| Cocker | |
| River | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Source | Crummock Water |
| Mouth | |
| - location | confluence with River Derwent |
The River Cocker is a river in the Lake District in North West England, in the county of Cumbria. Its source is at the head of the Buttermere valley. It flows north through Buttermere and then Crummock Water, through Lorton Vale, to the town of Cockermouth, where it joins the River Derwent. It is roughly 12 miles long. The river takes its name from the Brythonic Celtic word "kukra", meaning crooked.
The river supports a range of wildlife, the predominant fish species include, salmon, sea trout, brown trout, eels, minnows sticklebacks and the Stone Loach.
The small river came to national prominence in the 2009 Great Britain and Ireland floods. The county of Cumbria was the hardest hit area during the floods and the River Cocker burst its banks, covering the town of Cockermouth in as much as 8 feet of water.[1] This was largely due to a confluence with the River Derwent in the vicinity of the town.