duck weed in canal (again)

[Alway Swilby]

A CRT bod suggested that because canals and rivers are much cleaner and clearer than they used to be means that sunlight gets further down into the water and encourages this weed to grow much faster than it used to.

So we need to start pumping industrial waste back into the waterways and everything will be ok again.

[Wanderer Vagabond]

A CRT bod suggested that because canals and rivers are much cleaner and clearer than they used to be means that sunlight gets further down into the water and encourages this weed to grow much faster than it used to.

So we need to start pumping industrial waste back into the waterways and everything will be ok again.

Er, this stuff floats on the surface how do you increase light levels on the surface

[Dyertribe]

When I was a little girl (watch it!) back in the late 60s early 70s I remember the canal looking like a lawn due to the duckweed on our holidays.

Were the canals cleaner or muckier then? As we had a toilet that disgorged directly into the cut, I feel the latter.

[Lady Muck]

Theres none up here (currently on the Stort). It had started to grow between our boats and the bankside before we set off on Monday. (River Lea in Tottenham) It's definitely worse in town, where polluted tributories come into the canal and where there are a lot of boats. The trust removes 70 tonnes of it a week in London, apparently!

Edited July 22, 2016 by Lady Muck

[Alway Swilby]

Er, this stuff floats on the surface:unsure: how do you increase light levels on the surface

The roots are below the surface. It makes sense that stuff can grow more in generally cleaner water.

[Wanderer Vagabond]

When I was a little girl (watch it!) back in the late 60s early 70s I remember the canal looking like a lawn due to the duckweed on our holidays.

Were the canals cleaner or muckier then? As we had a toilet that disgorged directly into the cut, I feel the latter.

Your comment on it looking like like a lawn reminded of last year when we were at Keadby waiting to get onto the Trent. The Canal was covered in the stuff and unfortunately a boaters dog seemed to think it was grass as he tried to run off the bank and across it, he learned the hard way

Edited July 22, 2016 by Wanderer Vagabond

[Jerra]

When I was a little girl (watch it!) back in the late 60s early 70s I remember the canal looking like a lawn due to the duckweed on our holidays.

Were the canals cleaner or muckier then? As we had a toilet that disgorged directly into the cut, I feel the latter.

The toilets emptying into the cut would make things worse by providing nitrogen needed for leaf growth.

[Dyertribe]

Your comment on it looking like like a lawn reminded of last year when we were at Kilby waiting to get onto the Trent. The Canal was covered in the stuff and unfortunately a boaters dog seemed to think it was grass as he tried to run off the bank and across it, he learned the hard way:huh:

I can see the Daily Fail headline now " Local dogs with Jesus syndrome"

[Wanderer Vagabond]

Theres none up here (currently on the Stort). It had started to grow between our boats and the bankside before we set off on Monday. (River Lea in Tottenham) It's definitely worse in town, where polluted tributories come into the canal and where there are a lot of boats. The trust removes 70 tonnes of it a week in London, apparently!

I'm up on the Stort as well (at Bishops Stortford) no duckweed but I've passed a lot of Himalayan Balsam on the way up

[Lady Muck]

I'm up on the Stort as well (at Bishops Stortford) no duckweed but I've passed a lot of Himalayan Balsam on the way up

They've cleared a lot of it since I was last here in the summer. Funnily enough the beekeeper on Tottenham marsh says it makes the best honey of all!

[Phil Ambrose]

I am shocked and amazed, who would have thought it, water weed growing on the water, tsk tsk what's the world coming to.

Phil

[Peter Reed]

I am shocked and amazed, who would have thought it, water weed growing on the water, tsk tsk what's the world coming to.

Phil

I would very shocked to find Japanese knotweed growing in Japan.

[Jo_]

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/news/hot-weather-causes-explosion-of-duck-weed-on-londons-canals

 

70 tonnes in a week

[NickF]

Noticed your location is Deal

 

We go there after visiting the beach at Ramsgate with the children. Sandy beach is nice but you can't beat an evening on the stony beach at Deal for relaxing we were there on Wednesday as it happens

 

 

 

It's a bit of a long way to any canals though, unless you count The Hythe Military

Edited July 23, 2016 by NickF