Petition to clean up Windermere passes one hundred thousand signatures

Tens of thousands have supported a petition from environmental campaigner and zoologist Matt Staniek, which calls on authorities to deal with 'dying' Windermere.

There has been a huge surge in signatures in the week that:

• Blue-green algae was confirmed in locations across Cumbria
• New pictures and video show the extent of the blooms in Windermere

The petition, which claims there is 'no plan' for the future safety of Windermere, is directed at the Government, focusses on greater protections for the lake, including designating it a Site of Special Scientific Interest for the protection of the European river otter, Arctic charr and Atlantic salmon and a Special Area of Conservation for the protection of the European river otter. 

Mr Staniek said: "Windermere is on the cusp of ecological and biological destruction due to sewage being dumped into the catchment in unsustainable quantities.

"The most notable phosphorus input is sewage, which acts as fertiliser for algae, in turn destroying our fragile freshwater environment.

"Lots of phosphorus means lots of algae. Lots of algae means no oxygen in the water for fish."

Matt Staniek

Mr Staniek emphasises the plight of fish in the water.

He said: "Fish have been dying in Windermere for the past decade and contuinue to die. 

"Arctic charr, Atlantic salmon, sea trout, and brown trout are all in decline as a result of the rapid reduction in water quality.

"In 1980, 855 sea trout were caught on the River Leven. In 2021, only 12 were caught."

This comes after significant algae blooms have been spotted in Windermere following the recent bout of hot weather.

These blooms, which can be deadly to dogs and put humans in hospital, prevent plants under the water from receiving sunlight. Although blue-green algal blooms are naturally occurring, Mr Staniek argues that the 'extent and the abundance' of the blooms have been caused by climate change and pollution.

The Environment Agency (EA) said you cannot tell if an algal bloom in the sea, a lake or river is toxic just by looking at it so it is safest to assume it is.

Pets and children should be kept away from the water and skin contact with the algae should be avoided. 

A United Utilities spokeswoman said: “We are pleased to be part of the Love Windermere partnership which is taking a science-based approach to better understand the status of water quality in the lake, and prioritising action to tackle the most pressing areas of impact first.

“For our own part, we have recently completed a multi-million pound infrastructure upgrade project, and the wastewater systems around Windermere now operate to the highest possible standards.”

But Mr Staniek said: "This is just the tip of the iceberg, the worst is yet to come."

It has been a busy summer for the EA, with algae spotted in Millerground Landings last week, and then Windermere, Coniston, Cunsey Beck and Killington before that. 

A spokesman for Love Windermere partnership, which is developing evidence-based, long-term plans to maintain and improve water quality in the lake, said: “Windermere is a very special place and we are determined to do everything possible to protect and improve it for generations to come.    

“The lake is certainly not dying. It is however affected by a number of complex challenges including the impact of more extreme weather caused by climate change, an excess of nutrients and seasonal variations of the tourist population. 

“We are committed to developing the most effective solutions to maintain and improve water quality in the lake, including collating more scientific evidence to better understand the particular pressures on Windermere to allow us to target more effectively our interventions.”