Somerset levels

• when was the Somerset levels?


  between dec 2013 and feb 2014
• what were the causes to the Somerset flooding?


  • wettest Jan since records began in 1910
  • high tides and storm surges swept water up the rivers from the Bristol channel
  • Rivers had not been dredged for 20 years - clogged with sediment
• what were the social impacts from the flooding?

  • over 600 houses flooding
  • 16 farms evacuated
  • some residents temporarily evacuated to temporary accommodation
  • many people had power supplies cut off
  • villages such as Moorland and Muchelney cut off
• what were the environmental impacts of the Somerset levels?


  • Huge amount of debris has to be cleared
  • floodwaters were heavily contaminated with sewage and other pollutants including oil and chemicals
  • stagnant water had to be collected for months and had to be reoxygenated before being pumped back into rivers
• what were the economic impacts of the Somerset levels


  • over 1400 ha of agricultural land underwater for 3-4 weeks
  • over 1000 livestock evacuated
  • local roads cut off by floods
  • damage $10 million +
• what were the immediate responses to the Somerset floods?


  • villagers used boats to go shopping or attend school
  • people volunteered
• what were the longer term responses to the Somerset floods?


  • 8km of the river Tone and Parratt were dredged
  • communities vulnerable to flooding will have flood defences
  • river banks are being raised
  • road levels raised
  • by 2024, consideration will be given to tidal barrage at Bridgewater