Somerset Levels Floods

Question 1

what are the Somerset Levels and Somerset Moors like

Answer 1

low-lying farmland + wetlands

Question 1

where is Somerset

Answer 1

county in SW England

Question 2

what are the Somerset Levels bordered by

Answer 2

• Bristol Channel & Quantock Hills to the West
• Mendip Hills to the North

Question 3

cause of Somerset Levels Floods

Answer 3

• wettest January since records began in 1910 - a succession of depressions driven across Atlantic Ocean - period of wet weather lasting several wks. ~350mm rain fell in Jan and Feb (~100mm > than avg)
• high tides + storm surges swept water up the rivers from Bristol Channel - prevented fresh water reaching the sea and it spilled over the river banks
• rivers hadn’t been dredged for 20yrs min. - clogged w/sediment

Question 4

Social impacts

Answer 4

• 600+ houses flooded
• 16 farms evacuated
• Villages (Moorland, Muchelney) cut off - affected ppl’s daily lives - attending scl, shooping, etc..

Question 5

Economic impacts

Answer 5

• an Economic Impact Assessment (2015) - £147.5M cost
• +14ha agricultural land underwater for 3-4 weeks
• +80 roads closed - £15M cost to local economy

Question 6

Environmental impacts

Answer 6

• Flood waters contain sewage and other pollutants (oil + chemicals)
• Debris had to be cleared
• Stagnant water that had collected for months had to be reoxygenated b4 being pumped back into rivers

Question 7

Immediate responses

Answer 7

• villagers cut off by floods used boats to go shopping/attend scl
• local community groups + volunteers gave invaluable support

Question 8

Long term responses of Somerset levels floods

Answer 8

• The Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) launched in Jan 2015 to implement strategies identified in Somerset’s £100M Flood Action Plan.
• Environment Agency plans to construct a tidal barrier at Bridgewater by 2024 to reduce threat of tidal flooding (£65-80M cost) - protects 11.5k homes & 1.5k local businesses.

Question 9

Somerset’s £100M Flood Action Plan

Answer 9

• March 2014 - 8km of Rivers Tone and Parrett dredged - £6M cost - increase capacity of river channel (rivers r now dredged annually)
• Road levels (e.g. at Muchelney) raised to maintain comms + enable businesses to continue during future flood events. A new control structure at Beer Wall protects A372 from flooding.