Somerset Levels

Question 1

Severe storm where and when

Answer 1

Atlantic and 2014

Question 2

What did the flood do

Answer 2

Prolonged isolation of villages

Question 3

Wetland of coastal plain

Answer 3

Between Mendip and Quantock Hills

Question 4

Covers area of 650km squared

Answer 4

3-4m above sea level

Question 5

Land drained by several rivers

Answer 5

Parrett, Axe and Tone

Question 6

Began reclamation of land e.g. Glastonbury

Answer 6

People trying to drain the land - now 70% are used for arable farming - willow and peat extracted

Question 7

What used to remove excess water

Answer 7

artificial river channel, pumping station and extensive draining system

Question 8

Causes -

Answer 8

Unusually wet weather in December and January

Question 9

Nine week period

Answer 9

Succession of storms and rain totals were above average

Question 10

Rivers were hindered how

Answer 10

High tides

Question 11

Bristol Channel

Answer 11

Highest tidal range and extremely high tides

Question 12

Other problems with rivers

Answer 12

Lack of dredging

Question 13

Tome and Parrett problems

Answer 13

Water unable to drain away

Question 14

What did Oxford University suggest

Answer 14

25% more likely as a consequence of recent atmospheric heating

Question 15

Residents claimed what

Answer 15

Poor management decisions and neglect of the drainage system led to severe flooding

Question 16

Rural regions - Around 60,000 people

Answer 16

Impermeable surfaces not regarded as a significant factor

Question 17

Positive

Answer 17

Planted more trees - afforestation

Question 18

Environmental Agency changes

Answer 18

Stopped the previous dredging

Question 19

Problems from change from River to Environmental Agency

Answer 19

Focus on environmental and not human impacts

Question 20

Villages accused EA of what

Answer 20

Allowing villages to be flooded and not the bigger towns

Question 21

How many properties were flooded

Answer 21

600

Question 22

Moorland and Fordgate

Answer 22

Evacuated but under 1-2m of water

Question 23

Muchelney and Thorney

Answer 23

Inundated for months and only accessible by boat

Question 24

120 families

Answer 24

moved to temporary accommodation e.g. caravan

Question 25

2015

Answer 25

30 families still awaiting to return to their homes, many decided not to return and many live in financial trauma

Question 26

Other things affected

Answer 26

Businesses, farms and wooden floor business

Question 27

Agriculture affected

Answer 27

16 farmers and their livestock were affected

Question 28

Local transport and networks

Answer 28

Were affects for three months as water did not recede

Question 29

Retail, manufacturing and tourism lost money

Answer 29

Impact still felt two years later

Question 30

Cost of farming flood damage

Answer 30

£19 million

Question 31

Flood damage bill of

Answer 31

£1 billion

Question 32

Summerset council needed what

Answer 32

£2 million to clean up

Question 33

New flood protection scheme was

Answer 33

£200 million

Question 34

Publicity saw that there was a tourism loss of

Answer 34

£200 million

Question 35

Sites of Scientific Interest

Answer 35

7,200 hectares

Question 36

Special Protection Area

Answer 36

6,000 hectares

Question 37

Older grasses recovered quickly

Answer 37

Younger grasses were destroyed

Question 38

Bird species that decreased

Answer 38

Golden plover and teal

Question 39

Little significance to soil

Answer 39

Would recover with two years

Question 40

Earthworm

Answer 40

Recovered quickly