River Conditions update
The Environment Agency and the TRRC are urging clubs to be cautious about returning to the river Thames above Teddington Lock while flow rates remain very strong.
Flows rates on the Upper Thames are currently in the range of 15 - 30 times of those experienced at the same time last year and we are still red-boarded across the whole of the river.
- In the upper reaches (St Johns to Cleeve) there are still six weirs fully drawn and a good deal of water across fields; until that is back in the river there will only be a slow drop off in levels and flows which will allow the red boards to be replaced with yellow ones.
- In the Middle Thames area (Goring to Bray) there are still four weirs still fully drawn (Goring, Shiplake, Marlow and Cookham) although levels are gently declining throughout.
- In Lower Thames (Boveney to Teddington) we only now have Chertsey Weir fully drawn and levels are declining well.
The Environment Agency anticipate that yellow boards will start coming out over the weekend but that it will be the end of next week before all the red boards are in. Yellow boards will be displayed in the lower reaches before the upper.
We therefore counsel caution when considering returning to the river as even when we go to Yellow boards there will be a considerable stream running which could put crews into difficulty.
In addition, there are literally hundreds of craft that have been moored up for a fortnight waiting for a chance to move. We anticipate that as levels decline and as the forecast weather is good for this weekend, many of these will start to move in spite of being discouraged by the EA.
Rowers will need to consider whether the combination of still high flows and numbers of powered craft, sometimes skippered by people unused to the conditions makes it too hazardous to go afloat. They should also consider the proximity of weirs, bridges and other hazards.
All clubs should undertake their own risk assessments before they allow members back onto the river. The floods may have abated but the river has a great deal of strength in it and should be approached with caution for the time being.