From Chile to Cumbria:
A Shared Mission to Protect Our Lakes
When Valentina Escanilla Jaramillo and Pablo Etcharren Ulloa travelled from Chile to Windermere, they didn’t just bring data, reports, and research findings; they brought a powerful story of care, commitment, and hope for one of their country’s most treasured lakes, Lake Villarrica.
Like Windermere, Lake Villarrica sits at the heart of its community. It is a place of beauty, identity, and livelihood and, like many lakes around the world, it is under pressure from nutrient pollution and the growing impacts of climate change.
During their visit, Valentina and Pablo shared remarkable plans to restore their lake through a 15-year Decontamination Plan. Built on a detailed understanding of where pollution comes from and how it moves through the landscape, the plan proposes to monitor progress annually and provide updates every five years on the effectiveness of its measures, a long-term commitment that recognises that real environmental recovery takes patience, persistence, and courage. Lake Villarrica is a pilot site for the uPcycle Project, which aims to protect freshwater ecosystems by recycling phosphorus to reduce losses to. This Global Environment Facility-funded UNEP project, co-led by UKCEH and the Chilean Ministry of the Environment, combines experience with shared learning to deliver a global approach to restoring lake water quality.
Finding common ground across continents
As conversations unfolded, it became clear how much Cumbria and Chile have in common. Both regions face the challenge of managing wastewater in rural communities, where homes often rely on septic tanks rather than mains sewer connections.
The Chilean team’s approach sparked rich discussion with local partners, drawing parallels with South Cumbria Rivers Trust’s STEP project, which is exploring practical, people-focused solutions to reduce pollution from private wastewater systems. It was a reminder that while landscapes may differ, the heart of the challenge, and the opportunity, is shared.
Helping people make safer choices about the water they love
Valentina and Pablo also spoke about their plans to develop forecasting tools for algal blooms, giving residents and visitors clearer guidance on when and where it’s safe to enjoy the water.
Behind this work is a simple but powerful idea: protecting lakes also means protecting the people who swim in them, fish from them, and find peace beside them. By turning science into accessible, real-world information, communities can make choices that keep themselves and their lakes healthier.
Science, stories, and the power of community
Perhaps the most moving part of the visit was hearing how Lake Villarrica’s story is being shared at home. In Chile, weekly radio interviews bring lake science into living rooms, kitchens, and cars, helping people understand what’s happening beneath the surface and how their everyday actions can make a difference.
It’s proof that restoring a lake isn’t only a technical challenge. It’s a collective act of care, built on communication, trust, and the belief that everyone has a role to play.
Learning together, across borders 
We’re deeply grateful to Steve Thackeray (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) for connecting us, and to Dr Linda May (UK CEH) for enriching the conversation with insights from her work on Loch Leven and links to Loch Neagh.
Their contributions helped weave this visit into a larger story, one in which Windermere sits within a global network of people working to protect the lakes they love.
As Valentina and Pablo returned home, they left us with more than new ideas. They reminded us that the future of Windermere is part of a worldwide movement, a shared promise to safeguard these precious waters for generations to come.