River Huntspill

Geobox River
name = River Huntspill
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =

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image_size =
image_caption = The Huntspill river crossed by a railway bridge and the M5 motorway
etymology =
country = England
country1 =
state = Somerset
state_type = County
state1 =
region = Somerset Levels
region1 =
district = Sedgemoor
district1 =
city = Street
city1 =
landmark =
landmark1 =
length_imperial = 5
watershed_imperial =
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source_name =
source_location =
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source_lat_d =
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mouth_name = River Parrett
mouth_location = Huntspill
mouth_district =
mouth_region =
mouth_state = Somerset
mouth_country = England
mouth_lat_d = 51
mouth_lat_m = 12
mouth_lat_s = 29
mouth_lat_NS = N
mouth_long_d = 3
mouth_long_m = 00
mouth_long_s = 52
mouth_long_EW = W
mouth_elevation_imperial = 0
tributary_left =
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map_size =
map_caption = The River Huntspill (or Huntspill River) is an artificial river, in the Somerset Levels, in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England.

The river was excavated as a five mile long straight channel using a dragline during the early years of World War II. It was constructed as a priority war work.Cite book
last = Williams
first = Michael
origyear = 1970
title ="The Draining of the Somerset Levels"
publisher = Cambridge University Press
location = Cambridge
id= ISBN 0-521-07486-X
pages= pp. 238] Its main function was to provide an all year-round guaranteed supply of 4.5 million gallons per day of process water for ROF Bridgwater, the Royal Ordnance Factory near Puriton. It was also intended to help drain parts of the lower Brue Valley. It was connected to the South Drain at Gold Corner. It implemented parts of a drainage plan for the Somerset Levels first drawn up in 1853 but not implemented until World War II.

The Huntspill River has retention sluices at both ends. In winter flood water can be removed by gravity drainage; and in summer it can be topped up by pumping water from the moors.

The Huntspill River is a National Nature Reserve, [cite web |url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_details.asp?nnr_name=&C=0&Habitat=0&natural_area=&local_team=0&spotlight_reserve=0&X=&NNR_ID=216 |title=Huntspill River National Nature Reserve |accessdate=2007-06-09 |format= |work= Natural England ] it discharges into the River Parrett just south of Highbridge. The Parrett flows into Bridgwater Bay, which also an important National Nature Reserve, [cite web | url= http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_details.asp?nnr_name=&C=0&Habitat=0&natural_area=&local_team=0&spotlight_reserve=0&X=&NNR_ID=28 | work= Natural England | title= Bridgwater Bay National Nature Reserve | accessdate= 2007-11-22] on the edge of the Bristol Channel.

References