Wast Water
Country | England |
Unitary Authority | Cumbria |
Centroid* | NY164062 |
Latitude | 54.44388889 |
Longitude | -3.289166667 |
SAC EU Code | UK0030063 |
Status | Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) |
Area (ha) | 284.11 |
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC. |
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General site character
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Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (98%)
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Dry grassland, Steppes (2%)
Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)
Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.
Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site
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Wast Water is a relatively large and deep example of an oligotrophic waterbody (Type 3) in the Lake District, north-west England. Except for a small portion on Eskdale granite, Wast Water lies entirely on Borrowdale Volcanics rocks, and rocky substrates predominate along 73% of its shoreline. The submerged macrophyte communities of Wast Water are typical of oligotrophic lakes. Species such as bulbous rush Juncus bulbosus, quillwort Isoetes lacustris, shoreweed Littorella uniflora, awlwort Subularia aquatica and stoneworts Nitella spp. are known to occur. Least bur-reed Sparganium natans and floating bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium occur in more sheltered bays and are more typical of mesotrophic situations. Blunt-leaved pondweed Potamogeton obtusifolius has been recorded and bog pondweed P. polygonifolius occurs in the stream outlets. The macro-invertebrates of Wast Water are typical, including gastropod species (wandering snail Lymnaea peregra and river limpet Ancylus fluviatilis), the leech Erpobdella octoculata and the triclad Polycelis nigra. Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus occur in the lake.
Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site
- Not Applicable
Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site
- Not Applicable
Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection
- Not Applicable
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