River Exe Overview and Physical Characteristics

Ever wondered how a river system really works? The River Exe flows through some of Devon's most stunning landscapes, starting high up in Exmoor at 514m and winding down through Tiverton and Exeter before reaching the sea at Exmouth.

What makes this river special is its high drainage density with loads of tributaries feeding into it. The geology is crucial here - 84% of the catchment sits on impermeable sandstone, which means water can't soak through easily and instead runs straight off the surface.

The land use tells an interesting story too. 67% is agricultural grassland, with 15% woodland and arable farming, plus 3% moorland and peat bogs. This mix creates a complex water system where rainfall (a hefty 1295mm annually) either evaporates, gets stored in soil, or becomes runoff at 65% - that's unusually high!

Key Point: The Wimbleball Reservoir, built in 1979, acts like a massive tap controller, preventing both floods and droughts by regulating water flow throughout the year.

The Exmoor Mires Project and Flood Management

Here's where human intervention gets really clever. The Exmoor Mires Project tackles a problem created decades ago when farmers dug drainage ditches into peat bogs to make land more suitable for agriculture.

Those ditches seemed like a good idea at the time, but they caused water to flow too quickly, reducing water quality and releasing greenhouse gases as the peat decomposed. The project's solution? Block the drainage ditches to return the land to its natural boggy state.

By 2015, 1000 hectares had been restored (with a target of 2000ha total). The results are impressive - re-wetted peat bogs slow down runoff and naturally filter water, making it 20% cheaper to treat. This isn't just environmental do-gooding; it's practical flood prevention.

The benefits are massive: 2000-5000 properties in Exeter and Exmouth face reduced flood risk, plus improved carbon storage and better recreational opportunities.

Key Point: Peat restoration demonstrates how working with natural processes can be more effective than fighting against them.

River Characteristics Through Its Course

The River Exe changes dramatically as it flows from source to sea, and understanding these changes helps explain why flooding happens where it does.

In the upper course around Exmoor, you've got steep slopes at around 350m elevation, thin soils, and those crucial peat bogs. High rainfall hits saturated soils, creating rapid surface runoff - basically, water races downhill because it can't soak in.

The middle course around 250m elevation tells a different story. Here, deciduous tree roots absorb more water and hold soil together, increasing infiltration and reducing surface runoff. However, farmland creates complications - exposed ploughed fields increase soil erosion, while irrigation adds artificial precipitation to the system.

Down in the lower course, you get the urban reality check. High-density buildings create impermeable surfaces that send water straight into rivers. Limited vegetation means less interception, but the flatter terrain does allow for more surface storage.

Key Point: Each section of the river responds differently to rainfall, which is why flood management strategies need to consider the entire catchment, not just problem areas.