Does it float your boat?

Ian Summerscales uses a common sense approach to lake levels.

The original proposal to lower Crummock Water by fully removing the dam was described by United Utilities as returning the lake to its natural level. 74% of objectors argued that their proposals lowers the level significantly below the level that existed before their weir was installed.

They also argued that so doing had numerous negative consequences for wildlife, plants, for safe human access and amenity value all around the lake.

Historical evidence supports this view that the lake has never been as low as was being proposed.

The boat house in the 1880’s

The boat house today

Map of Crummock surveyed between 1860 and 1862

We layman like to keep it simple however.

The boat house predates any form of raising the lake level according to maps from 1862. The boat house sits in the water today just as it did before the weir was installed.

So if following any proposed scheme leaves it unable to float a boat then the water level has fallen to below the original level.

Simples. 

Ai image showing the new proposed water level.