Management of Windermere
A guide to who does what on Windermere
Organisation / South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) / Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA)Teams / Lake Wardens / Park Management and Lake Rangers
Contact details / 015394 42753 or email / Call Lake Ranger Team to report byelaw offences on 0844 225 2922
Or call Head office on 01539 792555 or
Byelaws / Provide advice and education to lake users on the Windermere byelaws:
www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/byelaws
Patrol the Lake throughout the year to enforce the Windermere byelaws
Provide and maintain the speed limit buoys and signs.
Provide educational material such as the Lake User guide and wider Windermere information on the LDNPA website.
Windermere Registration
Scheme / Act as agents for the LDNPA to provide a local registration facility on the Lake at Ferry Nab. / The Windermere Registration byelaws require powered craft to be registered and pay an annual fee on Windermere. It is administered at the Kendal headquarters.
The registration scheme has associated fees set at a level to match the cost of administering and enforcing the registration scheme.
www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/windermerereg
Organisation / South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) / Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA)
Teams / Lake Wardens / Park Management and Lake Rangers
· Licensing Authority / Licensing Authority for hire craft that carry up to 12 passengers on Windermere. Inspection and licensing over 400 craft in the District.
Carry out Boatmen’s tests and issue licences for skippers of hire craft.
Safety and Navigation / They provide and maintain 250 triangles and red buoys marking shallow water and rocks, plus
11 lifebelts at various locations around the lake.
Emergency Rescue and the
Coast guard / Agent to the coastguard for emergency rescue through 999 calls 9am - 5pm. During the summer this is extended to 9am-9pm.
The Lake Wardens also provide out of hours cover on a voluntary basis. They carry pagers and can be contacted either by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency or Cumbria Police. / Provide assistance and support to the coastguard for emergency rescue through 999 calls 9am - 5pm.
During the summer this is extended to 9am - 9pm.
Moorings / Let 800 of a possible 1034 permanent swinging moorings across 28 mooring areas.
21 swinging moorings for holiday rental in four areas of the lake.
This is monitored and administered from Ferry Nab.
Organisation / South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) / Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA)
Teams / Lake Wardens / Park Management and Lake Rangers
Boat storage / Annual Boat storage is available for 185 tenders and sailing dinghies.
Winter storage for 157 larger boats.
Monitored and administered from Ferry Nab.
Encroachment / There are around 300 encroachment agreements between the Council and landowners around the lake. These are both private and commercial, and cover all structures that encroach onto the lake bed.
Public jetties and moorings / Public jetties are provided and maintained at four locations around the lake at Ferry Nab, Bowness Bay, Rayrigg and Waterhead.
Public slipways are available at Ferry Nab and Waterhead.
Public showers and fresh water hose reels are available at Ferry Nab.
Sewage pump out and disposal facilities / Two sewage pumps to empty holding tanks, and an Elsan Disposal Point for portable toilets. Prices, charges and opening hours are available at: www.southlakeland.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/lake-windermere/lake-wardens.aspx
Organisation / South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) / Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA)
Teams / Lake Wardens / Park Management and Lake Rangers
Training / Ferry Nab is a RYA recognised training centre. It only provides training and certified courses to organisations such as the police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and The National Trust.
· Lake shore and island patrols / The Lake Ranger Team patrol the lake throughout the year to maintain the various shoreline and island properties owned by the Authority.
· Data collection / During routine patrols, data is routinely and systematically collected by the patrol team. It covers various aspects of lake and shoreline usage by boaters and other members of the public to inform decision making.
· Wider educational role and supporting events / Provide wider information about the lake, water safety talks and demonstrations to groups.
These can be arranged by contacting the Lake Wardens at Ferry Nab. / Provide wider information about the lake, and wider National Park issues through the National Park cruise with a ranger events, water safety talks and demonstrations to groups. These can be found on the Lake District National Park events programne and website. To arrange a specifically organised activity, please contact the Lake Ranger Team.
· / Work closely with Environment Agency’s officers responsible for the licensing and management of fishing and all water quality issues including pollution and toxic algae. This includes provision of appropriate signing when notified that toxic blue green algae are present in the water.
Provide advice and guidance for events on the lake and safety cover for large events such as the Great North Swim and challenge events such as charity swims and rowing.
Organisation / South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) / Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA)
Teams / Lake Wardens / Park Management and Lake Rangers
· Sharing of information to aid decision making
· / A jointly prepared annual report is produced that outlines trends and key issues along with lake usage and incidents.
· Environment Agency / Contact the Environment Agency for pollution reports or advice on fishing. Call 0800 80 70 60