Dartmoor faces rising flood threat amid climate concerns

Communities in and around Dartmoor are facing an increasing flood risk as climate change leads to more intense rainfall and storm events, experts have warned.

New information from the Environment Agency highlights how Dartmoor’s unique geography and climate make it particularly vulnerable to both river and surface water flooding. 

With more than 21,000 homes across Devon at risk, many in towns and villages surrounding the national park, local authorities say urgent, coordinated action is needed.

A spokesperson for the Met Office told The Moorlander: “If we do not reduce emissions, this is a very real, potential future for our climate.”

Investigations by The Moorlander: Understanding flood risk and warnings

Following investigations by The Moorlander, it was noted that Dartmoor’s “rapid response catchments” make advance flood warnings more challenging.

This geographical feature means rainfall quickly turns into floodwater, often within just a few hours. 

While the Environment Agency provides flood warnings based on real-time data from rain and river gauges, the nature of these catchments can limit the time available for issuing alerts.

Dartmoor’s high elevation and steep river catchments mean rainfall quickly turns into floodwater, often leaving less than two hours between a downpour and flooding.

Storms arriving on prevailing south-westerly winds from the Atlantic frequently strike Dartmoor first, intensifying as the air rises over the moor’s hills. 

As a result, Dartmoor receives some of the highest rainfall in Devon.

The area is categorised as a “rapid response catchment” - a designation that makes it harder to provide advance flood warnings.

While villages within the national park are directly exposed, floodwater flowing off Dartmoor can also impact larger towns and cities further afield, including Plymouth, Barnstaple, and Totnes.

Key transport routes such as the A30, A38, and the mainline railway to Paddington are also vulnerable.

The Environment Agency has recorded over 235 historical flood events across Dartmoor since 1638.

One notable incident occurred in August 1840, when a bridal party was swept away at Dartmeet during a summer flood on their wedding day.

Climate projections for the South West predict a 30 per cent increase in storm rainfall and a 42 per cent rise in river peak flow levels by the 2070s.

Efforts are underway to improve flood resilience through both engineering and natural approaches. 

An initiative called ‘Slow the Flow’ is being trialled in seven Dartmoor-adjacent communities, including Buckfastleigh, Okehampton, and Bovey Tracey.

This project focuses on restoring wetlands, planting trees, and building “leaky dams” to slow the movement of water downstream, mimicking natural water storage that can ease pressure on communities during extreme weather.

The Environment Agency has also partnered with Dartmoor National Park Authority and Devon County Council on tree-planting trials and peatland restoration, aimed at intercepting runoff and holding water in the landscape.

Residents can sign up for free Environment Agency flood warnings by phone or online. 

The alerts are based on real-time data from rain and river gauges across Dartmoor and are issued in three stages depending on severity.

Grants are also available through the Devon Community Resilience Forum to help villages form local flood groups and invest in property-level protection.

A spokesperson from the Environemtn Agency said flood defences are “largely funded through central government budgets” and form part of the South West Flood Risk Management Plan, which includes actions specific to Dartmoor.

As part of a wider response to the climate and biodiversity crises, Dartmoor is also the focus of three Landscape Recovery Projects. 

These bring together landowners to work on environmental restoration that could also help reduce flood risk.

The newly established Dartmoor Land Use Management Group is considering how designated wildlife sites across the moor, if kept in good condition, can act as natural sponges to absorb rainfall and slow its movement downstream.