The Environment Agency

All of the Board maintained watercourses discharge into Environment Agency maintained Main Rivers.
Under Section 105 of the Water Resources Act 1991 the Environment Agency has the following duties / powers:

• Maintenance of Sea Defences
• Regulation of Abstraction and Irrigation
• Implementation of an effective Flood Warning System for people and property at risk from fluvial or tidal flooding

The Water Resources Act 1991 confers functions in relation to Main River on the Agency that are functions of the RMAIDB in relation to other watercourses under the Land Drainage Act 1991.

The Board works closely with the EA to ensure appropriate water levels are maintained to suit both the time of year and the many beneficiaries who depend on water level management in the district. This liaison continues in matters of planning and conservation issues.

The Board pays the EA a precept which is a contribution towards the upkeep of Agency assets and the maintenance of Main River. The EA pays the Board an Upland contribution which represents a contribution for works on IDB watercourses that accept water before it reaches Main River.