Remote Monitoring For Water Management In Somerset€¦ · Management • Movement of water can...
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Remote Monitoring For Water Management In Somerset Water Monitoring & Management
Transcript of Remote Monitoring For Water Management In Somerset€¦ · Management • Movement of water can...
Remote Monitoring For Water Management In Somerset
Water Monitoring & Management
The Somerset Levels The Somerset levels are an area of low lying drained land with a network of wet ditching. This water levels in this wet ditching are actively managed.
Water Monitoring & Management
Somerset Drainage Board Consortium manage water levels for a series of 13 separate boards.
Water Monitoring & Management
Managed area
Extent of area • Area of district: 24,607ha • Number of water level control structures:
279 • Length of watercourses maintained: 584km • Area of designated environmental interest
(SSSI): 5,052ha • No. of Water Level Management Plans: 9
Water Monitoring & Management
Management • Movement of water can
vary seasonally with water taken from or pumped to the main rivers
• Areas are used for ecology, flood storage and assisting in farming management practices
Water Monitoring & Management
Typical structures • Water levels are
penned by a series of tilting weir structures, sluices etc.
• To aid management upstream and downstream water levels are measured to mAOD
Water Monitoring & Management
Telemetry Monitoring
Level, temperature and conductivity are monitored. More than 30 loggers provide a overview of water levels in 9 areas.
Water Monitoring & Management
Active management • Data is posted every three hours to a secure
website to inform management decisions.
Water Monitoring & Management
Data interface Interactive map allows active site exploration
Water Monitoring & Management
Data can be downloaded and archived for long term
analysis
Critical warnings In active situations, such as potential flooding alarms are used via text message or email.
Water Monitoring & Management
Out of hours management Culvert and trash screen blockage Environmental factors
Southlake Moor
• Initial scheme to achieve favourable conditions on 200Ha of mixed pasture
• Improved water level management for farming, enhanced flood storage, ecological benefits and a valuable education resource
• Wet grassland habitats for waders etc. winter flooding is a revived practice
Water Monitoring & Management
Southlake Moor • Five monitored levels using three
loggers. • Water levels u/s and d/s on both inlet and
outfall.
Water Monitoring & Management
Data also used for spillway information
Flooding • Key issue for the levels with large areas
used for storage to protect Bridgwater (pop 33,000) downstream
Water Monitoring & Management
Reported 11 million cubic
metres of water in winter 2012
Flood storage Muchelney cut off for weeks, A361 closed on regular occasions for a number of months
Water Monitoring & Management
Telemetry valuable in informing problems and managing pumps etc for response
Drought? • Prior to the summer of 2012 two dry winters
had made water a valuable resource • Water provided for stakeholders such as the
RSPB and farming practices • Data can provide an improved
understanding of water balance and inform decision making
Water Monitoring & Management
On a larger scale? The monitoring network can be expanded with flow measurement, water quality, rainfall, etc.
Water Monitoring & Management
Questions? Thank you for listening
Water Monitoring & Management
[email protected] 01884 841473
Sincere thanks to the Somerset Drainage Board Consortium
