1. THE LOWESWATER CARE PROJECT
lake background
how we got here
where we might be going

2. LOWESWATER - catchment area of 800 hectares
- largely agricultural with some forest and open fells
- grazed mainly by sheep with smaller numbers of cattle
catchment contains
31 properties
8 working farms
63 full-time population equivalents
18 sewage treatment plants
- 1.6 km long, 0.5 km wide
- volume = 5,400,000 m3
- average depth = 8.4m
- maximum depth = 16m
- mean retention time = 200 days
history of increasing eutrophic character (algae and cyanobacteria) due to increased inputs of phosphates from fertilisers/wastes and possibly from lake sediments

3. HISTORY OF RECENT WORK
1999 EA West Cumbria Local Environmental Action Plan (LEAP)
need for further information on the algal blooms occurring in Loweswater
2000 University College London study
changes in agricultural practices
nutrient management plans for farmers
improved maintenance of septic tanks
More use of phosphate-free detergents

4. HISTORY OF RECENT WORK 2002 Loweswater Improvement Group
established by local farmers after F&M crisis
aim to gain information about how to improve agricultural practices and to address potential pollution sources through working together and with outside agencies and scientists
nutrient budgeting exercise in collaboration with ADAS
soil pH survey and consequent liming to raise soil pH
farm waste survey
replacement of 5 septic tanks with packaged sewage treatment plants in 2007
Biodisc
Reed Bed

5. HISTORY OF RECENT WORK
studies by Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) and Lancaster University (LU)
CEH study on impacts of farming practices on the lake involving sampling of input streams for P analysis, algal monitoring and lake modelling
Lancaster University scoping study for later multi-disciplinary study of lake catchment
CEH/LU study “Understanding and Acting within Loweswater: A Community Approach to Catchment Management” = Loweswater Care Project (LCP) aiming to
create a mechanism that allows the community, stakeholder and institutions to come together and make decisions
carry out further research on the ecology of land and water in the catchment and studies of institutional regulation and management
to see if the way that has evolved to bring together local communities, institutional stakeholders and researchers of different disciplines is beneficial and can be transferred to other situations.

6. COMMUNITY-LED LOWESWATER CARE PROJECT: OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
key factors for future operation
technical focus, water or wider?
geographical focus, lake catchment or wider?
who are main stakeholders?
The Melbreak Communities
new partnership between 4 local Parish Councils
developing Community Action Plan with focus on safety/security, transport, housing, valley services, recreation and the environment
Derwent Rivers Trust
newest of 34 Rivers Trusts across the UK
already some collaboration on control of Himalayan Balsam
National Trust
owners of the lake and some nearby land
An independent body

7. CONTACTS AND REFERENCES
Websites
Lancaster University
The Melbreak Communities
Contacts
Ken Bell, local farmer and researcher on LCP
Leslie Webb, local resident
Claire Waterton, Lancaster University
References
Bennion et al “Water Quality Investigation of Loweswater, Cumbria” Final Report to the Environment Agency by the Environmental Change Research Centre, University College London, May 2000
Maberly et al “An investigation into the potential impacts of farming practices on Loweswater” CEH Report to the Rural Development Service and the National Trust, January 2006.
Waterton et al “Understanding Loweswater: Interdisciplinary Research in Practice”, J. Agricultural Economics, 2006, 57, 2, 277–293.