Title: Old Bedford incorporating the Middle Level and Ouse Washes : action plan - April 1998
Author: Environment Agency Anglian Region
Document Type: Monograph
Abstract:
The Old Bedford LEAP area is mainly within Cambridgeshire, the fastest growing county in Britain, and a small part of Norfolk. The main towns are Ramsey, March and Chatteris. The area comprises the Ouse Washes and the Middle Level river systems. Therefore, concerns about the management of the water environment predominate. The Ouse Washes (32 km from Earith to Denver) were created in the 1 7th Century. Their primary purpose is to provide storage of floodwater from the Bedford Ouse catchment - so preventing the surrounding Middle and South Levels from flooding. A secondary benefit is that as one of the few remaining areas of Washland in the country, the Ouse Washes have become one of the most important designated sites in the country for the conservation of migrant bird life. The Middle Level catchment area, 60% of which is fenland and below sea level, is administered by the Middle Level Commissioners (MLC). The area is subdivided into 37 Internal Drainage Districts. The
economy of this rural area is dependant on agriculture due to the creation of some of the most productive soils for arable farming in the UK by historic draining of the Fens.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Publication Date: 1998
Publication Place: Peterborough
Subject Keywords: Local action plans (EA); Catchment management; Flood control; Nature conservation
Geographic Keywords: Old Bedford including Middle Level catchment; Ouse Washes; Cambridgeshire; Norfolk
Extent: 35
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:1196
Total file downloads: 340
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