Update on releasing Elan Valley dam water into River Wye

Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Welsh equivalent of the Environment Agency, said it remains in close contact with their counterparts in England as both organisations track the health of the cross-border river.

The update comes as drought has now been declared across the whole of Wales , while the West Midlands, including Herefordshire, was also placed into drought status this week during one of the driest summers on record.

The grass around Hereford Cathedral has turned brown due to lack of rain (Image: Jordan Gregory/Hereford Times Camera Club)

The Environment Agency has even put farmers who take water from the Wye in the spotlight during the drought.

According to NRW, Wales has received just 8 per cent of its long-term average rainfall during July, putting the month on course to become the driest July since records began 190 years ago.

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Herefordshire has also experienced a prolonged dry spell, with Environment Agency data showing no measurable rainfall recorded at Hereford's Broomy Hill gauge since June 30 .

Against that backdrop, NRW has revealed that releasing additional water into the Wye from reservoirs in the Elan Valley remains an option if conditions deteriorate further.

The Wye is a regulated river, meaning reservoir water can be used to support river flows, wildlife and downstream water supplies during periods of exceptionally dry weather.

A spokesperson for NRW said: "In certain circumstances, we can instruct water companies to release additional water to further support the environment.

"These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis."

The ruins of Nantgwyllt House under the Caban Coch reservoir in the Elan Valley, in 2022 (Image: Dan Graham)

However, the agency said current conditions have not yet reached the point where such intervention is required.

"While we are concerned about low flows and high river temperatures on the Wye, current conditions have not yet triggered this additional release intervention," the spokesperson added.

NRW said previous assessments found that reservoir releases may provide only limited benefits in reducing water temperatures and improving oxygen levels beyond areas immediately downstream of reservoirs.

The agency also warned there can be drawbacks, including the release of algae, disturbance of sediment and nutrients, potential water quality issues and impacts on fish movements.

River levels across Herefordshire remain exceptionally low.

Latest readings show the Wye at around 23cm at Hay-on-Wye, 11cm at Bredwardine, 12cm at Belmont and 33cm at Mordiford, while Ross-on-Wye is registering just 1cm - with anglers banned.

Sharing pictures of the River Wye just downstream of Old Bridge in Hereford on Thursday (July 30), Hereford Times Camera Club member Mark Gregory said: "Wow, never seen the river this low."

Meanwhile, water storage across the Elan Valley reservoir system continues to fall.

Figures from Severn Trent show stocks now stand at 69.3 per cent capacity, holding 68,924 megalitres of water.

The River Wye at Old Bridge in Hereford remains low (Image: Susan Tattersall/Hereford Times Camera Club)

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That is down from 72.8 per cent and 72,476 megalitres recorded on July 21, a drop of around 3,552 megalitres in just over a week.

The situation is also being closely watched by customers of Welsh Water, which supplies much of Herefordshire.

The company has already introduced hosepipe restrictions in parts of Wales and has not ruled out further measures this side of the border if dry conditions continue.

With forecasts showing only limited chances of rainfall in the coming days, pressure on the River Wye and its wildlife is expected to remain a major concern into August.