River Severn - Notice Of Application For A Drought Order

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY AND NATURAL RESOURCES WALES
WATER RESOURCES ACT 1991
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A RIVER SEVERN DROUGHT ORDER

TAKE NOTICE that due to the threat of a serious deficiency in flows/levels in the River Severn catchment which poses a serious threat to the flora or fauna which are dependent on those waters, the Environment Agency (“the Agency”) in relation to England are applying to the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Natural Resources Wales in relation to Wales, are applying to Welsh Government, for a drought order under Section 73 of the Water Resources Act 1991.

The deficiency is caused by an exceptional shortage of rain.

The proposed drought order, which is intended to apply for up to 6 months, aims to maintain supported water resources along the whole River Severn for longer at lower quantities, rather than risk running out of supported water and causing significant and sudden river level/flow declines that would stress ecology and impact migratory fish. 

The River Severn is artificially supported by reservoir and groundwater releases most years, known as ‘River Severn Regulation.’ 

This year has needed large and continuous releases to maintain a healthy river. This has lowered water levels in Llyn Clywedog Reservoir at the head of the River Severn in Wales to drought action triggers, a level which needs changes in operations via a drought order to conserve water.

The River Severn Drought Order proposal includes:
• capping the maximum release from Llyn Clywedog reservoir at 300 megalitres per day (Ml/d);

• reducing the prescribed flow at Bewdley from a single daily mean of 727 Ml/d and 850 Ml/d averaged over 5 days to a target of 730 Ml/d averaged over 5 days;

• reducing the prescribed flow at Bewdley below the target flow of 730 Ml/d averaged over 5 days if River Severn Regulation releases can no longer achieve it;

• imposing a 5% reduction on water company licensed abstractions on the River Severn;

• imposing a 300 Ml/d abstraction cap on the Gloucester Docks abstraction for the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal in England, when flows at Deerhurst or Haw Bridge gauge are below 1,200 Ml/d;

• capping releases from Llyn Clywedog reservoir to 1.5% of remaining storage if storage in Llyn Clywedog reservoir falls below the ‘emergency storage’ trigger.

The anticipated effect of the drought order if granted, will lower flows and water levels along the River Severn to conserve water in Llyn Clywedog reservoir. Conserving water will allow releases to continue for longer to protect migratory fish and ecology during the worst of the drought and ensure the reservoir can refill more quickly to provide better protection in subsequent dry years. 

Without the drought order, releases from Llyn Clywedog reservoir are at risk of stopping and sections of the upper Severn could be at risk of drying out, resulting in the whole river experiencing record minimum flows and environmental stress.

The impacts from operating the River Severn Drought Order are predicted to be temporary and once normal rainfall returns, the environment should improve naturally and recover within one to three years. This is consistent with the expected natural drought recovery period.

Anyone may inspect the proposals, which include a map of the area affected by the order, until 25 August 2026. Inspection is free of charge and available during normal working hours by appointment at:-
Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales offices:
• Natural Resources Wales, Powells Place, Powells Lane, Welshpool, Powys SY21 7JY
(Office hours Mon to Fri 9:00-17:00). To arrange an appointment at this office, please contact Customer Hub Enquiries team on 0300 065 3000 or enquiries@ naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

• Environment Agency, Hafren House, Welshpool Road, Shelton, Shrewsbury SY3 8BB (Office hours Mon to Fri 9:00-17:00). 

• Environment Agency, Mance House, Arthur Drive, Kidderminster, DY11 7RA (Office hours Mon to Fri 9:00-17:00).

• Environment Agency, Riversmeet House, Newtown Industrial Estate, Northway Lane, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 8JG (Office hours Mon to Fri 9:00-17:00).

• To arrange an appointment at an Environment Agency office please contact 03708 506 506 or enquiries_westmids@environment-agency.gov.uk 

Local library:
• Llanidloes Library, 6 Great Oak St, Llanidloes SY18 6BN llanidloes.library@powys.gov.uk 
(opening Hours Monday 10am-1pm, Wednesday 10am-1pm and 2pm-6pm, Friday 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm, Saturday 9:30am-1pm)

You can view the application and supporting documents online at:
https://ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/permitting-caniatau/river-severn-drought-order 
Objections must be sent to both Defra and Welsh government via email or in writing: water.resources@defra.gov.uk and waterEPC@gov.wales 

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, c/o Water Resources Policy, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Seacole 3rd Floor, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.

Water Branch, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ Objections should be made immediately and in any event to be received no later than 5pm on 25 August 2026. 
The response should outline if you are making a formal objection to the proposal and the grounds for the objection.

Dated 17 August 2026

Grace Wight, West Midlands Environment, Planning & Engagement Manager, Environment
Agency, Mance House, Arthur Drive, Kidderminster, DY11 7RA

Huwel Manley, Acting Executive Director, Place Operations, Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Government Offices, Cathays Park, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ

ASIANTAETH YR AMGYLCHEDD A CYFOETH NATURIOL CYMRU
DEDDF ADNODDAU DŴR 1991
HYSBYSIAD O GAIS AM ORCHYMYN SYCHDER AFON HAFREN

NODER, oherwydd y bygythiad o ddiffyg difrifol o ran llifoedd/lefelau yn nalgylch Afon Hafren sy’n peri bygythiad difrifol i’r fflora neu’r ffawna sy’n ddibynnol ar y dyfroedd hynny, fod Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd (“yr Asiantaeth”) mewn perthynas â Lloegr yn gwneud cais i Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Adran yr Amgylchedd, Bwyd a Materion Gwledig, a bod Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru mewn perthynas â Chymru yn gwneud cais i Lywodraeth Cymru am orchymyn sychder o dan Adran 73 o Ddeddf Adnoddau Dŵr 1991. Mae’r diffyg yn cael ei achosi gan brinder glaw eithriadol.

Nod y gorchymyn sychder arfaethedig, y bwriedir iddo fod yn berthnasol am hyd at 6 mis, yw cynnal adnoddau dŵr â chymorth ar hyd Afon Hafren gyfan am gyfnod hirach ar symiau is, yn hytrach na mentro rhedeg allan o ddŵr â chymorth ac achosi gostyngiadau sylweddol a sydyn yn lefelau/llif yr afon a fyddai’n rhoi straen ar ecoleg ac yn effeithio ar bysgod mudol.

Mae Afon Hafren yn cael ei chynnal yn artiffisial gan ollyngiadau o gronfeydd dŵr a dŵr daear y rhan fwyaf o flynyddoedd: ‘Rheoleiddio Afon Hafren’ yw’r enw ar y broses hon. Eleni, bu angen rhyddhau dŵr yn barhaus ac mewn symiau mawr er mwyn cynnal afon iach. 

Mae hyn wedi gostwng lefelau dŵr yng Nghronfa Ddŵr Llyn Clywedog ym mlaen Afon Hafren yng Nghymru i’r trothwyon gweithredu sychder, lefel sy’n gofyn am newidiadau mewn gweithrediadau trwy orchymyn sychder i arbed dŵr.

Mae cynnig Gorchymyn Sychder Afon Hafren yn cynnwys:
• rhoi terfyn uchaf ar faint o ddŵr y gellir ei ryddhau o gronfa ddŵr Llyn Clywedog i 300 megalitr y dydd (Ml/d);

• lleihau’r llif penodedig yn Bewdley o gymedr dyddiol sengl o 727 Ml/d ac 850 Ml/d ar gyfartaledd dros 5 diwrnod i darged o 730 Ml/d ar gyfartaledd dros 5 diwrnod;

• lleihau’r llif penodedig yn Bewdley islaw’r llif targed o 730 Ml/d ar gyfartaledd dros 5 diwrnod os na all gollyngiadau Rheoleiddio Afon Hafren gyflawni hyn mwyach;

• gosod gostyngiad o 5% ar faint o ddŵr y gall cwmnïau dŵr dynnu yn ôl eu trwyddedau ar Afon Hafren; 

• gosod terfyn tynnu dŵr o 300 Ml/d ar dynnu dŵr yn Nociau Caerloyw ar gyfer Camlas Caerloyw a Sharpness yn Lloegr, pan fydd llifoedd ym mesurydd Deerhurst neu Haw Bridge islaw 1,200 Ml/d; 

• gosod terfyn uchaf ar ollyngiadau o gronfa ddŵr Llyn Clywedog o 1.5% o’r dŵr wedi’i storio sy’n weddill os yw lefel y dŵr wedi’i storio yn Llyn Clywedog yn mynd o dan y trothwy ‘storio argyfwng’.

Bydd effaith ddisgwyliedig y gorchymyn sychder, os caiff ei ganiatáu, yn gostwng llif a lefelau dŵr ar hyd Afon Hafren er mwyn arbed dŵr yng nghronfa ddŵr Llyn Clywedog. 

Bydd arbed dŵr yn caniatáu i ollyngiadau dŵr barhau am gyfnod hirach i amddiffyn pysgod mudol ac ecoleg yn ystod cyfnod gwaethaf y sychder a sicrhau y gall y gronfa ail-lenwi’n gyflymach i ddarparu gwell amddiffyniad mewn blynyddoedd sych dilynol.

Heb y gorchymyn sychder, mae risg y bydd gollyngiadau o gronfa ddŵr Llyn Clywedog yn dod i ben a gallai rhannau o ran uchaf afon Hafren fod mewn perygl o sychu, gan achosi i’r afon gyfan brofi’r llifoedd isaf erioed a straen amgylcheddol. 

Rhagwelir y bydd effeithiau gweithredu Gorchymyn Sychder Afon Hafren yn rhai dros dro ac unwaith y bydd glawiad arferol yn dychwelyd, dylai’r amgylchedd wella’n naturiol ac adfer o fewn un i dair blynedd. Mae hyn yn gyson â’r cyfnod naturiol disgwyledig ar gyfer adfer ar ôl sychder.

Gall unrhyw un archwilio’r cynigion, sy’n cynnwys map o’r ardal yr effeithir arni gan y gorchymyn, tan 25 Awst 2026. Gallwch archwilio’r cynigion yn rhad ac am ddim yn ystod oriau gwaith arferol trwy apwyntiad yn:- 

Swyddfeydd Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru:
• Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, Powells Place, Powells Lane, y Trallwng, Powys SY21 7JY 
(Oriau swyddfa o ddydd Llun i ddydd Gwener 9:00-17:00). I drefnu apwyntiad yn y swyddfa hon, cysylltwch â thîm Ymholiadau’r Ganolfan Cwsmeriaid ar 0300 065 3000 neu ymholiadau@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk 

• Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd, Hafren House, Welshpool Road, Shelton, Amwythig SY3 8BB (Oriau swyddfa o ddydd Llun i ddydd Gwener 9:00-17:00).

• Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd, Mance House, Arthur Drive, Kidderminster, DY11 7RA (Oriau swyddfa o ddydd Llun i ddydd Gwener 9:00-17:00).

• Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd, Riversmeet House, Ystâd Ddiwydiannol Newtown, Northway Lane, Tewkesbury, Swydd Gaerloyw, GL20 8JG (Oriau swyddfa o ddydd Llun i ddydd Gwener 9:00-17:00).

• I drefnu apwyntiad yn swyddfa Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd cysylltwch â 03708 506 506 neu enquiries_westmids@environment-agency.gov.uk 

Llyfrgell leol:
• Llyfrgell Llanidloes, 6 Great Oak Street, Llanidloes SY18 6BN llanidloes.library@powys.gov.uk (Oriau Agor dydd Llun 10am-1pm, dydd Mercher 10am-1pm a 2pm-6pm, dydd Gwener 10am-1pm a 2pm-4pm, dydd Sadwrn 9:30am-1pm)

Gallwch weld y cais a’r dogfennau ategol ar-lein yn: https://ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/permitting-caniatau/gorchymyn-sychder-afon-hafren  

Rhaid anfon gwrthwynebiadau at Defra a Llywodraeth Cymru drwy e-bost neu yn ysgrifenedig:
water.resources@defra.gov.uk a dwr@llyw.cymru 
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, c/o Water Resources Policy, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Seacole 3rd Floor, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.

Y Gangen Dŵr, Llywodraeth Cymru, Parc Cathays, Caerdydd, CF10 3NQ

Dylid gwneud gwrthwynebiadau ar unwaith ac ym mhob achos rhaid eu derbyn erbyn
5pm ar 25 Awst 2026 fan bellaf. Dylai’r ymateb amlinellu a ydych chi’n gwneud
gwrthwynebiad ffurfiol i’r cynnig a’r sail dros y gwrthwynebiad.

Dyddiedig 17 Awst 2026

Grace Wight, Rheolwr Amgylchedd, Cynllunio ac Ymgysylltu Gorllewin Canolbarth Lloegr, Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd, Mance House, Arthur Drive, Kidderminster, DY11 7RA

Huwel Manley, Cyfarwyddwr Gweithredol Dros Dro, Gweithrediadau Lle, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, Swyddfeydd Llywodraeth Cymru, Parc Cathays, Rhodfa’r Brenin Edward VII, Caerdydd, CF10 3NQ