Conspiracy to Flood the Somerset Levels.

[sophia8]

Yes, the EU planned the flooding YEARS ago.
Why? As usual, the conspiracy nuts don't agree. For some, it's a simple case of the all-powerful European Union imposing their crazed environmental policies on the UK (this refers to the quite sensible suggestion - not order - that lowlying farming areas be allowed to flood at times to keep populated areas dry); others see it as a plot to drive out the inhabitants of the area so that large-scale fracking can go ahead (you can read all about that on David Icke's site, which I refuse to link to).
But all the CTers agree that the hydrologists who say that it's largely due to a neglected and mismanaged Levels drainage system disastrously failing to cope with an extraordinary weather event are talking rubbish.

 

[threadworm]

There's an equally loopy one at DIF claiming that it's a deliberate ploy to force people into urban areas, leaving the countryside free for fracking. Can't find it at the moment but it shows a similar lack of understanding of how the Somerset levels came to exist, how hydrology works, and what fracking is.

 

[drewid]

I was talking to a guy last night on the train. His father had been training on the levels during the war (1947) and had asked a farmer why the locals had rowing boats tethered to the farmhouses when they were miles from anything bigger than a big ditch.

Not exactly a new problem.

 

[Tomtomkent]

Forget the floods, somebody opened a Reptoid lair on the M2.

 

[tsig]

Yes, the EU planned the flooding YEARS ago.
Why? As usual, the conspiracy nuts don't agree. For some, it's a simple case of the all-powerful European Union imposing their crazed environmental policies on the UK (this refers to the quite sensible suggestion - not order - that lowlying farming areas be allowed to flood at times to keep populated areas dry); others see it as a plot to drive out the inhabitants of the area so that large-scale fracking can go ahead (you can read all about that on David Icke's site, which I refuse to link to).
But all the CTers agree that the hydrologists who say that it's largely due to a neglected and mismanaged Levels drainage system disastrously failing to cope with an extraordinary weather event are talking rubbish.

OMG it goes back thousands of years:

The low lying areas of the North Somerset Levels and Somerset Levels have been subject to thousands of years of flooding and man's attempts to control the flow of water



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_Somerset

 

[Horatius]

I was talking to a guy last night on the train. His father had been training on the levels during the war (1947) and had asked a farmer why the locals had rowing boats tethered to the farmhouses when they were miles from anything bigger than a big ditch.

Not exactly a new problem.

Forget the flooding, we need to find out about this war!

 

[The Don]

Forget the flooding, we need to find out about this war!

Don't worry, rural Somerset is always a little *ahem* behind.

In the Forest of Dean it's still 1924 so the war isn't due to end until 2035

 

[Horatius]

Don't worry, rural Somerset is always a little *ahem* behind.

In the Forest of Dean it's still 1924 so the war isn't due to end until 2035

I assume this has something to do with those blue telephone boxes I've heard about?

 

[Rolfe]

I'm seeing this talked about quite seriously by people who are not normally known for their penchant for tinfoil hats. Only the baddie isn't the EU, it's Osborne and his family connections.

Rolfe.

 

[Tomtomkent]

I assume this has something to do with those blue telephone boxes I've heard about?

More to do with red ones that require you demand to speak to the operator and complain that you don't get change for a shilling.

 

[Tomtomkent]

Boy am I getting tired of post of FB about how Britain always has to help other nations after disasters but no others are offering help... Erm... Except the nations that offered help and the UK government refused because it had the resources...

But seriously. People comparing the floods to the tsunami, refugee crisis, or floods that killed thousands is a bit tactless? Is it any wonder conspiracy theories spread when people share information they haven't even checked, spreading ill will and misconceptions?

 

[sophia8]

The CT that it's all about driving people off the land so the Levels can be opened up to fracking is especially silly. There are floods there every year, the floods have been getting steadily worse - but nobody in the UK had even heard of fracking until a year or so ago. Wouldn't somebody have noticed engineers surveying the area and making test drills?
And wouldn't annual floods make oil/gas extraction rather difficult?

 

[Rolfe]

Mmm, the CT doesn't allege all that. Just that drainage has been neglected at the same time some fracking licences have been issued. And something about Gideon Osborne's father-in-law.

On the other hand, there's this, which sounds rather credible and has the advantage of alleging cock-up rather than conspiracy.

http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2014/2/16/a-ghostly-message.html

Rolfe.

 

[SanityGap]

Mmm, the CT doesn't allege all that. Just that drainage has been neglected at the same time some fracking licences have been issued. And something about Gideon Osborne's father-in-law.

On the other hand, there's this, which sounds rather credible and has the advantage of alleging cock-up rather than conspiracy.

http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2014/2/16/a-ghostly-message.html

Rolfe.

Not the cock-up it appears according to this http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/02/...ing-the-only-pump-was-turned-off/#more-103335

UPDATE2: Upon further inspection of satellite images and flood maps I’ve concluded that while what this commenter had to say about the history is indeed true, the impact in this situation is not particularly relevant. I was going on the idea that all of the flood control channels in Somerset levels were interconnected, so that there would be multiple paths of egress (directable by small dams). It turns out they are not, and the Huntspill sluice, even if full open, wouldn’t have drained any water where it was most needed. The real issue has to do with the lack of flow capacity in the Kings Sedgemoor Drain, (gravity drain, not pumped) due to silting and vegetation encroachment, as well as similar issues in the River Parrett where a campaign was launched in 2013 to get it dredged, to no avail. Thus I’ve changed the top photo and the title to reflect this new information about lack of management, putting wildlife over people. – Ant

 

[threadworm]

Not the cock-up it appears according to this http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/02/...ing-the-only-pump-was-turned-off/#more-103335

UPDATE2: Upon further inspection of satellite images and flood maps I’ve concluded that while what this commenter had to say about the history is indeed true, the impact in this situation is not particularly relevant. I was going on the idea that all of the flood control channels in Somerset levels were interconnected, so that there would be multiple paths of egress (directable by small dams). It turns out they are not, and the Huntspill sluice, even if full open, wouldn’t have drained any water where it was most needed. The real issue has to do with the lack of flow capacity in the Kings Sedgemoor Drain, (gravity drain, not pumped) due to silting and vegetation encroachment, as well as similar issues in the River Parrett where a campaign was launched in 2013 to get it dredged, to no avail. Thus I’ve changed the top photo and the title to reflect this new information about lack of management, putting wildlife over people. – Ant

As with any area of hydrological management, if you don't manage the hydrology you won't get the outcome you want.

There are many catchment areas that were intensively managed in terms of directing water flow towards where it is needed and away from where it is not, but decades of 'fingers crossed and let's hope we get away with it' management have led to intervention structures (sluices, catchwaters, residuum lodges and so on) becoming overgrown, silted up and less effective.

Stick an extreme and/or prolonged hydrological event into that mix and the river systems will behave exactly as the laws of physics dictate they will, not how people hope they will. People living on flood plains will then express amazement that they flood, people who live next to rivers will be astonished that they have to put on waders to get to their boats, and conspiracy theorists will apply their predictive model of government behaviour (ie they are doing this on purpose) instead of the reactive/inactive one that actually dominates.

 

[GlennB]

UPDATE2: Upon further inspection of satellite images and flood maps I’ve concluded that while what this commenter had to say about the history is indeed true, the impact in this situation is not particularly relevant. I was going on the idea that all of the flood control channels in Somerset levels were interconnected, so that there would be multiple paths of egress (directable by small dams). It turns out they are not, and the Huntspill sluice, even if full open, wouldn’t have drained any water where it was most needed. The real issue has to do with the lack of flow capacity in the Kings Sedgemoor Drain, (gravity drain, not pumped) due to silting and vegetation encroachment, as well as similar issues in the River Parrett where a campaign was launched in 2013 to get it dredged, to no avail.

My bolding.

It would be interesting to see some calculations based on optimal drainage "to avoid events such as we're seeing" - not everyday drainage I mean, but crisis prevention.

I'm guessing, but I'd risk a small bet that the area would still be prone to massive floods in the face of the recent weather, for the simple reason that the bolded part there, while important, is only part of the story. The maximum flow has its limits, even when optimised.

 

[tsig]

As with any area of hydrological management, if you don't manage the hydrology you won't get the outcome you want.

There are many catchment areas that were intensively managed in terms of directing water flow towards where it is needed and away from where it is not, but decades of 'fingers crossed and let's hope we get away with it' management have led to intervention structures (sluices, catchwaters, residuum lodges and so on) becoming overgrown, silted up and less effective.

Stick an extreme and/or prolonged hydrological event into that mix and the river systems will behave exactly as the laws of physics dictate they will, not how people hope they will. People living on flood plains will then express amazement that they flood, people who live next to rivers will be astonished that they have to put on waders to get to their boats, and conspiracy theorists will apply their predictive model of government behaviour (ie they are doing this on purpose) instead of the reactive/inactive one that actually dominates.

I've seen this scenario repeated over and over:

Disaster happens is investigated and steps are taken and procedures put in place to avoid it in the future, time passes and new people take over who do not remember the disaster and do not know why they have to follow proper procedures so they ignore them til: Disaster happens.

 

[Andy_Ross]

What difference would moving a few tons of mud from such a low lying river make? In the face of the rain we have had over the last couple of months they would have to dredge the entire county away. To protect the levels properly you would need to turn the area in to something akin to the Fens or Norfolk Broads.

 

[Andy_Ross]

I've seen this scenario repeated over and over:

Disaster happens is investigated and steps are taken and procedures put in place to avoid it in the future, time passes and new people take over who do not remember the disaster and do not know why they have to follow proper procedures so they ignore them til: Disaster happens.

Or the disaster is caused because conditions are more extreme than your procedures can cope with as they were put in to cope with some lesser event in the past.

It's always a losing game.

 

[The Don]

I've seen this scenario repeated over and over:

Disaster happens is investigated and steps are taken and procedures put in place to avoid it in the future, time passes and new people take over who do not remember the disaster and do not know why they have to follow proper procedures so they ignore them til: Disaster happens.

Here in the UK (and for all I know in many other places too) we also have the problem of knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Following this winter's flooding, government expenditure on flood prevention and protection will rise. In a couple of years time, if we've had dry winters, questions will be asked about why we're "wasting" all this money so pressure will be put on the government to reduce spending. This will be fine until the next set of floods.

We've had the same this winter here in South Eastern Wales. For two winters we had much more snow and ice than usual and in the first year, the council was short of grit and salt. Last year the council bought plenty and followed up this year with the same amount. There has been no snow or ice to speak of this winter and so people are complaining about wasting money on grit and salt when it should have been spent on flood prevention.