River Sprint
The River Sprint is a river in Westmorland with its source high up on the south-facing side of Harter Fell. It flows into the River Kent just to the south of Burneside.
From its source, the first two miles of the river are a series of short flat sections interspersed by spectacular water falls. Below this youthful section the river begins to carve a valley, Longsleddale. In Longsleddale, the Sprint begins to widen as it is fed by a large number of streams.
The River Sprint Is ever ready to burst into spate and frequently floods in Longsleddale, making the road impassable. The river is spectacular at times of high flow, and is popular with canoeists and fishermen.
Intervention
The Environment Agency’s Catchment Restoration Fund has funded a project to improve the Sprint's water quality and alleviate flooding as part of a wider initiative called the "Source to Sea Programme". This involves restoration of peatlands in the catchment areas of rivers feeding into Morecambe Bay.[1]