Water resources update – what impact has recent rain had?
Some parts of the country have recently experienced sporadic downpours but Caroline Douglass, the executive director for flooding at the Environment Agency, was quoted earlier this week saying: “What we want is flowing, steady rain that wets things up nicely, not sudden heavy flood events. There certainly is not an end to a drought yet.”
To get an idea what, if any, impact these passing storms have had on water resources for boating, I sat down for a brief chat with national hydrology manager, Dr Adam Comerford, and I also asked regional construction manager Andy Morris how the network has responded to the exceptional lack of rain and how it might respond as any refill begins.
Last week we held our National Boaters’ Forum with a water resources theme. Adam gave an in-depth presentation on all aspects of water management and why we’ve been impacted this year as well as taking questions on the subject. It’s well worth a watch so if you’ve got a bit of time check out the article below.
As mentioned above, the best way to get the latest information is to sign up for stoppage notifications. More information can be found on our drought FAQ page.
Programme of winter works published
As you likely know, when there is less demand for boating during autumn, winter and early spring, we take the opportunity to conduct the widespread repair and restoration work that’s needed to look after an ageing transport network. The scale and breadth of work is a huge, £multi-million undertaking. The headline figure of extensive work taking place at 109 lock sites only tells a small part of the story.
But, before we get into the details of the plan, it’s worth mentioning that the exceptionally dry weather has given us the chance to bring forward some works that we’d otherwise be doing in the coming colder months. Just a few weeks ago the BBC visited Foxton Locks where we were fixing paddles.
The detail
If we look at the big picture, works will be taking place on 45 different canals and rivers – from the Glasson Branch of the Lancaster Canal in the North West all the way down to West India Docks in London.
Dotted on many points between are 137 individual projects taking place. This will involve extensive works, at 109 locks (including gate replacements), eight embankments, wash walls and canal beds, 14 bridges, four sluices, culverts and weirs and two tunnels. To list every individual stoppage would just be replicating what we’ve already got on our website so, for brevity, here are some of the highlights from around the network:
Boat passing under bridge at Sutton Cheney Wharf, Ashby Canal
East Midlands
Work taking place at 10 locks – this is a mixture of gate replacements, heritage masonry repairs, rebuilding quadrants and repairing paddles
A bridge being built over the Trent Basin (near to Lady Bay Roadbridge)
Full refurbishment of Dratley’s Bridge over the Ashby Canal
One to watch
Removal of non-native fish from the Grand Union Canal
Islington Tunnel, Regent's Canal
London & South East
Work taking place at 16 locks – an assortment of gate replacement, paddle post replacement, gate relining, water seepage testing, lock landing repairs and culvert clearance
Masonry repairs to mooring sites
One to watch
Fully draining Islington Tunnel for brickwork repairs, graffiti removal and associated vegetation works (which has all been preceded by, earlier this week, an overnight operation on two successive nights to compile a detailed scan of the tunnel lining)
The Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge
North West
Work taking place at 26 locks – a combination of gate and lock ladder replacement, replacing paddles, repairing bywashes and repointing brickwork
Programme of essential repairs to Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge, which crosses the River Weaver near Frodsham. The bridge, which is nearly 100 years old and based on a Victorian design, requires works to replace and repair existing mechanical and electrical elements to keep it safe and fit for purpose
One to watch
On the Peak Forest Canal we’ll be renewing a 60m length of the canal bed which will involve relining over Aqueduct 7 (Strines) and Culvert 16 with clay. There will also be repairs to the masonry wash walls and the installation of new access steps
Drawbridge on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal - credit John Jones
Wales & South West
Work taking place at 10 locks – another mix of gate replacement, refurbishment, grout injection to reduce leakage and extensive masonry works
CCTV survey of culvert bypass outlet of Bridge 163 on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
Essential repair works to Purton Upper Bridge on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal
One to watch
The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal will be drained in multiple locations to initially carry out a full canal bed inspection and then, as you’d expect, repaired as required
Tame Valley Canal
West Midlands
Work taking place at 34 locks – as you’d imagine with such a large number of locks receiving attention, the range of work being done is broad. It includes, but not limited to, gate replacement and refurbishment, removal of non-native species, ladder replacements, cill, bollard and quadrant repairs
A number of culverts, notably on the Coventry and Shropshire Union canals, will be surveyed and repaired
Embankment repairs on the Trent & Mersey, Grand Union and Llangollen canals
One to watch
On the Tame Valley Canal navigation and towpath closure are required for significant canal bed replacement works to two areas of the canal over the length of Spouthouse Embankment. The canal will be drained between Gorse Farm Bridge and Tower Hill and works will also include canal wall rebuild and repair as well as grouting operations and maintenance access improvement
The golden glow of autumn falls over the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Mossley
Yorkshire & North East
Work taking place at 13 locks – a mixture of chamber brickwork repair, gate replacement and repairs, as well as works to cills, sluices and ladders
Multiple embankment repairs on the Rochdale Canal
Weir and sluice works on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal
One to watch
Lock 15 East on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal will get a complete overhaul with the top gate being replaced and the bottom gates and lock chamber being repaired. The same can be said a short distance away at Lock 18 East which will have both the top and bottom gates replaced
As the programme progresses I’ll be visiting some of the projects to talk to those at the proverbial coal face – please do let me know if there any that are of particular interest to you.
National Boaters’ Forum – water resources
As mentioned above, on 2 September, we held our National Boaters’ Forum with a water resources theme. In it, our in-house expert Dr Adam Comerford gave an in-depth presentation on all aspects of water management and why we’ve been impacted this year, as well as taking questions on the subject. It’s well worth a watch and should answer every possible question on the subject but, if you’ve got one that’s not answered then do please let me know.
Annual Public Meeting coming soon
Our Annual Public Meeting will take place live online at 2.30pm on Monday 20 October. During the meeting we'll reflect on our activities and financial performance during 2024/25 and welcome our new CEO, Campbell Robb.
You will be able to join the event on the day via our website homepage. If you have a question that you'd like to submit, please send it to [email protected].
Maintenance, repair and restoration work this weekend
As the above update demonstrates, the network wasn’t built for extreme weather and it does impact its ability to operate which sometimes mean we have to reluctantly restrict, or stop, navigation.
When this does happen, we get notices up on to our website as soon as we can – it’s always best to have a scan while you’re planning your cruise and also just before you set off. You can find out how to get stoppage notification alerts on your smartphone in this article.
A map of the areas affected by low water levels can be found on the Notices section of our website: filter by reason: ‘Low Water Levels’ and select ‘Map View’. If you think you’ll be regularly checking the map then bookmark this link and it’ll take you straight to the low water stoppage map.
Below, you’ll find a list of navigations that have ongoing restrictions not related to low water levels that may affect you if you’re planning to get out on the water this weekend:
