Which areas of Somerset are prone to flooding?
Somerset has many low-lying areas. Within the county there are 240 square miles below sea level, which adds to the risk and impact of flooding. The areas predominantly at risk of flooding include the Levels and Moors, Taunton, Bridgwater, Ilchester and Bruton.
Table of Contents
Which areas of Somerset are prone to flooding?
Somerset has many low-lying areas. Within the county there are 240 square miles below sea level, which adds to the risk and impact of flooding. The areas predominantly at risk of flooding include the Levels and Moors, Taunton, Bridgwater, Ilchester and Bruton.
Are Somerset Levels flooded?
What were the impacts of flooding in the Somerset Levels? Over 600 homes and 6880 hectares of agricultural land were flooded. In addition, a number of villages were cut off after roads were flooded.
How were the Somerset floods managed?
The monitoring of river levels allowed the Environment Agency to make proper judgements on what areas were under threat, managing the risks of the flooding. banks. 4km in the River Tone and 4km in the River Parratt was dredged in 2014, removing 130,000 cubic metresof silt.
Where are the Somerset Levels?
The Somerset Levels and Moors is a unique flat landscape that extends for about 170,000 acres (70,000 ha) across parts of the north and centre of the county of Somerset in the West of England. It reaches from Clevedon near Bristol in the north to Ilchester in the south.
Who drained the Somerset Levels?
The Romans tried managing the Levels but did not have as much success as the monks of Glastonbury. Dutch engineers eventually drained them in the 17th century but thankfully not until after King Alfred had used the marshes to escape the Vikings or English history might have taken a different turn.
Where did the storm surges come from that hit the Somerset Levels?
High tides and storm surges swept water up the rivers from the Bristol Channel exacerbating the problem by preventing freshwater being discharged to sea. The water backed up and overtopped the river banks. For some 20 years, the rivers had not been extensively dredged so they were operating at a much reduced capacity.
How long did the Somerset floods last?
The 2014 flood In a period of three months from December 2013 to February 2014 the Somerset Levels hit the national headlines as it suffered extensive flooding, first marooning several villages and farms and then inundating them.
What is the main river that runs through Somerset?
The River Parrett
The River Parrett flows through the counties of Dorset and Somerset in South West England, from its source in the Thorney Mills springs in the hills around Chedington in Dorset.
How were the Somerset Levels formed?
All of the levels and moors in Somerset were under water until about 4500 BC when peat deposits began to form in salt marsh, fen and raised bog environments. In order to cross these wetlands and reach the islands of rock and sand in the valleys, prehistoric people built wooden trackways.
What are the characteristics of the Somerset Levels?
The Levels are mainly flat areas of inland plains and a coastal sand and clay barrier, east and west of the M5 motorway. There are some slightly raised parts, called “burtles”, as well as higher ridges and hills. The Levels are about 20 feet (6 m) above mean sea level (O.D.).
Is Somerset a state?
Somerset is a rural county of rolling hills, the Blackdown Hills, Mendip Hills, Quantock Hills and Exmoor National Park, and large flat expanses of land including the Somerset Levels….
| Somerset | |
|---|---|
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | South West England |
| Established | Ancient |
What is Taunton famous for?
Taunton (/ˈtɔːntən/) is the county town of Somerset, England, with a 2011 population of 69,570. Its thousand-year history includes a 10th-century monastic foundation, Taunton Castle, which later became a priory. The Normans built a castle owned by the Bishops of Winchester.
How big is the Somerset Levels flood?
The area extends to over 60,000 hectares and is very flat. In early 2014 the Somerset Levels and Moors experienced widespread flooding, particularly within the Parrett and Tone river catchments. The Environment Agency estimated there were 100 million cubic metres of floodwater covering an area of 65 square kilometres.
What is happening to the Somerset Levels?
The Somerset Levels Flood Case Study The Somerset Levels are a coastal plain and wetland area of Somerset, England. Thousands of years ago the area was covered by the sea, but today it’s a landscape of rivers and wetlands – artificially drained, irrigated and modified to allow productive farming.
What’s happening with the rivers in Somerset?
Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron announces rivers in Somerset will be dredged once all flood water has drained off the Levels and river banks are safe. Royalty arrives. The Prince of Wales is escorted through the floods by boat, and tractor and trailer, to meet residents and farmers around Muchelney.
Why is there no dredging in Somerset Levels?
Somerset landowners and farmers blamed a lack of dredging for the flooding, although the Environment Agency has maintained it would not have prevented it. Dredging, however, formed the first phase of the 20-year, £100m Somerset Levels and Moors Action Plan.
