The floods of summer 2007 have shown how powerful a force water can be. In the Lake District, one of the wettest places in England, path erosion from the weather is a real problem. Rain washes loose soil away, down streams and into the lakes where siltation causes havoc for fish and other species.
Climate change in action
Already the changing climate is affecting paths in the Lake District. Major issues include:
Warmer temperatures lead to the loss of protective snow cover, and more intense freezing and thawing that breaks down rocks
Lack of snow makes the paths more vulnerable to intense winter rainfall
Intense rain and storms increases the run-off of water on paths and the chance of path wash-outs and mini-landslides.
