From the Region Chair Water resources, restrictions and stoppages Summarising this IWA East Midlands regional overview in late February, during one of the warmest and driest “winter” weather spells on record, I was reminded of the strategy of using mainly river navigations in 2018 for our main summer cruising route (Aegre 152, November 2018). Unfortunately, Autumn 2018 and Winter 2019 rainfall in our region has been less than a third of “normal”, and therefore unless there is a significant weather change (i.e. a 2012 “monsoon” type summer), we can again expect significant waterway restrictions through 2019. In this context, and as a precaution, C&RT East Midlands have advised us they will be carrying out further water conservation improvements (i.e. bunging up the leaks!) on Whetstone Lock on the GU Leicester Line in the first week of April 2019. This will be a short stoppage before the start of the Easter holiday break to attempt to reduce navigation restrictions later in the main boating season. Best then to linger in the towns and beautiful rural countryside south of Leicester, e.g. Foxton, Market Harborough or alternatively Leicester, Loughborough, and northwards on the Soar.
Strategic water resource management is also the main driver behind Water Resources East (WRE), which offers opportunities for developing the Boston to Peterborough (B2P) Wetland Corridor as part of the Fens Waterways Link (FWL). B2P has gained immediate resonance along this section by identifying tangible opportunities for leisure and health related benefits at local community level. (Waterways Winter 2018). We are actively engaging with local communities on the river Welland on the feasibility of holding a trail-boat festival in 2020 to support and publicise the B2P Wetland Corridor project. Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire (N&D) Branch. I am very heartened to note that Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch has two new committee members who were elected at the branch AGM in February, as reported by Mike Snaith on page 20. I know they will bring different skills and contacts to the Branch, but please note that they still require further committee members. Although very active and effective, without new blood on the committee N&D Branch was in danger of becoming moribund. Mike Snaith, Archie Rob-
Aegre 153 - March 2019 Page 5
