Ouse News Page 4
Chairman’s Corner A few weeks ago, we were busy replacing curtains and sorting out Watermist ready for the boating season wearing thick jumpers and fleeces with the heating appliances going full belt. However, on the morning we were preparing to leave for home, the sun came out and the prolonged cold spring suddenly ended and the long hot spell began. Hopefully it will remain so for the duration of the summer. The hot weather has been giving the EA a few problems with low dissolved oxygen levels being recorded at Welches Dam, Welney and in the River Delph. Unusually for mid-June, they are still having to pump water off the Ouse Washes and are, therefore, unable to flush fresh water from the Great Ouse via Earith Sluice. As soon as conditions allow they plan to deploy oxygenating equipment at several locations in order to preserve fish stocks. The EA are still progressing with the massive on-going bank raising work along the Middle Level Barrier Bank between Earith and Welmore Bank Sluice. The project will culminate in the installation of a demountable flood barrier to eleviate regular winter flooding at Welney. The branch has been invited to comment on two other major construction projects likely to cause short-term restrictions to navigation on the Great Ouse in due course. Both of these projects are still at the consultation stage and it is far too early to determine the likely level of disruption.
