Check the classification of a watercourse

There is no national map of ordinary watercourses, but ordinary watercourses are those which have NOT been designated as a ‘main river’ on the Environment Agency's statutory main river map.

Not all ordinary watercourses are mapped and they do not have to be recorded on a map to be an ordinary watercourse, and commonly are not.

If you are looking to make an alteration to a watercourse and are unsure of its classification, please contact us at enquiries@lancashire.gov.uk or 0300 123 6780.

Main rivers

Watercourses which are classified as a 'main river' are regulated separately by the Environment Agency and do not form part of the county council's regulation.

You need to report an issue on a main river or apply for a permit for alterations to a main river directly to the Environment Agency.

Ordinary watercourses

Unless in an area covered by an Internal Drainage Board, watercourses that are classified as 'ordinary watercourses' in Lancashire are regulated by Lancashire County Council.

Lancashire County Council's role in regulating ordinary watercourses includes processing applications for consent for certain changes to an ordinary watercourse that might obstruct or alter the flow, and use of enforcement powers to rectify unlawful and potentially damaging works to ordinary watercourses.

Ordinary watercourses located within an internal drainage district are managed separately by the Internal Drainage Board for that area. Currently in Lancashire there is one Internal Drainage Board (IDB) located in Earby and Salterforth.