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Special Areas of Conservation

Wast Water

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
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.
Location of Wast Water SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (98%)
  • 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

  • 3130 Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea

    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

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.