GWh (Severn Tidal Power). Over ten different proposals were submitted to try and find the best way to utilize the Severn's tidal waves while also being mindful of the different ecosystems that would be impacted. The drawback of this solution is the cost of the potential tidal power plant. The UK has yet to decide on how to combat this issue but has committed to reduce their carbon emissions as well as increase their renewable energy usage.

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Rainscaping and mapping the estuary go hand in hand in order to protect the various species that call the River Severn home. Rainscaping is a technique that city designers and landscapers use in order to combat pollution in water runoff. In polluted runoff water, the rainfall creates a stream flowing down streets or orchards picking up the toxins and chemicals in these areas then deposits in a nearby body of water. Rainscaping would re-route the draining of water to a reservoir or designated land that would instead hold all of the runoff toxins, synthetic fertilizers and chemicals. The technique uses plants, little rocks and a designated area or pipe that the water would flow into and be carried to a certain location where environmentalists could dispose of it properly. Mapping the Severn estuary and river is very similar to this idea, however mapping examines the different species that live in each area of the river and decide on certain areas to build structures. The Severn Vision Report relays this information and proposes areas that are protected by law as designated nature areas that are out of the public's reach and protects it from toxins. The Vision report goes on to explain how the local community can protect the tidal estuary, endangered species as well as how to combat overfishing or loss of species.

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In conclusion, the River Severn serves a variety of purposes to the region that it resides in. The River Severn provides a physical boundary for Wales and Great Britain, while supplying the area with clean drinking water, agricultural land, renewable energy opportunities, food security and habitats for hundreds of different species. The River Severn is a crucial aspect of life for those who live and rely on the services that it provides.

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Environmental sustainability, social responsibility and economic vitality all play a role in the River Severn watershed. Many plans and recent measures try to combat the sustainability of the ecosystems and habitats in the area. Many plans have been proposed to the government of both Wales and Great Britain as well as the European Union in order to not just use the River for its' resources but as well as decide on the best option to not only maintain but allow the area to thrive. Although it would be very easy to implement a renewable energy source, many environmentalists have objected in order to protect the surrounding habitats and ecosystems. Organizations such as the Unlocking the Severn try to use the river as an opportunity to bring the community together as well as providing social responsibility to the residents in the region. The fisherman, tourism groups and those that utilize the recreational opportunities all have a social responsibility to maintain the quality of the river. Fisherman cannot overfish, tourism can not pollute the river and those using it for recreation must protect the species of animals that live there. Economically, the river brings in a lot of money- from tourism to producing drinking water, the river is utilized financially in many ways. However, with economic advances, there is a moral responsibility to work with other organizations to ensure the safety of the river. Organizations such as scientists and the Severn River Trust try to maximize the drinking water and renewable energy while not harming the environment.

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Current precipitation and Future Changes

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Current precipitation and Future Changes

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Precipitation plays a large role in the well-being and function of the Severn River watershed. When precipitation levels increase, the chance of flooding also rises, posing a threat for both the residents and the agriculture that line the river banks. The typical height range of the river is between 0.44m and 3.20m (Flood Warning UK). When the river level goes beyond 3.20m flooding occurs and threatens the ecosystem. The Environmental Agency releases reports that warn people of upcoming predicted floods and try to prevent any unnecessary damage from occurring. In the future, rainfall and flooding is expected to continue to increase as global warming and greenhouse gases increase. With glaciers melting and ocean levels rising, more water is being evaporated and is increasing the level of annual rainfall. February 2020 beat the former record for rainfall which was held by February 1990 (BBC, Rainfall). Thankfully, with modern technology, meteorologists are able to track the water levels and try to create man-made rivers to help keep river levels low (Voyce K)