River Eden - Land Use Changes

Question 1

Farming in the Eden Basin

Answer 1

• According to the Eden Rivers Trust, there are about 2000 farms in the Eden

Question 2

How does farming affect the water cycle?

Answer 2

• More intensive farming makes the soil become more compacted due to machinery and the trampling of livestock.

Question 3

How does farming increase flood risk?

Answer 3

• Compacted soil reduces infiltration and increases surface runoff
• Water levels rise quickly where there’s high amounts of rainfall

Question 4

How much more cattle were there in 2009?

Answer 4

• There was a 30% increase of cattle in the Eden Valley from 2000-2009

Question 5

How does grazing increase flood risk?

Answer 5

• Sheep grazing reduces the vegetation that can intercept rainfall so more water reaches rivers.

Question 6

What kind of area is the Eden Basin?

Answer 6

• It’s mainly a rural area but new housing areas have been built in Carlisle

Question 7

Floodplains in Carlisle

Answer 7

• Some housing developments have been built on floodplains in Carlisle which has made them flood risks.
• This is has also meant that flood defences have had to be built
• Construction on floodplains also increases the risk of flooding downstream due to the water that would usually have been infiltrated on the floodplains travelling downstream instead

Question 8

What’s the Eden Gate development?

Answer 8

• Plans to develop a huge “Garden Village” South of Carlisle
• 10,000 homes to be built

Question 9

How does construction affect the water cycle?

Answer 9

• Surfaces in urban areas are impermeable
• An increase in impermeable surfaces will decrease infiltration rates and increase surface runoff

Question 10

Deforestation in the Eden Basin

Answer 10

• Deforestation has been happening in the Eden Basin for thousands of years
• Most of the original forest cover in the basin has been removed.
• According to Global Forest Watch, Cumbria has lost 19% of it’s forest cover since 2000

Question 11

How does deforestation change the water cycle?

Answer 11

• Less trees means that interception and infiltration rates decrease and surface run off increases

Question 12

How does deforestation increase flood risk?

Answer 12

• Increase in surface runoff leads to flashier hydrographs

Question 13

How would climate change increase flood risk?

Answer 13

• Climate change is predicted to change rainfall patterns such as having more winter rainfall.
• Western parts of the UK are predicted to experience a 35% increase in winter rainfall by 2080
• More winter rainfall would increase surface runoff, increasing flood risk.