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 62 
JNCC ID 144 
Name of estuary Exe Estuary 
Alternative name  
Grid reference SX985835  
WFD water body ID GB510804505600 
WFD water body name Exe 
MAGIC URL link MAGIC link 1 
Latitude 50.63568297 
Longitude -3.43716648 
JNCC classification Bar Built Estuary  
Updated classification Spit Enclosed   read more on estuary classification..
Tidal classification Macrotidal  
Spring tidal range (m) 3.6  
Mean High Water Springs (mODN) 2.17 
Mean Low Water Springs (mODN) -1.43 
Mean Tide Level (mODN) 0.3 
Mean river flow (m3/s) 16.23 
Low river flow (m3/s) 3.67  
High river flow (m3/s) 41.58 
Name of furthest downstream flow gauge Trews Weir  
DEFRA Hydrology Gauge Data Explorer URL link DEFRA Hydrology Gauge link    
Area of basin (Ha) 1874.2  
Intertidal area (Ha) 1201  
Shoreline length (km) 47.8  
Channel length (km) 16.7  
Mouth width (m) 380  
Valley width (m) 2250  
Volume at mean tide level (m3) 51700000  
Surface area at mean tide level (m2) 17600000  
CSA at mean tide level (m2) 1669  
Volume at low water (m3) 22300000  
Surface area at low water (m2) 13000000  
CSA at low water (m2) 1059 
Volume at high water (m3) 83600000 
Surface area at high water (m2) 17700000 
CSA at high water (m2) 2807 
Volume of tidal prism (m3) 61300000 
Dronkers' gamma (nondim) 5.52 
Storage volume over intertidal (m3) 14600000 
Channel volume to MTL (m3) 69000000 
Ratio of storage volume to channel volume (nondim) 0.21 
Hydraulic depth at MTL (m) 2.9 
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 01/11/2026 02:35:25