Environmental Change Network

	Current news
	Events
	Join e-News mailing list
	Other news services

20 May 2009
Environment Agency sets out blueprint to breathe new life into our iconic lakes

Sampling in Windermere

England’s most famous lakes such as Windermere and Grasmere are facing serious threats from climate change, non-native species and pollution from farming and sewage, and need urgent action to protect and restore them for future generations, said Lord Chris Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency. He was speaking at ‘Lakes for Living, Lakes for Life’, a conference taking place this week in England's Lake District. Lord Smith stressed the important and unique role that lakes play within the natural environment, but highlighted the poor health of some of our best known waters. He announced that the Environment Agency is undertaking an assessment of around 730 of the most important lakes across England and Wales that will need to meet high standards under the European Union's Water Framework Directive. The organisation is also taking action to revive the life and health of our lakes. Many lakes are under pressure from poor water quality which can be down to pollution from pesticides and fertilisers from farming, and sewage. Changing weather patterns resulting from climate change will bring challenges with drier summers and wetter winters. Invasive species such as Pigmyweed are also driving out native species in and around lakes. Among the environmental challenges faced by lakes are:

• Impacts of pollution from farming and sewage - pesticides and fertilisers from farming in the Lake District are contributing to regular blue-green algal blooms which prevent people from going into the water.
• Protecting fish and other rare wildlife in the lakes - the vendace, a rare fish species that has survived in the Lake District since the ice age, were recently near extinction in Bassenthwaite Lake. They have been rescued and transferred to Scottish lochs to ensure their survival.
• The threat from the invasion of introduced species - the New Zealand Pigmyweed imported in 1911 has escaped from garden ponds into the lakes like Windermere and is out-competing many native species. The invasive weed smothers other plants and tackling it requires chemical control.
• Impacts of climate change - with climate change forecast to bring more intense storms this creates the potential for flooding, soil and pollution washed off land into lakes, and even potential for landslides.

Windermere and nearby Esthwaite water are ECN sites monitored by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scoat Tarn, also in the Lake District is an ECN and Acid Waters Monitoring Network site. The Environment Agency is also an ECN sponsor. For more on lakes and climate change, see the article 'Lakes in a Changing Climate' by Stephen Maberly in 'Climate Change Impacts: Evidence from ECN sites'.

The full Environment Agency press release is available here.

Details of the ‘Lakes for Living, Lakes for Life’ conference are available here.

The Environment Agency is asking the public to give their views on plans to improve waters including rivers and lakes across England and Wales. To participate in the consultation, which closes on 22 June 2009, visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd