Somerset Levels Flashcards
Severe storm where and when
Atlantic and 2014
What did the flood do
Prolonged isolation of villages
Wetland of coastal plain
Between Mendip and Quantock Hills
Covers area of 650km squared
3-4m above sea level
Land drained by several rivers
Parrett, Axe and Tone
Began reclamation of land e.g. Glastonbury
People trying to drain the land - now 70% are used for arable farming - willow and peat extracted
What used to remove excess water
artificial river channel, pumping station and extensive draining system
Causes -
Unusually wet weather in December and January
Nine week period
Succession of storms and rain totals were above average
Rivers were hindered how
High tides
Bristol Channel
Highest tidal range and extremely high tides
Other problems with rivers
Lack of dredging
Tome and Parrett problems
Water unable to drain away
What did Oxford University suggest
25% more likely as a consequence of recent atmospheric heating
Residents claimed what
Poor management decisions and neglect of the drainage system led to severe flooding
Rural regions - Around 60,000 people
Impermeable surfaces not regarded as a significant factor
Positive
Planted more trees - afforestation
Environmental Agency changes
Stopped the previous dredging
Problems from change from River to Environmental Agency
Focus on environmental and not human impacts
Villages accused EA of what
Allowing villages to be flooded and not the bigger towns
How many properties were flooded
600
Moorland and Fordgate
Evacuated but under 1-2m of water
Muchelney and Thorney
Inundated for months and only accessible by boat
120 families
moved to temporary accommodation e.g. caravan
2015
30 families still awaiting to return to their homes, many decided not to return and many live in financial trauma
Other things affected
Businesses, farms and wooden floor business
Agriculture affected
16 farmers and their livestock were affected
Local transport and networks
Were affects for three months as water did not recede
Retail, manufacturing and tourism lost money
Impact still felt two years later
Cost of farming flood damage
£19 million
Flood damage bill of
£1 billion
Summerset council needed what
£2 million to clean up
New flood protection scheme was
£200 million
Publicity saw that there was a tourism loss of
£200 million
Sites of Scientific Interest
7,200 hectares
Special Protection Area
6,000 hectares
Older grasses recovered quickly
Younger grasses were destroyed
Bird species that decreased
Golden plover and teal
Little significance to soil
Would recover with two years
Earthworm
Recovered quickly
