Dawlish Brook, also known as Dawlish Water, begins its journey at Haldon and runs through Ashcombe valley, before reaching the sea at Dawlish Beach. On its journey it drops over weirs and under bridges, passing through the Manor Gardens and the Lawn, eventually joining the sea on the eastern side of the main sea wall, passing under the railway viaduct. The Lawn is a focal point for visitors and local residents alike and is home to many species of duck and several black swans.
The Brook has been altered over the years for various reasons and this has had an effect on the flow characteristics. Of late, the frequency and unpredictable nature of recent severe weather conditions has led to flooding, which has affected nearby properties and businesses.
As well as the greater rainfall events, another underlying issue is the sediment run-off from the catchment further inland, which, because of the weirs, settles in the Brook. Annual expensive dredging would only deal with this symptom in the short-term and not tackle the root cause of the problem.
Also, when the flows in The Brook increase there is a likelihood of the sediment being carried down to the beach area. The sediment carries various substances that could affect bathing water quality at the beach, which is measured by the Environment Agency. Therefore, this is another reason to investigate ways of reducing sediment run-off entering The Brook.
During the bathing season, which runs from the 1st May until the 30th September, the bathing water is sampled by the Environment Agency every 7 to10 days. Results of the weekly sampling results can be found under the 'Related Pages' heading to the right of this page.
Reducing the impact of contamination and pollution of bathing waters in the UK is an essential piece of work that local authorities, landowners and the Environment Agency are undertaking. Locally, this includes the works being proposed at Dawlish.
The Cache
Could be a sneaky hide for some, Coords should point you in the right area!
Background photo taken from Bridge. Be Careful of Muggles here, Place back exactly as found, No Photo spoilers!