At www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2014/2/10/follow-the-money.html and www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2014/2/10/alas-smith.html we get a flavour of the argument – and its a perfect environmentalist driven train crash, but the politicos are squirming too – go to http://tallbloke.wordpress.com/2014/02/10/somerset-floods-the-fingerpoin… … which is nice to see. However, what has been going on at the Levels is described by a local scientist – go to www.waterpowermagazine.com/features/featurefloods-on-the-somerset-levels…
The name of Somerset is derived from the Levels, and means the 'saete' of summer (Somer -set), a Viking term for summer pasture. It traditionally flooded in the winter. That is, until the Levels were drained – deep drainage ditches were cut through what is low lying land in order to hasten the movement of water, and discourage water settling, or rivers overflowing. Once the dredging of drainage ditches stopped – it was just a matter of time before such a disaster occurred. For purely environmental reasons the dredging was stopped – and the Levels flooded. In the northern Levels, we may note, dredging and pumping has continued unabated. Apparently, in this part of the Levels the dead hand of the Environmental Agency has no power. The local authority has retained control – and flooding is much less of a problem.
Will there be a fall out? Doubtful. The great and the good have their feet under the table, with fat salaries and fatter pensions. Not much chance of any thing improving. Follow the money is the rule of the day – and when it comes to CAGW it is always follow the money trail.