SOME of England’s most famous lakes are facing serious threats from climate change and pollution, and need urgent action to protect and restore them for future generations, the Environment Agency has warned.
Experts from around the world have gathered at a hotel on the shores of Windermere, in the Lake District, to discuss ways of helping that lake and others which face environmental problems.
The Agency is undertaking an assessment of around 730 of the most important lakes in England and Wales which need to meet high standards under the EU’s Water Framework Directive.
An Agency spokesman said that, despite being picturesque, Windermere faces water quality issues which are having a serious impact on life below the water’s surface.
These include:
Pollution from farming and sewage;
Threat from invasion of introduced species such as New Zealand Pigmyweed, spreading from garden ponds into lakes;
Climate change – risk of flooding washing soil and pollution into lakes.
