Estuary detail

Below is an interactive map and a table of parameters derived through various sources – Nature Conservancy Council (Davidson et al, 1991), EMPHASYS (2000c), Dyer (2002) in Futurecoast, Townend (2005), ABPmer (2024) and ABPmer (2025). The data is indicative of recently determined bulk properties suitable for broadscale intercomparison of estuaries.

Alternatively take a look in the viewer.

Estuaries Database Viewer View in Estuaries Database Viewer
Estuary ID 6 
JNCC ID 7 
Name of estuary Severn Estuary 
Alternative name This estuary spans more than one WFD waterbody (Severn Lower boundary was taken from WFD cycle 2 and merged with Severn Middle and Severn Upper from WFD cycle 3) 
Grid reference ST405805  
WFD water body ID GB530905415401,GB530905415402,GB530905415403 
WFD water body name Severn Lower, Severn Middle, Severn Upper 
MAGIC URL link MAGIC link 1 MAGIC link 2 MAGIC link 3 
Latitude 51.55480271 
Longitude -2.72499302 
JNCC classification Coastal Plain  
Updated classification Funnel   read more on estuary classification..
Tidal classification Exceptionally large  
Spring tidal range (m) 10.5  
Mean High Water Springs (mODN) 5.6 
Mean Low Water Springs (mODN) -4.9 
Mean Tide Level (mODN) 0.17 
Mean river flow (m3/s) 77.8 
Low river flow (m3/s) 17.04  
High river flow (m3/s) 227.7 
Name of furthest downstream flow gauge Haw Bridge  
DEFRA Hydrology Gauge Data Explorer URL link DEFRA Hydrology Gauge link    
Area of basin (Ha) 55684  
Intertidal area (Ha) 16890  
Shoreline length (km) 353  
Channel length (km) 111.2  
Mouth width (m) 13000  
Valley width (m) 13000  
Volume at mean tide level (m3) 5070000000  
Surface area at mean tide level (m2) 515000000  
CSA at mean tide level (m2) 206336  
Volume at low water (m3) 2630000000  
Surface area at low water (m2) 408000000  
CSA at low water (m2) 136286 
Volume at high water (m3) 7900000000 
Surface area at high water (m2) 528000000 
CSA at high water (m2) 280998 
Volume of tidal prism (m3) 5270000000 
Dronkers' gamma (nondim) 4.15 
Storage volume over intertidal (m3) 984000000 
Channel volume to MTL (m3) 6920000000 
Ratio of storage volume to channel volume (nondim) 0.14 
Hydraulic depth at MTL (m) 9.8 
DEFRA Catchment Data Explorer URL link DEFRA Catchment link   
Estuary template download link  

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Last Modified on: 20 June 2025
Printed from the Estuary Guide on 16/10/2026 17:51:03