By Andy Brown, Water Regulation Manager North West
As we head into the festive season, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what's been an incredibly busy year for us at the Environment Agency, working alongside our partners to protect Windermere.
It's easy to think of this stunning lake as just a beautiful Christmas card view – and it certainly is that – but there's so much more happening beneath the surface and around the shoreline.
Keeping watch on water quality
Our teams have been busy monitoring 66 sites across Windermere and its tributaries throughout 2025. Our live monitoring equipment is deployed in seven locations and each deployment gives us countless data points about oxygen levels, temperature and other important factors that tell us how healthy the lake is.
Some of our monitoring sites have been collecting data since the mid-1970s –that's nearly 50 Christmases of information – helping us understand how the lake is changing and what we need to do to protect it.
Our invertebrate surveys have been particularly encouraging. These tiny creatures are like nature's own quality checkers, and the incredible diversity we've recorded tells us that Windermere's tributaries are alive and thriving.
Keeping you informed and safe
This year, we launched a new dedicated webpage about blue-green algae to help you stay safe whilst enjoying the lake. Whether you're planning a Boxing Day dip or a summer swim, you can find the information you need to enjoy Windermere responsibly.
We also carefully managed water abstraction during what turned out to be the warmest summer on record for the UK. Windermere gives us vital water supplies, and we work hard to balance community needs with protecting the lake.
Our regulatory role
As the environmental regulator, we've carried out numerous site inspections across the catchment – checking in on United Utilities sites, private permit holders and farms. We take our role seriously because these checks can help prevent problems before they start and ensure everyone's doing their part to keep the lake healthy. Compliance Assessment Reports (CAR) forms can now be viewed online enabling the public to see how sites are performing (Defra Data Services Platform or Public Registers Online )
Protecting precious species
Windermere is home to some truly special wildlife. Our Arctic charr species recovery project is a real comeback story – these rare Ice Age survivors are getting the helping hand they need to thrive again.
We've also been protecting salmon through consultations on Net Limitation Orders and byelaws. And right now, it's redd counting season, where we count the nests that salmon and trout create for their eggs. As we celebrate Christmas, we're also celebrating new life and the next generation of fish in Windermere's waters.
Working together
We are working with others on an innovative and exciting feasibility study tasked with delivering options that result in only rainwater entering the lake, with sewage and highways runoff being removed. This study will present options in summer 2026. Finally, we support the Love Windermere Partnership that comprises nine organisations united in their goal to improve water quality across the catchment. As we close 2025 this ambition and our work will not stop.
Thank you to everyone who's played a part in protecting Windermere this year.
Here's to a healthy, thriving lake for generations to come.
1 comment
Comment by Ian Gregory posted on
Nice one