5. CASE STUDY - River Eden Catchment Flashcards
Where is the source of the River Eden?
Pennine Hills (village of Mallerstang)
How long is the River Eden?
75 miles long
Where is the mouth of the River Eden?
Solway Firth (Scottish border)
Why is Carlisle particularly vulnerable to flooding?
- It is fairly low-lying
- It is at the confluence of the Eden, Petteril and Caldew rivers
Describe the relief of the River Eden basin
- Skiddaw mountains: the tributaries have a steep gradient
- Carlisle: extremely shallow floodplains
Describe the geology of the River Eden basin.
- The soils are thin in the upper course of the river
- The rocks are hard and volcanic in the top of the river
Describe the rainfall patterns of the River Eden basin.
- River Eden has a seasonal flow
- Impacted by heavy rain or snowmelt in the Pennines
Describe land use in the River Eden basin
- Immediate areas surrounding are mostly used for grade 2 and grade 3 agricultural land use
Describe farming in the River Eden basin.
- There are over 2000 farms in the region - intense farming causes soil to become compacted by machinery or trampling by livestock.
- Between 2000 and 2009, there was a 30% increase in the number of cattle in the Eden Valley
Describe construction and urbanisation in the River Eden basin
The Eden Gate development outlines plans to develop a huge ‘garden village’ with 10,000 homes built on the flood plains
Describe river restoration in the River Eden basin
The straightened channel caused a fast flowing stream which increased the frequency of flash flooding following rainfall - this was filled in to create a new meadow for wildflowers and tree planting.
Describe beaver re-introduction in the River Eden basin.
- In 2020, 2 beavers were re-introduced at the Lowther Estate - these create dams that cause ponds and wetlands to form.
