Section of Caledonian Canal to close for water damage repairs
A SCENIC canal is being closed to boats until the end of next month after significant damage caused by high water levels, hitting a key tourist spot over the crucial Easter period.
A section of the Caledonian Canal between Loch Ness and Loch Oich is affected, almost at its midway point between Inverness and Corpach.
Scottish Canals, the body responsible for the waterway, reported that unusually high water levels on Loch Oich, as a result of heavy rains and snow melt, had significantly undermined the weir at Cullochy, and partially washed it away. This caused a major breach of the canal embankment about six miles south of Fort Augustus.
Scottish Canals’ staff were on site within a few hours.
A spokeswoman said that a temporary dam would be built in the canal to allow the necessary repairs to the weir itself. Once these were complete, the dam would be removed.
She said: “This is a significant and unforeseen breach of the canal which requires a major civil engineering response that will take many weeks to complete.
“The Caledonian Canal at this location, and for sea to sea transits, could be closed to navigation until the end of April – although we will do all we can to carry out the work as quickly as possible in order to minimise the impact on our customers.
“Once the work to stem the flow of water has been carried out, we hope to be able to manage repair works to the weir while the canal is operational.”
Meanwhile, a dedicated Nessie hunter fears he will be flooded out of his loch-side home. Steve Feltham, 52, has been camped on the shore since 1991, having given up his home, job and girlfriend in the hope of spotting the monster.
But his record-breaking vigil could be interrupted by rising waters, strong winds and the threat of 6ft high waves threatening to force him out of the former mobile library van parked on Dores beach.
Mr Feltham, who earns a living selling Nessie models, is constructing a flood defence barrier using driftwood.