somerset levels case study

state the date of the Somerset Levels flooding

January 2014

state the location of the Somerset Levels flood

• Somerset

• south-west UK

state the rivers that flooded during the Somerset Level flood

• Parrett

• Tone

state the area impacted by the Somerset Levels flooding

65km²

describe how rainfall was a cause of the Somerset Levels flooding

• 193% increase in rainfall in January 2014

• wettest January since 1910

describe the wind during January 2014, Somerset

hurricane-force wind speeds

describe how tides were a cause of the Somerset Levels flooding

• tidal surges

• from Bristol Channel

• caused widespread flooding

describe how the jet stream was a cause of the Somerset Levels flooding

• powerful jet stream

• drove low pressure systems

• across the Atlantic Ocean

• hitting the west coast of the UK

describe how dredging was a cause of the Somerset Levels flooding

River Parrett had not been dredged properly for 20 years before 2014

describe how urbanisation was a cause of the Somerset Levels flooding

• building over floodplains has increased flood risk

• farming practices are now intensive and land is less able to retain water

  • causes increased surface runoff

describe how draining was a cause of the Somerset Levels flooding

• humans drained the landscape during the Norman period

• means the land is now much more low lying

• causing it to be prone to flooding

describe the effects of the Somerset Levels flooding on trust

• locals stopped trusting the government

  • this trust is difficult to regain over time

describe the effects of the Somerset Levels on crime

900L of fuel was stolen from a pumping station in Westonzoyland

describe the effects of the Somerset Levels flooding on agriculture

• loss of livelihoods from permanent damage to businesses and farmland

• loss of crops

• expensive to move livestock to safety

describe the effects of the Somerset Levels flooding on transport disruption

• 81 road closures

  • e.g. A361 between Taunton and Street

• trains on the Bristol line between Bridgwater and Taunton were also disrupted

describe the effects of the Somerset Levels flooding on isolation

• Muchelney village had roads cut off for almost a month

• a 2 hourly boat was the only means by which residents could leave or re-enter the village

describe the effects of the Somerset Levels flooding on grief

• emotional devastation

• from loss of over 600 homes and possessions

describe the effects of the Somerset Levels flooding on the local economy

• local businesses reported over £1 million in losses

• cost tourism industry £200 million

• 50% of businesses were impacted by flooding

• 86% of businesses were impacted by road closures

describe the effects of the Somerset Levels flooding on insurance

home insurance went up five-fold for local people after the flood

describe the effects of the Somerset Levels flooding on biodiversity

• 7000 Ha of farmland flooded

• fluctuations in wildlife populations, breeding patterns and locations for some species

describe the effects of the Somerset Levels flooding on soil

• took up to 2 years for soil to be restored

• soil benefited from fertile alluvium deposits from flooding

state the stakeholders in the management of the Somerset Levels flooding

• Royal Marines

• Government

• Environment Agency (EA)

• Somerset County Council

• FLAG

evaluate FLAG’s management of the flooding

• POSITIVE:

  • excellent pastoral care for suffering residents

  • brought the community together

• NEGATIVE:

  • small scale

  • minimal expertise

evaluate the use of infrastructure to manage the flooding

• installation of a temporary bridge at Beer Wall

• 28 miles of flood-affected roads were repaired and resurfaced

• POSITIVE:

  • helped regain accessibility between Aller and Othery (along A372)

• NEGATIVE

  • work took 11 weeks to complete

evaluate the use of embankments to manage the flooding

• Thorney had £180,000 earth embankments built to help protect 10 houses

• POSITIVE:

  • helps protect house prices

• NEGATIVE

  • small scale and large cost:benefit ratio

evaluate the use of pumps to manage the flooding

• 10 trigger points drawn up in Somerset Levels to allow additional pumps to be switched on to remove water

• POSITIVE

  • focused on worst hit locations

• NEGATIVE

  • can’t cover the whole area of Somerset

evaluate the use of declaration to manage the flooding

• Somerset County Council declared a ‘major incident’ to galvanise support

• POSITIVE

  • raised £1.5 million towards repairs

• NEGATIVE

  • words aren’t actions

evaluate the use of future planning to manage the flooding

• Somerset County Council plan to fund a new Somerset Rivers Authority to focus on maintaining river channels and reducing flood risk

• POSITIVE

  • initially funded by the national government (£2 million was paid)

• NEGATIVE

  • future funds rely on a council tax increase of £25 per year

evaluate the use of EA pumps to manage the flooding

• EA pumps installed 62 emergency pumps, working 24/7

• POSITIVE

  • removed 1.5 million tonnes of water

• NEGATIVE

  • took a while to bring the pumps from the Netherlands

evaluate the role of the Royal Marines in managing the flooding

• Marines were deployed to help villagers cut off by the floodwater

• POSITIVE

  • they were highly skilled in dangerous zones

• NEGATIVE

  • this meant they weren’t doing other more useful tasks

evaluate the use of tidal barriers to manage the flooding

• EA planned to built £100 million tidal barrier across the River Parrett by 2024

• POSITIVE

  • will protect 10,000 homes and 1,500 businesses

• NEGATIVE

  • project has been delayed and not completed as of yet

evaluate the use of an action plan to manage the flooding

• Somerset Levels and Moors Action Plan (20 years) formed, £100 million plan

  • £10.5 million - national government

  • £10 million - Department for Transport

• POSITIVE

  • plan had knock on impacts and co-ordinated a lot of other responses

• NEGATIVE

  • its unknown where they will get the additional £79.5 million in funding