Low water level roulette

[IanD]

Ashton, Cheshire Locks, Wigan flight, Camp Hill, Ribble Link, Glasson, Newlay, Tinsley, and entire HNC now closed due to low water levels... 😞 

 

Place your bets -- where's going to be next?

 

P.S. Not blaming CRT for this, climate change isn't their fault... 😉 

Edited July 15 by IanD

[Arthur Marshall]

It's a combination of climate change and the long-term lack of maintenance, isn't it? The problem caused by the former is exacerbated by the latter and vice versa.

I suspect summer hobby cruising is becoming a thing of the past  and this will seriously affect hire companies as well as leisure boaters.

The future,if any, of the canals lies in the nonmoving live-boards, maybe, as I've suspected for a long time. CRT seems to be in no hurry to monetise them, but then  just managing an empty green corridor would be a lot simpler.

[IanD]

40 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:

It's a combination of climate change and the long-term lack of maintenance, isn't it? The problem caused by the former is exacerbated by the latter and vice versa.

I suspect summer hobby cruising is becoming a thing of the past  and this will seriously affect hire companies as well as leisure boaters.

The future,if any, of the canals lies in the nonmoving live-boards, maybe, as I've suspected for a long time. CRT seems to be in no hurry to monetise them, but then  just managing an empty green corridor would be a lot simpler.

I don't see how long-term lack of maintenance -- which is indeed a big problem, but it's difficult to see how CART could do much better when the real underlying cause is lack of funding -- can be blamed for there not being enough water to feed into the canals due to lack of rain... 😞 

 

I'm sure CART would love to monetize the non-moving live-aboards -- or indeed all boaters -- but that's not easy when any attempt to do the first sets off loud screams of protest from the NBTA and friends, and any attempt to do the second gets cries of "'Ow much?!?!?" from all those boaters who think they're already paying too much and certainly don't want to pay more... 😞 

 

While simultaneously protesting about the parlous state of the canal system, and failing to see any link between that and the (too small?) amount they're paying for a license... 😉 

 

Meanwhile, back at the roulette table... 🙂 

Edited July 15 by IanD

[nicknorman]

We are just about to set off from Stone to do an expanded Warwickshire ring via Stourbridge canal and Stratford-upon-Avon. Not entirely confident we will make it!

[agg221]

19 minutes ago, nicknorman said:

We are just about to set off from Stone to do an expanded Warwickshire ring via Stourbridge canal and Stratford-upon-Avon. Not entirely confident we will make it!

We are supposed to be setting off from Streethay on Monday to get back to our mooring. Question 1 is going to be can we get afloat off the mooring at Streethay...

Alec

[Rob-M]

We have headed up the Shroppie for the Gnosall festival this weekend and will probably continue up to Nantwich then turn and head back the same way.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

About to head up to the Birmingham level. Is this wise? When will I get down again?

 

3 hours ago, IanD said:

Ashton, Cheshire Locks, Wigan flight, Camp Hill, Ribble Link, Glasson, Newlay, Tinsley, and entire HNC now closed due to low water levels...

Ashton, Bosley and T&M Cheshire locks related to the lack of Todbrook water. 

Tinsley flight pumps up water from the river Don at a point not far from it's headwaters and that is probably very low right now. They need to conserve water to keep the three mile summit pound up, with a lot of evaporation going on.

HNC now no longer has several of it's original reservoirs and has to pay for extra water. 

Don't know about extenuating circumstances for the others. 

[Rob-M]

18 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

About to head up to the Birmingham level. Is this wise? When will I get down again?

Last year when things were closing we managed to go up Tardebigge through Birmingham and down to the Staffs and Worcs via Stourbridge without issues.

[nicknorman]

1 minute ago, Rob-M said:

Last year when things were closing we managed to go up Tardebigge through Birmingham and down to the Staffs and Worcs via Stourbridge without issues.

Yes, despite being on top of a rather large hill, Birmingham is usually OK. Famous last wotsits!

[frangar]

It's not so much the restrictions but the way they are being implemented with little or no notice without even transit windows being offered to get you back home etc.

 

Personally I do blame CRT for poor management of what resources they have....Cheshire locks was shut with 10 mins notice....you literally could have tied up for lunch then be stuck in the flight!!!

[jonathanA]

4 hours ago, IanD said:

 

Place your bets -- where's going to be next?

Well i would have said Wigan flight, but that's closed already along with Kirkstall to newlay due to low water ...

 

You make a fair point about funding but I do question how efficient CRT are and suggest they are penny wise and pound foolish.  Speak to any of the guys on the ground and it's pretty obvious  they are still being run like a nationalised industry and pretty wasteful with what they have....

 

Hopefully the new management team can make some changes for the better and not just take the easy option of cutting canalside jobs.

[LadyG]

4 hours ago, Arthur Marshall said:

It's a combination of climate change and the long-term lack of maintenance, isn't it? The problem caused by the former is exacerbated by the latter and vice versa.

I suspect summer hobby cruising is becoming a thing of the past  and this will seriously affect hire companies as well as leisure boaters.

The future,if any, of the canals lies in the nonmoving live-boards, maybe, as I've suspected for a long time. CRT seems to be in no hurry to monetise them, but then  just managing an empty green corridor would be a lot simpler.

They are monetising me, as a cc. I'm paying £1600, it was less than £900 5or 6 years ago. No  significant change in maintenance. 

Those in marinas, some pay extra for extra use of services, but these are not necessarily Residential moorings, just marina identified liveaboards, officially  identifying as leisure boaters. There is a limit to sub classifications, 

50 minutes ago, jonathanA said:

Well i would have said Wigan flight, but that's closed already along with Kirkstall to newlay due to low water ...

 

You make a fair point about funding but I do question how efficient CRT are and suggest they are penny wise and pound foolish.  Speak to any of the guys on the ground and it's pretty obvious  they are still being run like a nationalised industry and pretty wasteful with what they have....

 

Hopefully the new management team can make some changes for the better and not just take the easy option of cutting canalside jobs.

Did that work the last time, replacing regular staff with contractors is not necessarily successful,  it certainly annoys regular staff, who will not see it as a valued job.

I think the CRT management can only shuffle the deckchairs on the Titanic, the Govt want the facilites, but don't want to raise the cost from taxation. Boaters can never pay the cost, it's impossible.

The CRT should have plenty of assets, plenty of money from assets sold, but they never seem to get out of the debt situation, a bit like Govt itself.

Edited July 15 by LadyG

[brianthesnail96]

1 hour ago, nicknorman said:

Yes, despite being on top of a rather large hill, Birmingham is usually OK. Famous last wotsits!

Rushall is on restricted hours at the moment, and the 21 was on short hours a while ago although that was blamed on "vandalism", I'm expecting that to be back to that soon though (probably once I've committed to going down it this time next week...).

 

Unfortunately the S&W which can usually be relied on to have water in has a stoppage for a damaged lock between Aldersley and Stourton junctions so going down the Delph as a plan B isn't currently an option.

[nicknorman]

10 minutes ago, brianthesnail96 said:

Rushall is on restricted hours at the moment, and the 21 was on short hours a while ago although that was blamed on "vandalism", I'm expecting that to be back to that soon though (probably once I've committed to going down it this time next week...).

 

Unfortunately the S&W which can usually be relied on to have water in has a stoppage for a damaged lock between Aldersley and Stourton junctions so going down the Delph as a plan B isn't currently an option.

Yes I’m hoping the S&W gets fixed before we get there next week.

[LadyG]

While some experienced people are here, can I ask a Q.

Im on the Calder and Hebble Navigation, , no water problems. 

So, Im a few boats lengths above a lock, and at 10.00pm last night,  a guy lets out at least one lockfull, maybe two, . No uniform. He saw me watching him, did not come to see me to explain. I dont think he is living in the LKeepers cottage.

So I went to look, and there are no boats below, and water levels seem to be fine. 

Obviously if he does the same tonight , he's essentially taking my water!

I'll be ready for him tonight!

 

Edited July 15 by LadyG

[Russ T]

9 minutes ago, LadyG said:

While some experienced people are here, can I ask a Q.

Im on the Calder and Hebble Navigation, , no water problems. 

So, Im a few boats lengths above a lock, and at 10.00pm last night,  a guy lets out at least one lockfull, maybe two, . No uniform. He saw me watching him, did not come to see me to explain. I dont think he is living in the LKeepers cottage.

So I went to look, and there are no boats below, and water levels seem to be fine. 

Obviously if he does the same tonight , he's essentially taking my water!

I'll be ready for him tonight!

 

I'd say go for it Lady G. If you fancy him,it's never too late.

[LadyG]

2 minutes ago, Russ T said:

I'd say go for it Lady G. If you fancy him,it's never too late.

Its too late for that!

[fanshaft]

3 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

 

Tinsley flight pumps up water from the river Don at a point not far from it's headwaters and that is probably very low right now. They need to conserve water to keep the three mile summit pound up, with a lot of evaporation going . 

What happened to the significant water supply from.the Nunnery mine which I recall when I operated on the Sheffield Canal in the 1970s? 

[Cheshire cat]

Interestingly the Bosley resevoir is currently 2.5 metres down on maximum capacity at the moment. This week last year it was 6 metres down. There seems to be a change in strategy.  I believe Combs resevoir is also relatively full.

[BoatingLifeUpNorth2]

1 hour ago, fanshaft said:

What happened to the significant water supply from.the Nunnery mine which I recall when I operated on the Sheffield Canal in the 1970s? 

1970’s a few years ago. Pumping station taking water from the Don unless that station is also fed from the mine?

 The water level is down about 6” from No1 lock to Sheffield from norm. Water flowing over top gates of locks on the flight, yet flight closed till at least next Tuesday. 
 CaRT call operator blaming a boater for leaving lock gates/paddles open for the problem. Even though it’s a manned flight, daily opened and daily locked by CaRT lock keeper🤔

 One permanent lock keeper off long term sick, maybe it’s a case of not relying on one person to run a flight and to train others to know how to manage the water resources🤔

 

4 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Tinsley flight pumps up water from the river Don at a point not far from its headwaters and that is probably very low right now. They need to conserve water to keep the three mile summit pound up, with a lot of evaporation going on.

From No1 lock to Sheffield down about 6” from normal at present(been far lower and flight still open) water flowing over flight gates. One permanent lock keeper off long term sick, situation getting revised next Monday. Maybe they don’t want boats up/down till next Tuesday 😂

Edited July 15 by BoatingLifeUpNorth2

[phantom_iv]

8 hours ago, IanD said:

Ashton, Cheshire Locks, Wigan flight, Camp Hill, Ribble Link, Glasson, Newlay, Tinsley, and entire HNC now closed due to low water levels... 😞 

When was camp hill closed? I can’t find a stoppage notice?

[Cheese]

4 hours ago, frangar said:

It's not so much the restrictions but the way they are being implemented with little or no notice without even transit windows being offered to get you back home etc.

 

Personally I do blame CRT for poor management of what resources they have....Cheshire locks was shut with 10 mins notice....you literally could have tied up for lunch then be stuck in the flight!!!

Agreed. They must have a pretty good idea of where closures are likely to be needed in the next 1-2 weeks in the absence of significant rainfall.  So just list them as an "Expected Stoppage" or something.  That would allow boaters and hire companies to make sensible plans - either to travel or not to travel.

[David Mack]

46 minutes ago, phantom_iv said:

When was camp hill closed? I can’t find a stoppage notice?

The canal is closed between Camp Hill top lock and Knowle top lock, but it appears the two lock flights are open!

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/019f611d-ac6c-7513-a012-7d41634dc594

And the Kixley winding hole you are supposed to use is within the closed length!

[phantom_iv]

Thanks, I was looking at current stoppages, not future stoppages. Now to check if there’s anything else I’ve missed!

[Tonka]

16 hours ago, IanD said:

Ashton, Cheshire Locks, Wigan flight, Camp Hill, Ribble Link, Glasson, Newlay, Tinsley, and entire HNC now closed due to low water levels... 😞 

 

Place your bets -- where's going to be next?

 

P.S. Not blaming CRT for this, climate change isn't their fault... 😉 

You can't blame CRT for the weather but you can blame them for selling the rights to the water. 

But you will put your head in the sand.

Chacewater is a prime example