Drought Contingency Planning for Ullswater and Windermere

Client - United Utilities

Development of a framework for the scoping of environmental assessments that may be necessary within the context of UU’s future drought contingency planning for Windermere, Ullswater and their associated rivers. The studies were commissioned in support of the UU Drought Contingency Plan, and as a response to the commitment agreed with the environmental regulators (Environment Agency and English Nature) after the UU drought powers applications for Ullswater and Windermere in December 2003. The studies were designed to identify the issues that should be included in any future scoping and environmental assessment of a drought powers application, at any time of the year, and included wide-ranging consultation with both statutory and non-statutory organisations. The purpose of each environmental assessment was to establish the range of potential environmental issues for a given drought scenario (e.g. spring, summer, autumn, winter), the availability of baseline data and the ability to predict effects of the drought powers on the identified sensitive receptors, e.g. fish, landscape, etc. The generic magnitude and significance of any potential impacts, allowing proactive consideration of mitigation and/or compensation measures, was also determined.