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 70 
JNCC ID 152 
Name of estuary Looe Estuary 
Alternative name  
Grid reference SX255545  
WFD water body ID GB520804806300 
WFD water body name Looe 
MAGIC URL link MAGIC link 1 
Latitude 50.35860003 
Longitude -4.45659517 
JNCC classification Ria  
Updated classification Ria   read more on estuary classification..
Tidal classification Macrotidal  
Spring tidal range (m) 4.8  
Mean High Water Springs (mODN) 2.35 
Mean Low Water Springs (mODN) -2.45 
Mean Tide Level (mODN) -0.12 
Mean river flow (m3/s) 2.21 
Low river flow (m3/s) 0.58  
High river flow (m3/s) 4.64 
Name of furthest downstream flow gauge  
DEFRA Hydrology Gauge Data Explorer URL link    
Area of basin (Ha) 56.3  
Intertidal area (Ha) 43  
Shoreline length (km) 12.6  
Channel length (km) 4.1  
Mouth width (m) 50  
Valley width (m) 50  
Volume at mean tide level (m3) 25500  
Surface area at mean tide level (m2) 46800  
CSA at mean tide level (m2)  
Volume at low water (m3) 0  
Surface area at low water (m2) 0  
CSA at low water (m2)  
Volume at high water (m3) 485000 
Surface area at high water (m2) 306000 
CSA at high water (m2) 9 
Volume of tidal prism (m3) 485000 
Dronkers' gamma (nondim)  
Storage volume over intertidal (m3) 485000 
Channel volume to MTL (m3) 0 
Ratio of storage volume to channel volume (nondim)  
Hydraulic depth at MTL (m) 0.5 
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 29/10/2026 02:18:26