River Somer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Somer |
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River Somer at Midsomer Norton
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| Country | England |
| County | Somerset |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Chilcompton, Mendip, Somerset, England 51°15′44″N 2°30′28″W / 51.26222°N 2.50778°W |
| River mouth | Wellow Brook Midsomer Norton, Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, England 51°17′32″N 2°26′49″W / 51.29222°N 2.44694°W |
The River Somer is a small river located in Somerset, England. It plays an important role in the local area.
Contents
Where the River Somer Flows
The River Somer begins its journey in a place called Chilcompton. From there, it flows towards the town of Midsomer Norton.
In Midsomer Norton, the River Somer meets and joins another stream, the Wellow Brook. The Wellow Brook then continues its path through Wellow.
Further along, the Wellow Brook connects with the Cam Brook at a spot called Midford. When these two brooks join, they form the Midford Brook. Finally, the Midford Brook flows into the larger River Avon. This meeting point is near the Dundas Aqueduct.
How Midsomer Norton Got Its Name
There are a few ideas about how the town of "Midsomer Norton" got its unique name. One idea suggests it was hard to travel to the area during times of heavy rain because of flooding. Another idea is that the town is located where the River Somer branches off.
Some people believe the name comes from a special festival. This festival was held in midsummer on the day of St. John, who was the town's patron saint.
An old writer named John Wesley once wrote about how bad the roads were in this area. He said they were so rough that you could only reach the town easily "in midsummer." This shows how challenging travel could be back then.
Keeping the River Healthy and Safe
The River Somer is carefully managed to prevent floods and keep its water clean.
Preventing Floods
To help stop flooding in Midsomer Norton, a special tunnel was built in 1974 and 1975. This tunnel is called the Midsomer Norton Flood Alleviation Tunnel. Its job is to carry extra water away from the town center when there is a lot of rain. This helps protect homes and businesses from flood damage.
Improving Water Quality
People were worried about the river's condition and the risk of floods. Because of this, a local team was formed in 2007 to manage the river. This team works with the Bath and North East Somerset council and others who live near the river.
They have worked hard to make the river flow better and look nicer. Their efforts included removing old barriers called weirs. They also built a new channel for the water. They cleaned out mud and dirt from the riverbed and created new areas for plants to grow along the riverbanks.
River Health and Wildlife
After all this work, studies have been done to see how the river's environment and wildlife have changed. The results have been very positive!
There have been improvements for fish and tiny water creatures like aquatic invertebrates. Birds and mammals, possibly even otters, have also benefited. Bees and other insects that live on land are also doing better.
The water quality has improved significantly. It is now considered "moderate" for its ecological health. This means the river environment is supporting life better. For chemical pollutants, the water quality is rated "good." This is a big improvement compared to measurements taken in 1996.
