A spokesperson said the EA and environmental specialists had advised the firm the scheme had “negative environmental impacts” and it would not be able to get a license to take water from the reservoir if it was “knowingly” causing environmental harm.
The United Utilities-commissioned report said in order to better meet EA guidance about refreshing river channels and redistributing bed surfaces, allowing the reservoir to over-top more regularly would be the easiest way to achieve this.
It said one of the benefits of higher flows, refreshed river channels and redistributed bed surfaces in St John’s Beck would be to increase migration opportunities for Atlantic salmon.
Jones disputed the figures used by United Utilities to make its conclusion.
“Their attitude is if the reservoir over-tops and it floods the community – that’s an act of God,” she said. “And we’re saying to them – no it’s a choice.”
The EA said it was considering the water firm’s licence renewal application and responses it had received as part of a consultation process on the issue.
It said independent of this, it was working to try and achieve continued flood risk benefit from Thirlmere reservoir.
