AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
Despite recent rain, the National Drought Group warns the drought continues to severely impact the environment. August rainfall was only 42% of average, capping the hottest summer since 1884. This has resulted in poor harvests, navigation restrictions, and hosepipe bans. Crucially, animal breeding patterns are disrupted, peatlands are drying out, and wildfires have destroyed 3,000 hectares of SSSI land. Approximately 20% of the Canal & River Trust network is closed, and key reservoirs are critically low. Reservoir levels are at 56.1% capacity nationwide, far below the average of 82.8%. Both the Environment Agency and Water Minister are urging continued water conservation efforts.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
Following the National Drought Group’s meeting yesterday (Monday 15 September), the NDG has issued a warning that the current drought is causing significant environmental impacts, and is far from over despite the recent rain.
Even with the wet weather at the end of the month, August’s rainfall was just 42% of its long-term average and the summer has been declared the hottest since records began in 1884.
A lack of rainfall has impacted harvests, navigation, and seen restrictions in the form of several hosepipe bans.
It also has a significant impact on the breeding pattern of some animals, as well as peatlands drying out and at least 3,000 hectares of SSSI land (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) destroyed by wildfire.
Yesterday’s meeting of the NDG heard some key impacts:
- Approximately 20% of the Canal & River Trust network is closed because of low water levels, concentrated mainly but not exclusively across northern and central England. This compares with 15% in 2022. Around 400 miles of the network is affected.
- Some reservoirs that feed several canals run by the Canal & River Trust, including sections of the Grand Union, Leeds & Liverpool, Peak Forest, Oxford and Macclesfield are critically low. Peak Forest & Macclesfield group holdings are just 11.1% full.
- The dry weather has seen an early harvest season with generally lower and poorer quality crop yields.
- Reservoirs fell by 1.4% last week. They are now 56.1% full on average across England. The average for this time of year is 82.8%.
- The lowest reservoirs are the Pennines group (29%), Yorkshire stocks (30.3%) and Ardingly (34.1%)
Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:
Alan Lovell, Environment Agency Chair
“While we have seen some recent rain, it is nowhere near enough to reverse the impact of the last seven months, which have been the driest since 1976.
“The environment bears the brunt of this lack of rainfall, and this summer we have seen widespread impacts from low river levels, fish needing to be rescued, and wildfires.
“We are calling on everyone to continue to take simple steps to reduce their water use and are grateful to people for following the restrictions imposed by water companies. By saving water, we all leave more water in the environment.”
Water Minister Emma Hardy said:
Emma Hardy, Water Minister
“This year’s weather has been severe for our environment, and we are working with the National Drought Group to mitigate the impacts of this.
“Water companies must continue to follow their drought plans to secure water supplies – I will hold them to account if they don’t.
