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 .

 

Updates - July 2014 (2)

 
Chesterfield Canal
 
Page 24. Navigation box. Shireoaks Marina. From 28 July work will be underway to move the CRT Visitor Moorings from inside the Marina, to outside on the towpath where there are bollards. The water-point will be moved to the sanitary station - for access to all its facilities there will be a new gate from the towpath moorings, via a standard CRT key.  A second gate will give access to the marina for disposal of rubbish. 

The current Visitor Moorings will be fenced off from pedestrian access and will become part of the berth-holder-only moorings.
 
Visiting boats will no longer need to enter Shireoaks Marina.  The new CRT Visitor Moorings will be alongside the towpath, immediately upstream of the marina entrance bridge.
 
The work to carry out the above changes is due for completion by 12 August.
 

Updates - July 2014

 
Lincolnshire Waterways
 
All of the Fossdyke and River Witham maps and Navigation Notes  -  Visitor Moorings
 
The permitted duration of stay at CRT Visitor Moorings has been increased from 24hrs to 48hrs  -  with the exception of the following  -
 
 
Fossdyke
Torksey Cut (Trent side)  -  72 hrs
Torksey Lock (Fossdyke side)  -  72 hrs
Saxilby  -  72 hrs
 
River Witham
Bardney Lock - 72 hrs
Boston visitor moorings  -  5 days  (even though an incorrect sign by the moorings currently says "7 days"!  This situation will be corrected by CRT.
 
The signage to indicate the general increase to 48 hr stay duration is due to be installed by the end of August, but is in force now. (July 2014).
 

Updates - May 2014

 
Chesterfield Canal
 
Page 16, Map 4.  Clarborough, new shop
 
The Kings Arms, on the village's Main Street, now has a new, well-stocked, Spar shop in its car-park.  Currently open every day, 6am to 10pm.  It's a pleasant walk up from Clarborough Top Bridge (62).  (Our thanks to Tony and Helen of nb Holderness for letting us know the shop had actually opened.)

Page 41. Contacts.  Tapton Lock Visitor Centre. 
 
The telephone number is now 01629 533020.  Calls will be answered by the Clay Cross Countryside Centre and forwarded to the appropriate staff at Tapton Lock.
 
Lincolnshire Waterways
 
Page 40, Map 13.  Slea Navigation.  Halfpenny Hatch Bridge.
 
The lowest bridge on this waterway, it now has arrows on both faces indicating the location of the main channel.

 

Updates - April 2014

 
South Yorkshire Waterways
 
Page 44.  Contacts.  Add.  Narrowboat hire.  Yorkshire Narrowboats at Sprotbrough.
www.yorkshirenarrowboats.com    info@yorkshirenarrowboats.com
07831 862607    Post code DN5 7NB
 

Updates - March 2014

 
South Pennine Ring - General
 
Over recent years CRT have been reducing the amount of pre-booking required on the South Pennine Ring.  There are now only two places that need booking for the 2014 season  -  Tuel Lane Lock on the Rochdale Canal, and Standedge Tunnel on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

South Pennine Ring  -  Part 1
 
Map 1.  Tuel Lane Lock.  The 2014 hours and booking requirements are as previous years.
 
Pages 30, 32, and maps 7, 8.  The previous requirement to book accompanied passages of the locks in Manchester, and over the Summit, no longer applies.  We are not aware of the locks being padlocked at night, but this may change if circumstances warrant it in the future.
 
Map 4, and p40.  Please note the Bird I'th Hand pub at Warland has closed.
 
South Pennine Ring  -  Part 2
 
Pages 18, 24.  Maps 12, 14.  Bookings for Standedge Tunnel remain as in previous years.  However, there are no longer any restrictions on the Diggle and Marsden flights of locks.
 
Page 21.  CRT Instructions are -
Heading eastwards from Diggle to Marsden.  Boats are asked to be at the Diggle portal for 11.30am on the day of passage.  Once through the tunnel, boats are welcome to moor above Lock 42E for a maximum of 24hrs.  Further mooring space is available below Lock 32E which is between Marsden and Slaithwaite villages.
 
Heading westwards from Marsden to Diggle.  Boats are asked to moor above Lock 42E on the day before passage of the tunnel and not to proceed past the railway bridge until after 4pm.  This is to avoid the trip-boat which will be operating from the Visitor Centre into the tunnel until 4pm.  After 4pm boats can moor at the tunnel entrance ready for their passage the following day.  Passage preparations will start at 8am.
Note that the flight of locks 32E to 42E is no longer manned.
 
Page 32, map 17.  Huddersfield Broad Canal.  Number plates have been affixed to the bridges of this waterway.
 
North Yorkshire Waterways
 
Page 20, map 5.  Boaters' Facilities in York.  There is currently no elsan disposal on the 48hr visitor moorings near Lendal Bridge.  The public toilets in Museum Gardens, which used to house the boaters' facilities, have been demolished.  Planning permission for the new Starr Inn on the site was dependent on these facilities being fully replaced  -  they have not been.  Discussions continue!
 
The good news is that the water-point has been relocated nearer the river.
 
We are grateful to Mike Cadoux, Chair, IWA North Riding for this information.
 
Chesterfield Canal
 
Page 36.  Supplies.  Insert  -  Fennessy Fuels (Retford0 and Grimes Coal Merchants (Newark) will deliver coal and gas to boats.
 
Page 41.  Contacts.  Insert  -  Smokeless fuels, bottled gas.  Free delivery.  Fennessey Fuels, Bolham Lane, Retford DN22 6SU  01777 702428.
G&R Grimes, Willow Farm, Darlton, Newark NG22 0TF  01777 228273.
 

Updates - September 2013

 
Chesterfield Canal - A Richlow Guide
 
Page 12 and Map 2.  Drakeholes  -  White Swan pub
 
With pubs closing and re-opening so often we don't usually include them in the Updates blog.  But the White Swan at Drakeholes has a high profile on the Chesterfield Canal and its recent closure is more significant.  With pleasant moorings across the road, and a popular cruising range from West Stockwith basin, many boaters made it their first/last stop on the canal.

 

Hopefully the White Swan will re-open in the future.
 
 
Lincolnshire Waterways
 
Page 14.  Brayford Pool Visitor Moorings
 
The Brayford Trust has now provided visitor moorings in Brayford Pool.  They are on the south side, immediately after the road bridge across the entrance to the Pool, where Lincoln Marina used to be.  It's necessary to contact the Harbourmaster in advance.  The fee for overnight mooring includes electricity.  01522 521452
 
These facilities are in addition to the CRT visitor moorings, the site of which is unchanged.
 
Page 40.  Slea Navigation - April 2014 Update  -  Open for Navigation
 
The silt barriers, which formed below Taylors (formerly Bottom) Lock preventing boat access, have been cleared by dredging.  So the Slea is open for navigation.  But, April 2014, there is still a silt problem below Cobblers Lock, the current head of navigation, where full length narrowboats have previously been able to turn.
 
Until this problem is resolved all boaters wishing to navigate the Slea should contact the Sleaford Navigation Trust  -  page 57 under the heading "Inland Waterways Groups"  -  to ascertain the latest situation.
 
Page 57. Contacts
 
The telephone number for the Brayford Pool Harbourmaster remains the same.
Lincoln Marina should be deleted.


South Pennine Ring - Part 2
 
Page 9.  Pub List
 
The Tunnel End pub is currently closed for business.  Advisable to telephone to check.
 
Page 24. Moorings
 
Delete the reference to moorings near a pub.  See above.
 
Page 26.  Moonraker
 
Unfortunately the popular Moonraker tearoom-boat has left Slaithwaite, near lock 23E.  We hear it has moved to Lincoln  -  we will check this out in the spring.