THROUGHOUT the system, the constant rain and resulting floods are causing havoc on the waterways.
It is not only all of the rivers that have flooded, but even the canals have seen unprecedented rises in their levels, not helped by the lack of lengthmen to control the flows, and the end of the volunteer season. The picture shows Jan of narrowboatworld attempting to access the main gate to reach her boat at Sawley Marina, but the water proved too deep. The water shown on the right is actually a road.
Protection
River based marinas are especially susceptible, depending of course on their protection, with such as Sawley Marina on the flooded Trent, though having risen way above normal, having upright bars on every jetty (as can just be seen in the photograph) that means that boats can rise with the flood to quite a degree without becoming fast and thus pulled over.
The bottom gates of Sawley Flood Lock, though overflowing, yesterday, Tuesday, were still keeping the marina water level around two feet below that of the flooding Trent. The top gates of the flood lock can just be seen in the photograph.
The water of the Trent however stretched from the river right across the ground to cover the towpath of Sawley Cut, (photograph below) but unlike the flood of 2000 where the water was so high the boats drifted across the towpath, the water is still a long was below that level.
Few boats
Luckily there were few boats trapped, and only one on the winter moorings on the towpath, though the resident boats further down towards the locks would have difficulty if the water rose much further.
With owners of the boats moored in Sawley Marina obviously being worried about their craft, Rod Grant at the marina, told us that in these circumstances members of staff always telephone every moorer to assure them their boat is safe.
During the 2000 flood, where the water topped the restraining bars, not a single boat was lost at the marina, with the then British Waterways staff keeping constant surveillance. The boaters on Sawley Cut however at the Derby Motor Boat Club lost four boats that were pulled over and sank.
The photograph shows the level at Sawley Lock. It is this flood where boaters can see its level marker shown previously on the lock house, but now on the lock island cabin.
Pillings Marina
As can be seen from Tony Smith's photograph, Pillings Marina on the Soar, though on a canalised section of the river below a flood lock has not escaped the sheer volume of water, and with its 'bare' jetties is not particularly a safe haven.
The Soar is susceptible to quick floods, as the Leicester flood system means that all its excess water drains into the Soar.