River Landscapes - Somerset

Question 1

Why was the flooding scheme required in Somerset?

Answer 1

Winter 2013-14 severe flooding caused 600 homes to be flooded, farmland damaged, many villages cut off, reduced river capacity

Question 2

What were the name of the management strategy used in Somerset?

Answer 2

The Somerset Levels and Moor Flood Action Plan

Question 3

What hard engineering strategies were used in Somerset?

Answer 3

1. Re-starting dredging along 8km of River Tone and the River Parrett so river channels can hold more water
2. Relief channels and pumps if river levels rise

Question 4

What soft engineering strategies were used in Somerset?

Answer 4

1. Planting trees to increase interception and transpiration
2. Removing vegetation from the Parrett to allow the water to flow more easily
3. Sustainable urban drainage encouraged in any new building developments to allow percolation of water in urban areas.

Question 5

Social impacts of the Somerset scheme?

Answer 5

• Homes protected e.g. in Muchelney
• Communities feel reassured
• Isolated farms still at risk

Question 6

Economic impacts of the Somerset scheme?

Answer 6

• Access to business will be maintained to Muchelney even in a flood.
• Management plan has stopped insurance premiums rising too much
• Dredging needs to be repeated every 4 years and is expensive.
• Council tax in Somerset has risen by £25/year to help fund the management plan

Question 7

Environmental impacts of the Somerset scheme?

Answer 7

• Dredging may damage habitats
• In other areas the river habitats are preserved through removal of river restoration and increased tree planting on farmland