River Story

The Wye is one of the finest rivers in Britain, voted the Nation’s Favourite River in 2010. It is an important habitat in its own right and supports a huge range of wildlife and plants, the word for this is biodiversity. The River Wye provides a corridor for movement of plants and animals. 

As the river is so important it has been designated nationally as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and internationally a Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

River Fact File
The River Wye is 215 km in length rising from its source at Plynlimon in the Cambrian Mountains mid Wales at an elevation of 742 meters

It flows through or past several towns and villages including Rhayader, Builth Wells, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Symonds Yat, Monmouth and Tintern, meeting the Severn estuary just below Chepstow.

River length is 215 km, the last 92 km is within the Wye Valley AONB

The Wye drains a total catchment of 4,200 squared Km

The River Wye is tidal down river from Bigsweir Bridge to Chepstow

The river was historically, an important transport link.  From earliest times to the mid 1800’s the Wye was the means of transporting goods

The river provided water and it’s power was harnessed to drive early industry. Until the age of steam and coal the water from tributaries drove early industry centred along the Wye.

Today recreation is important activity on the river, both fishing and canoeing are very popular on the Wye.

Flow rates:

•   Average daily flow measured just above tidal reach 73m cubed

•   Maximum recorded flow 905m cubed

•   Minimum flow 3.4m cubed

•   Average dry summer 11.4m cubed
 

Historic and Terrible Floods

On the January 20,1607 the Great Flood or possible tsunami drowned 2,000 in Monmouthshire.

Left: Depiction of the devastation caused by the Great Flood of 1607 taken from the pamphlet entitled “A true report of certaine wonderful overflowings”.

 

 

Recent floods as measured from the nave floor at Dixton Church, beside the river in Monmouth

March 22, 1947           1.8m

December 10 1929     1.63m

December 5, 1960      1.57m

October 23 1998         0.9m

December 3, 2000      1.19m

February 8,2002         1.24m

Water Abstraction
Today water abstraction is an important use of the river. Its water needed to meet the demands of domestic, industrial and agriculture. (Using 1998 figures) approximately 40% of the water abstracted is not consumed locally.

Using 1998 figures follows % average of water abstracted on a daily basis:

46% for domestic use

24% industry (Hereford,Leominster not in AONB)

18% fish farming in upper Wye Catchment

6% spray irrigation

5% other farm needs

24% returned to river as treated sewage effluent.

Plants of the River Wye
We want you to enjoy the area and get out and about near your river. But remember to always put safety first. Go with an adult or tell an adult where you are going and how long you will be to stay safe in the countryside.

Invertebrates
Dragonflies and damselflies and molluscs (including six species of mussel) can be found along most of the river length. In the estuary, brackish water supports other species of molluscs (including a nationally rare snail) and crustaceans such as the Atlantic stream crayfish.

Fish Fact File
More than 30 species of fish have been recorded in the Wye, making it one of the most important river systems in Northern Europe.

Bird Fact File
Many of the bird species associated with the Wye are dependent on the river corridor for nesting sites and food. Species include kingfishers, herons, dippers, sand martins, swans, cormorants and goosanders.

Mammals Fact File
The River Wye has clean water and the banks in many areas are covered with plants that offer protection and good habitats for mammals including the Otter ( Lutra lutra) and the rare polecat.

Useful Links

River Wye Preservation Trust

Wye Valley Walk