Checking River Levels

 
English and Welsh Rivers
 
A customer has told us about the very useful website www.riverlevels.info .
 
Please be aware that it's an unofficial site, but it uses the Environment Agency data, from the EA's levels-measuring stations, on the rivers throughout England and Wales (Scotland promised to follow).
 
The site's creator thinks the EA could display its data more effectively, so he set out to do so.  In his own words...
 

" While the Environment Agency's own website does provide river level information, it has to be said that the presentation of the data is somewhat limited. So I decided to set up my own version.

 

In particular, what I thought I could do better was to present the data in a more accessible visual format, and with better cross-referencing between different sites (so, for example, when viewing the data for the River Avon at Evesham, there are also quick links to other locations on the Avon and other rivers near Evesham). Putting the locations onto a Google map also makes it easier to find those which are relevant as you don't need to know precise names. " 

 

Zoom in on the map and it will clearly show, with rising/falling red or green arrows, the situation in an area, thereby giving warning of water levels rising upstream of any point where you may be visiting.  Or, of course, lack of water flowing down in drought conditions.

 

Clicking on an arrow gives a box with location, waterway, and levels  -  clicking on the "More" link in the box will give more information for the site.

 

There's also a Locations List with rivers shown within their catchments.  Again, very useful for a quick check on everything which may change the water levels, in the near future, where you are.

 

Richlow has no connection with the creator of the website  -  we just thought his initiative should be applauded, and that our customers may benefit from a visit to www.riverlevels.info .

 

Boating Tips

Mooring Lines on Varying Water Levels
  
By the Richardson half of Richlow

The waterways of the region covered by Richlow require a different mind-set to the canals of the main system.  Even on the Fossdyke the levels depend on the rivers Witham and Till.

We own a narrowboat but the vast majority of our boating, over many years, has been on tidal rivers.  But on any river, and with heavy rain some canals, the water levels are variable and this must be borne in mind when mooring-up.
 
To allow a boat to rise-and-fall safely the mooring lines (ropes) should not be short and tight, but when lengthy they still need to control the boat alongside the bank .  We've found that, at the stern, both requirements can be easily be achieved by using the off-side line to tie the boat to the shore.  We have both stern lines rigged to use this method wherever we are  -  even on canals we find the boat rides snug against the bank (where there's enough depth of course!).
 
The usual shape of narrowboat bows makes this option less effective at that end, but by running the line to the bank ahead of the boat a safe length can be achieved.
 
Running lines from the off-side is the standard method used by those responsible for mooring vessels considerably larger than our narrowboat.
 
(Clicking on a picture will, with most operating systems, present a larger image.)
 
 

The boats of the Humber Keel & Sloop Preservation Society on their summer home moorings at South Ferriby. www.keelsandsloops.org.uk
 
The River Ancholme is used as a major drainage outlet and levels can change substantially  -  increased by major rainfall, and decreased by the water being pumped out into the Humber.
 
This is allowed for by keel Comrade, on the inside, and sloop Amy Howson on the outside, both being moored by lines from their off-sides.

HMS Tyne at Immingham Docks Open Day in 2012.  Her aft mooring line can clearly be seen, it ran to a bollard on the dockside.
 
For caption completeness - in the foreground are the Humber sloops Phyllis www.sloopphyllis.com and Spider T www.spidert.co.uk
 

And finally  -  on any waters having a mooring line from anywhere high on a boat is not a good idea, but where the water levels are variable it's a dangerous thing to do.

A mooring line from the roof of the green narrowboat in this picture is restricting the boat's ability to cope with the rising levels and that's why it's heeling over.
 
This is at Castleford and the owner probably thought "I'm in a lock-cut with flood-gates at each end so it'll be OK."  But the very high levels in the River Aire were causing water to come through the top slats of those flood-gates.
 
Of course we went and sorted things out.