Emergency fish rescue operations are underway across Shropshire waterways as an exceptionally severe drought leaves rivers running dangerously low, threatening local wildlife and prompting official drought declarations across half of England. - Advertisement -To protect public drinking water supplies and maintain essential river ecosystems in the region, the Environment Agency has intensified operations on the River Severn Regulation system. In tandem with these emergency releases, officers are actively inspecting abstraction licences across the countryside to prevent over-abstraction and ensure agricultural users are using remaining water supplies prudently. Addressing the severity of the situation, Helen Wakeham, Director of Water at the Environment Agency and Chair of the National Drought Group, highlighted the compounding environmental pressures. “The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it,” Wakeham said.