River Brue

Question 1

Where’s the source

Answer 1

Brewham, Somerset, South west England

Question 2

What’s the size of the area of the catchment

Answer 2

31km

Question 3

Where’s the mouth

Answer 3

Mouth in Burnham-on-sea into the Bristol Channel after a total fall of 126 meters in elevation

Question 4

What historic factors affected the river Brue through Glastonbury

Answer 4

Original route different but monks in Glastonbury abbey changed it for farmland space - straightening and redirection

Question 5

Which direction does it run and where through

Answer 5

Generally south west direction , street and glasto as well as the Somerset levels - think about flooding

Question 6

Name some tributaries

Answer 6

Hart lake river , river Pitt

Question 7

Describe the climate and levels of precipitation

Answer 7

Very high levels of precipitation in south west of England - avg. 32 inches a year in Glastonbury - areas surrounding the river

Question 8

Implications for flooding

Answer 8

Somerset level flooding - tide locked system - water from Bristol Channel backwashes into the brew and floods the levels

Low lying land / near sea level (some parts dip below)

Surplus of alluvium and clay ground in some areas such as Glasto festival site - causes mass flooding through surface storage and less absorbent soils

Question 9

Flood management - historic

Answer 9

Clyse - System put in place to stop the backflip from the sea and water into the river

Question 10

Flood management - modern

Answer 10

Brue - de silting

Planting trees - brings diktat in drainage basins , infiltrates more water into the soil through plant uptake

Highbridge flood alleviations - an SRA contribution will enable a major 1.5 million alleviation scheme will go ahead - will protect 21 homes in field way

Dredging - 11km of rivers

More repairs at north drain pumping station

Question 11

What are some Future temporal references (hint - sea level rise)

Answer 11

Water expected to come inland due to rising sea level and flood the Somerset levels completely, sub ducting it into the sea

Question 12

What % of Somerset is at other just above sea level

Answer 12

15%

Question 13

Give some detail on national flood risk

Answer 13

Around 5 million people in 2 million properties affected from flooding in England and wales.

Around 2.2 billion spent per year as a result of this

Question 14

What year did the Somerset levels flood?

Answer 14

2014

Question 15

What are some human and physical factors that affect the water cycle at a drainage basin scale

Answer 15

Physical
Plants and wildlife
Soil type
Porus or impermeable rock
Relief of land
Climate (evapotranspiration and precip)
Basin size
Basin shape ( circular / elongated)

Human
Deforestation/reforestation
Changes of Land use
Agriculture - extraction for irrigation, ploughing (inc. water infiltration)
Changes to rivers (e.g. straightening)

Question 16

Analysis and evaluation - what are some main talking points for drainage basins (think key models)

Answer 16

Hydrographs ( flashy or flat/ subdued)
Think lag times and rising and falling limb speed and peak discharge ( flashy will have a larger peak)

Think about stores and distribution - infiltration, water balance and water table