Operation Watershed

1 Overview

Following severe flooding across West Sussex in 2012 and 2013, West Sussex County Council took action to improve drainage and reduce flood risks. This included:

repairing and improving drainage ditches next to rivers and streams
fixing flood damage to roads
making homes, businesses and roads more resilient to flooding

To help achieve this, West Sussex County Council created Operation Watershed and launched the Active Communities Fund.

Since then, Operation Watershed has helped local communities deliver nearly 500 projects. West Sussex County Council has provided almost £6 million in funding and worked with nearly 180 community groups.

Operation Watershed now has an extra £435,000 through the Active Communities Fund 2026 to 2027. Community groups can apply for funding to deliver projects that help reduce the risk and impact of flooding in their local area.

Videos

Chidham and Hambrook Parish Council tell us on how Operation Watershed has helped them and the Parish Ditch Warden to keep the local community informed and reduce the risk of flooding.

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Pulborough Parish Council tell us how they worked in partnership with Horsham Wardens and Operation Watershed to help significantly reduce flooding in a well-used community area.

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2 Applying for funding

Community and volunteer groups and town and parish councils within West Sussex can apply for funding for projects they can deliver for themselves.

The criteria we use to assess applications to the fund are:

how they address recognised flood issues
if they have strong community support
that they demonstrate value for money
how they will realise benefits to your community

To be successful, your application must show that your project:

helps reduce a known risk of flooding from surface water or groundwater
does at least one of the following:
- installs new drainage or flood protection infrastructure
- improves existing infrastructure
- increases the drainage capacity of existing infrastructure
- provides equipment or other assets that community groups can use to help protect their local area from flooding
shows strong support from the local community and a commitment to maintaining the project in the future

You must have support from your local county councillor before you apply.

If you would like to discuss your idea before applying, complete the Expression of Interest form below and email it to operation.watershed@westsussex.gov.uk.

Send your completed application and any supporting documents to the Operation Watershed team. We will assess all applications before making a decision.

3 Contact details

For regular updates, follow us on social media.

4 Past grant applications

Grant applications 2025 to 2026

Total number of applications: 13
Total value: £714,239.69

Decision - March 2026
Decision - February 2026
Decision - August 2025
Decision - June 2025

Grant applications 2024 to 2025

Total number of applications: 6
Total value: £369,112.07

Decision - October 2024
Decision - July 2024

Grant applications 2023 to 2024

Total number of applications: 9
Total value: £435,587.09

Decision - December 2023
Decision - November 2023
Decision - April 2024

Grant applications 2022 to 2023

Total number of applications: 3
Total value: £36,858.79

Decision - November 2022

Grant applications 2021 to 2022

Total number of applications: 11
Total value: £254,504.73

Decision - September 2022
Decision - March 2022

Grant applications 2020 to 2021

Total number of applications: 17
Total value: £387,512.11 Capital

Decision - December 2020
Decision - July 2020
Decision - May 2020

Grant applications 2019 to 2020

Total number of applications: 11
Total value: £144,691.96 Capital

Operation Watershed Active Communities Fund application details:

Grant applications 2018 to 2019

Total number of applications: 21
Total value: £344,310.79 Capital
Total value: £25,725.00 Operation Watershed revenue reserve

Grant applications 2017 to 2018

Total number of applications: 52
Total value: £500,186.93

Awarded under fund for 2016 to 2017

Total number of applications: 64
Total value: £496,633.65

Awarded under fund for 2014 to 2015

Total number of applications: 183
Total value: £1,145,847.00

Awarded under fund for 2013 to 2014

Total number of applications: 129
Total value: £1,244,224.70

Previous approved applications are available upon request.