Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology
Somerset levels flood
When January 2014
Causes Physical
Wettest January on record - 350mm of rain fell - 100mm above average
Bristol Channel is tidal - the low pressure caused storm surges. When it was high
tide = pushed water into the Bristol Channel and into rivers e.g river Parrett and
caused flooding
7 major rivers flow in the area e.g river Tone and river Parrett = high drainage
density
Surrounding land are called the mendips and are average 240m above sea level.
Some places on the levels are 3m below sea level
Human
Many areas haven’t been dredged for 20 years which meant lots of sediment built
up
Many settlements are built along edge of the rivers and stream such as in
Bridgewater
Facts and . 80% of flood land was grassland - 14000ha of agricultural land was under water
figures for 3-4 weeks
. 25% of grassland were left useable for months due to damage caused by flooding
. 150 farms/houses destroyed - 200 farms effected
. 16 farms needing emergency evacuation of over 1000 livestock - farmers had to
pay for extra rental areas for animals
. West Sedgemoor was main rooting site for birds on the Levels, only had 20% of its
usual February number of water birds
. Badgers found dead along roadsides as they were forced out of waterlogged areas
. 50 businesses flooded, over 50% of businesses across Somerset were affected
. 81 road closures. Bristol to Taunton railway line was also closed at Bridgewater
. Total cost of £118m
. Flood plain of Somerset is around 70,000 km
Primary Sandbags pilled up at side of river Parrett - firm in Essex heard
responses about the floods and donated sand for free to put in large bags to
keep water out
Devon and Cornwall fire service crews were sent to Somerset with
4-wheel drive vehicles and rescue boas to find where accessible
roads were
Police helicopter hovered over the village of Moorland to look out
for localised damage
Secondary Pumps were used to get water off the levels and back into the
responses rivers. 13 high-capacity pumps for Netherlands pumped 10 tonnes
of water per second (had to be turned off after 3 days because
they were damaging the banks of the river Parrett)
2024 plans to build a tidal barrage at Bridgewater. Keep levels of
rivers lower.
£20 million flood action plan launched by Somerset council. E.g
dredging 4km of the river Parrett, strict rules for any new
Somerset levels flood
When January 2014
Causes Physical
Wettest January on record - 350mm of rain fell - 100mm above average
Bristol Channel is tidal - the low pressure caused storm surges. When it was high
tide = pushed water into the Bristol Channel and into rivers e.g river Parrett and
caused flooding
7 major rivers flow in the area e.g river Tone and river Parrett = high drainage
density
Surrounding land are called the mendips and are average 240m above sea level.
Some places on the levels are 3m below sea level
Human
Many areas haven’t been dredged for 20 years which meant lots of sediment built
up
Many settlements are built along edge of the rivers and stream such as in
Bridgewater
Facts and . 80% of flood land was grassland - 14000ha of agricultural land was under water
figures for 3-4 weeks
. 25% of grassland were left useable for months due to damage caused by flooding
. 150 farms/houses destroyed - 200 farms effected
. 16 farms needing emergency evacuation of over 1000 livestock - farmers had to
pay for extra rental areas for animals
. West Sedgemoor was main rooting site for birds on the Levels, only had 20% of its
usual February number of water birds
. Badgers found dead along roadsides as they were forced out of waterlogged areas
. 50 businesses flooded, over 50% of businesses across Somerset were affected
. 81 road closures. Bristol to Taunton railway line was also closed at Bridgewater
. Total cost of £118m
. Flood plain of Somerset is around 70,000 km
Primary Sandbags pilled up at side of river Parrett - firm in Essex heard
responses about the floods and donated sand for free to put in large bags to
keep water out
Devon and Cornwall fire service crews were sent to Somerset with
4-wheel drive vehicles and rescue boas to find where accessible
roads were
Police helicopter hovered over the village of Moorland to look out
for localised damage
Secondary Pumps were used to get water off the levels and back into the
responses rivers. 13 high-capacity pumps for Netherlands pumped 10 tonnes
of water per second (had to be turned off after 3 days because
they were damaging the banks of the river Parrett)
2024 plans to build a tidal barrage at Bridgewater. Keep levels of
rivers lower.
£20 million flood action plan launched by Somerset council. E.g
dredging 4km of the river Parrett, strict rules for any new
