Isle of Man - Giving you Freedom to Flourish

Manx Watercouse Management Guide

The Manx Watercourse Management Guide is a free information leaflet, which summarises the rights and responsibilities of riparian landowners, and provides a code of good practice and contact details for further advice and information. The complementary Summary Guide to Stream Management includes a map of the Island's designated Main Rivers and is particularly useful for landowners and contractors who regularly conduct works in or adjacent to watercourses.

Both publications can be downloaded in pdf format by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page. Alternatively, copies can be obtained from DEFA Headquarters at St John's or by request from Karen Galtress: Tel. 651544, email karen.galtress@gov.im

Particular attention should be paid to the following points:

Consent must be sought from the Flood Risk Management Team of the Water and Sewerage Authority (Tel. 695949) for any works that may affect any watercourse (excepting routine vegetation management), e.g. riverbank engineering/protection; installation of bridges, pipes, cross-channel fencing.
Consent must be sought from the Water & Sewerage Authority before constructing anything or planting trees/shrubs within 30’ either side of a watercourse designated a ‘Main River’ under the Land Drainage Act 1934. Click on the picture on the right to see a larger map:
For streams with a mostly stony substrate, works likely to disturb the channel or destabilise banks should be avoided from October to June (inc) in order to minimise impact on trout and salmon.
Disturbance of bankside vegetation, including reeds or bushes, should be avoided during the bird nesting season (March to August inclusive).
Advice should be sought from the Department at St John's (Tel. 685835) if the invasive plants Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed or Himalayan balsam are found on or near river banks. Factsheets on Japanese knotweed and Injurious Plants (inc. giant hogweed) can be downloaded from here, where you can also find a link for the UK Environment Agency booklet on invasive non-native plants, which includes Himalayan balsam.