A plan by United Utilities to return a number of north Cumbrian reservoirs back to their natural states has met with opposition from local people.
The water company has formally submitted planning applications for its proposals for Crummock Water, Overwater and Chapelhouse Reservoir near Uldale.
In 2023, United Utilities (UU) stopped abstraction for public water supply from these three lakes and reservoirs as well as at Ennerdale Water.
Plans have now been submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority that will see the sites returned to their natural states.
At Crummock Water, the plan is to remove the weir structure, some of the equipment used for collecting water supplies and the supporting infrastructure.
UU says the weir does not currently provide any flood attenuation benefit to help manage flood risk downstream. It adds that removing the weir will lower the outlet level within Crummock by approximately 1.35m, creating greater natural storm attenuation capacity.
But Robert Cruickshank, who lives at Lorton, said that he is seriously concerned about what is planned for Crummock Water.
“Lowering the lake will leave behind mud, exposed rock, creating an unattractive shoreline for decades, completely changing the look and impacting wildlife on the soon to disappear islands,” he said, adding: “I’m surprised at how few people know about these drastic changes to the valley, potentially kept that way for a reason. Even the Environment Agency has flagged flood risk concerns due to the work.”
UU says work at Park Beck would contribute to reducing flood risk.
A spokesperson said: “The lower course of Park Beck is currently a straight concrete channel and provides an efficient way of transferring storm water into the reservoir.
“The proposed work would remove this concrete channel and return the natural curves of the watercourse.
“This would reduce the rate at which the water enters into the reservoir, with multiple channels that would create several points of entry during high flows and remove the pathway for flood water to bypass Crummock Water and flow straight into the River Cocker.”
At Overwater, the plans include the removal of the existing weir and the embankment as well as the realignment of a short section of White Beck where it meets with the proposed realigned section of the River Ellen. A section of the River Ellen that runs through Stockdale Farm will also be realigned.
UU says the schemes are expected to deliver environmental benefits including the restoration of natural flows along becks and rivers in the surrounding catchment areas, the restoration of natural salmon habitat, removing barriers to fish migrations and additional tree planting.
At Ennerdale Water, the company is nearing the end of the feasibility study and will be moving into the outline design phase. During the outline design stage, which will ultimately lead to submission of a planning application, further drop-in events will be organised to share the plans with the public.
UU says it is working closely with organisations including the Environment Agency, Natural England, National Trust and the LDNPA as it moves forward its plans for each reservoir.
More detailed information can be found online at https://www.unitedutilities.com/crummock
