Science and Insights
Improving Windermere’s water quality is not a quick fix—it requires science, collaboration, and long-term action. By leveraging knowledge, we can tackle nutrient pollution, climate change, and land use pressures with innovative and targeted solutions.
Dr Surridge explains more about the value of the Big Windermere Survey
Why Science Matters?
Understanding Windermere’s health starts with the facts. Through robust scientific research and data collection, we can uncover the challenges facing the lake and identify the solutions needed to protect it.
From nutrient pollution to climate change, science guides our actions to ensure a sustainable future to protect England’s largest lake. With over 90 years of data from world-renowned institutions, Windermere serves as a global example of how multiple environmental pressures impact water quality. This wealth of knowledge helps us make informed, evidence-based decisions that benefit the lake, its communities and its biodiversity. In addition to the Partnership’s subject matter experts, we work with a range of independent scientific organisations including Lancaster University and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to explore vital questions and develop research programs that enhance our understanding of the changing dynamics in Windermere.
What We’re Learning
The key nutrient sources in the catchment and how we can manage these.
The role nutrients recycled from lakebed sediments play in affecting water quality.
How bacterial concentrations can potentially impact human health and vary throughout the catchment.
A Changing Windermere.
Windermere, England’s largest and best-known lake, an iconic feature in the Lake District National Park and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is loved locally and worldwide. However, like many freshwater ecosystems across the globe, it faces challenges to its water quality.
A Changing Windermere provides an essential overview of huge amounts of data and research collected across widely respected science professionals to explain how and why water quality has changed, the current conditions and insight into what the future may hold. We look at nutrients, bacteria, fish, biodiversity, climate change, and the role of people in this special place. This overview of science is critical to help inform our understanding of how the different influences on the lake are impacting water quality and in shaping future conservation efforts.
We are grateful to the work of Partner organisations and many more outside this Partnership whose commitment to science, data and evidence over decades has made this compilation possible.
Find out more about the key findings and downloadable assets available A Changing Windermere – Love Windermere
A Changing Windermere report was created through a collaboration led by the Partnership Manager alongside South Cumbria Rivers Trust, Cumbria Tourism, and the Environment Agency. United Utilities shared details regarding their investment strategies and was informed by the insights contained in the State of Windermere report. Comprehensive references and sources can be found in the report. Guidance for the project came from Lancaster University, with funding provided by Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership. Westmorland and Furness Council contributed design work’ in-kind’, while the Lake District National Park Authority handled the printing. The review was conducted ‘in-kind’ by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the EA Chief Scientist Group.
Real-Time Data and Tools
Uncover a range of interactive tools designed to equip you with the most up-to-date information right at your fingertips. These resources are user-friendly and accessible, allowing you to easily navigate and find the data you need efficiently. Explore dynamic features that enhance your experience and keep you informed in real time.
Designated Bathing
There are four designated bathing waters around Windermere—Fellfoot, Lakeside YMCA, Millerground Landing, and Rayrigg Meadow have been rated as excellent since 2015. Find out the latest information about designated bathing areas across the UK.
Storm Overflow
View the United Utilities interactive, near real-time map, designed to help you stay informed about any storm overflow activation. The map includes all storm overflows and a host of educational and informative content.
Bloomin’ Algae
Bloomin’ Algae is a citizen science programme for reporting and sharing the presence of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria. Link below will take you to a map of records submitted through the Bloomin’ Algae Map view and options to download the App.
Science Through Collaboration
We prioritise the importance of science and data in shaping our understanding of water quality. We invite you to delve into a variety of comprehensive reports and data sources that provide valuable insights into the current state of Windermere’s water quality. These resources detail the ongoing initiatives and collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing and preserving the health of our water systems. By exploring this information, you can gain a deeper appreciation of the challenges we face and the strategies being implemented to ensure a cleaner and safer environment for all.
Sediment Reports: A series of reports by UKCEH exploring how lakebed nutrients affect water quality.
In an effort to enhance our comprehension of nutrient budgets within the region, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) conducted a comprehensive systematic review of a variety of scientific reports, academic publications, and relevant data. This review specifically focused on assessing the impact of internal phosphorus loading in the lakes of the Windermere catchment area. As a result of this extensive investigation, three insightful reports have been compiled and are now available for download, providing valuable information for researchers and stakeholders interested in freshwater management and ecosystem health.
Sediment Enrichment Evidence
In-Lake Restoration Measures
Implications & Recommendations
The Environment Agency funded the Sediment Reports, which were produced by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
The State of Windermere in 2024.
The Environment Agency commissioned the Freshwater Biological Association to produce the State of Windermere 2024 Report and the Windermere Integrated Science Plan (WISP). These documents provide a compilation of existing data from the Environment Agency, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and other sources into an evidence base ‘State of Windermere’ and a recommendations piece ‘Windermere Integrated Science Plan’ (WISP).
The State of Windermere in 2024
Windermere Integrated Science Plan (WISP)
Phosphorus Source Apportionment
data for the Windermere Catchment
This short report describes the phosphorus source apportionment data for the Windermere catchment. This report has been produced by the Environment Agency, using SAGIS-SIMCAT modelling tools.
Windermere Discharge Removal Feasibility Study
Between July and December 2023, a team of 15 engineers from multiple disciplines carried out a feasibility study to assess options to remove all discharges from the Windermere catchment in a comparable way to that achieved at Lake Annecy in France.
Useful information
Blue Green Algae Explainer
Blue-green algae is a naturally occurring phenomenon which becomes more likely during periods of warm, dry weather. Follow the link and discover available resources, blogs, flyers, maps and reporting booms in specific waterbodies in Cumbria and Lancashire.
Explore Catchment Data
Find and download information about the water environment in your area, including rivers, lakes, and streams. You can also access river basin management plans from the Environment Agency. Find out more about the health of your area’s water.
The Big Windermere Survey
Find out about the Big Windermere Survey and the Citizen scientists that collect water samples from approximately 100 different locations on Windermere and in the rivers and lakes that flow into it. Producing the largest, one-day snapshot of conditions in Windermere.
Cumbrian Lakes Monitoring Platform
The Cumbrian Lakes monitoring, conducted by UKCEH and started in 1945, involves fortnightly visits to four lake basins (North and South Windermere, Esthwaite Water, Blelham Tarn) to record various physical, chemical, and biological variables.
Storm Overflow and Pollution Data
Delve into the storm overflow performance of United Utilities. The Environment Agency requires all water companies to report the number of days each storm overflow operates each year, following standard rules.
Sources of Nutrients
Read the blog by Andy Brown of the Environment Agency which explains the different sources of nutrients that can enter Windermere’s waters.
STAY IN TOUCH AND FIND OUT THE LATEST IN OUR NEWSLETTER AND MORE