After the disaster #KeswickFloodActionGroup #KFAG worked with the #EnvironmentAgency #EA and #UnitedUtilities to petition that during the flood risk season (autumn – winter) the reservoir is maintained 3m below full, to prevent flooding, and also, when there is heavy rainfall to gradually release increased amounts out to the St Johns Beck.

https://keswickfloodactiongroup.co.uk/index_htm_files/Simple%20Water%20Balance%20Model%20of%20Thirlmere%20Nov%20Dec%202015%20to%20edit.pdf

6/

#StormDesmond caused landslides which closed the main road, north-south, through Cumbria (A591) for months. Many trees in the pine forest surrounding Thirlmere were damaged.

#UnitedUtilities at the time had no requirement to prevent flooding, despite earlier serious flooding in the area, and were primarily focused on ensuring they preserved water in the reservoir to supply their customers.

/5

Locals report that the reservoir was overtopping a stone wall designed for traffic safety (not designed to hold water) which runs across the reservoir dam. #UnitedUtilities report they have no data about reservoir level during the storm.

Maximal flows were released into the outflow river, St Johns Beck, which leads into the River Greta, which follows through the middle of the town of #Keswick , then drains onward to the town of #Cockermouth .

3/

The Thirlmere reservoir, built in 1888 to supply Manchester (153km away) with water, is owned by the #UnitedUtilities a private water company and has an agreement to supply water to Manchester throughout the year.

At the time of #StormDesmond the reservoir was already at full capacity. It is reported that engineers were helicopted to the site to open ancient dam release valves, and the water pumping station was flooding.

2/

Just seen an advert for #UnitedUtilities. They have a literal monopoly on WATER for everyone in North West England. Cannot buy it from anyone else and they are pissing away money they should be spending on improving their crumbling infrastructure on ADVERTISING! Bill was right. And #Channel4? Why are you taking their money. https://youtu.be/HUd6ARKcPS0

How 'rewiggling' Swindale Beck brought its fish back

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65341994

The moral of the story: Don't tinker with nature inthe first place. It knows best.

#LakeDistrict #Cumbria #Swindale #Fish #Nature #EnvironmentAgency #UnitedUtilities #RSPB

Until the last male #GoldenEagle died in 2015, #Haweswater , on the rugged north-eastern fringe of the Lake District, was #England ’s final #refuge for the #BirdOfPrey .
Haweswater’s #wildlife is being given the chance to make a comeback, thanks to interventions made by RSPB, in #collaboration with the #water company #UnitedUtilities
https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/10/haweswater-project-lake-district-rewilding-farming-jobs

#UK #rewilding #conservation #ProtectNature #biodiversity #nature #birds #animals #ecosystems #ecology #habitats #WildFirst #ProtectTheWild

Sad that such a beautiful area is being ruined, if not destroyed, by #UnitedUtilities #RiverKent #Kendal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-63983780