Oxon Ray Operational Catchment
Water bodies
There are 11 water bodies in this operational catchment.
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About
The river Ray is the main tributary of the Cherwell. The main urban area in the Oxon Ray operational catchment is Bicester. Within the operational catchment, there are a number of SSSIs, including neutral floodplain grasslands and wet grasslands that are important for waders. The area has been targeted for ecological protection and restoration. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Berkshire, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) both have reserves within the catchment. The gradient of the river Ray is among the lowest in the UK, which makes the Oxon Ray operational catchment particularly vulnerable to flooding. The majority of channels have been highly modified including excessive straightening and deepening.
