The River Brock case study

How big is the River Brock’s catchment area and what type of area is it?

32Km2

It drains an entirely rural area

It is a 17.8km narrow elongated basin

Source in the Forest of Bowland and tributary of the River Wyre - confluence in St Michaels

What is the rock and soil type like along the River Brock?

Millstone grit hills are impermeable north and carboniferous limestone(permeable) to the south

Grass and peat soil types on high moors and boulder clay lower down

What are the human impacts on the River Brock?

Flow is almost completely natural with limited human impacts - 95% of the flow is unaffected by humans

Beacon Fell regulates water flow/quality in the catchment

Myserscough College have a license to abstract a maximum of 45m3 per day with an annual maximum of 16592m3

What is the upper, middle and lower course like of the River Brock?

Source at Fairsnape Fell - 510m above sea level with a steep upper course where hill sheep farming takes place

Less steep middle course where there is a narrow wooded valley

The lower course is almost completely flat with a confluence as St Michael’s 60m above sea level. Dairy farms are situated along the lower course

What is the river channel like?

Narrow, shallow, often meanders

Range of widths and lots of deposited material

What is the weather like in the River Brock drainage basin

Seasonal changes in discharge with a lot of precipitation

In England so temperate climate

How do the characteristics of the River Brock affect transfers, stores, flood risk and water supply

How do the characteristics of the River Brock affect transfers, stores, flood risk and water supply