Somerset Levels Flashcards
Where is Somerset?
It is a county in SW England
What do the Somerset Levels and Somerset Moors form?
An extensive area of low-lying farmland and wetlands
What is the Somerset Levels and where is it located?
It is an area of low-lying farmland between the Mendip and Blackdown Hills in central Somerset.
What notable rivers is the area drained by ?
The Tone and the Parrett, which flow to the Severn Estuary via Bridgewater
What is the area at risk from?
Flooding, because it has occurred naturally here for centuries
What caused the floods in 2014?- Physical causes
Physical causes
- a sequence of south-westerly depressions brought record rainfall in January and Feburary. There was about 350 mm of rain, around 100mm above average
- high tides and storm surges swept water up the rivers from the Bristol Channel preventing normal flow.
- saturated ground: The long period of rainfall caused the ground to become saturated so that it could not hold any more water
- low lying land- much of the area lies at, or just a few metres above sea level, putting it at risk of flooding.
- high tides and storm surges from the Bristol channel: These prevent the floodwater from being taken to the sea, forcing it to back up the rivers.
Social impacts of the flood
- over 600 houses flooded
- 16 farms evacuated
- some residents evacuated to temporary accommodation for several months
- villages such as Moorland and Muchelney were cut off, affecting people’s daily lives - they could only leave the island by a boat which left every two hours
- many people had power supplies cut off
- isolated communities provided an opportunity for theives. In January, 900 litres of fuel was stolen from a pumping station in Westonzoyland.
Economic impacts of the flood
-Somerset County Council estimated the cost of flood damage to be more than £10 million
- Over 14000 hectares of agricultural land was under water for 3-4 weeks (saturation)
- Over 1000 livestock evacuated
-local roads cut off by floods
-Bristol to Taunton railway line closed at Bridgewater.
-Fuel for emergency pumps used to reduce water levels cost £200 000 per week
-Local businesses reported over £1 million in lost businesses
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Environmental impacts of the flood
- floodwaters were heavily contaminated with sewage and other pollutants including oil and chemicals.
- a huge amount of debris had to be cleared
- stagnant water that had collected for months had to be reoxygenated before being pumped back into rivers.
- 65km2 of land on the Levels were under water
Immediate responses
- huge media interest was generated
- cut-off villagers used boats for transport
- community groups and volunteers gave invaluable support
- the fire brigade visited hundreds of properties , and rescue boats were used to help stranded people
- owners of around 80 homes agreed to evacuate but about 30 other residents chose to remain
- army had been sent in with specialist equipment and delivered food and sandbags
- the met office issued an amber warning for heavy rain in SW England
Longer-term responses
- a £20 million Flood Action Plan has been launched by Somerset County Council who will work together with agencies like the Environment Agency to reduce the risk of future flooding
- In March 2014, 8km of the Rivers Tone and Parratt were dredged to increase the capacity of the river channel
- Road levels have been raised in places to maintain communications and enable businesses to continue during future flood events
- Communities vulnerable to flooding will have flood defences
- river banks are being raised and strengthened and more pumping stations will be built
- By 2024, consideration will be given to a tidal barrage at Bridgewater
How does dredging work?
- silt is deposited on the river bed
- heavy rain causes the river to flood
- Diggers or pumps remove silt to build up river banks and increase river capacity
Which rivers flooded?
The rivers Parrett and Tone
What caused the floods in 2014?- Human causes
- Rivers, clogged with sediment, had not been dredged for 20 years. The Environment Agency had decided to stop dredging the rivers some time earlier.
- change in farming practices: Much of the land has been converted from grassland to grow maize. This more intensive use of land means it is less able to retain water, causing it to run over the surface rather than being absorbed.
Should the government spend money here on a hard-engineering scheme?
- maybe not because it is a rural area with a low population
- the government may save money in the longer term by moving people to higher land,and to pay them money for their homes and farms
- However, this is unlikely to be a popular option.
