Drought hits Lowland canals
SCOTTISH Canals has temporarily suspended all boat movements on the Forth & Clyde Canal between Lock 16 and Grangemouth in the east and Lock 21 and Bowling in the west.
Lock 16 is at Camelon in Falkirk, just east of the Falkirk Wheel and Lock 21 the top lock of the flight at Maryhill, Glasgow. The Falkirk Wheel continues to operate as normal, as does the lockfree Union Canal.
These are unplanned and emergency restrictions, put in place after a long period of dry weather and a large sandbank at Hillend Reservoir obstructing access to water reserves. The reservoir supplies water to the Forth & Clyde Canal.
The decision to suspend boat movements has been taken in order to maintain water levels in the canal, protect wildlife, the structure and ecology of the waterway itself, and canal structures. All five canals in Scotland are recognised Scheduled Ancient Monuments.
Boating had already been curtailed on the eastern side of the canal, with restrictions in place from mid-July between Lock 16 and the Kelpies. The hot, dry weather and leakage on a number of lock gates contributed to depleted water reserves and difficulties in maintaining water levels. Repairs were made to Lock 8 in the Falkirk flight and the restrictions lifted in late August.
Last summer all navigation on the canal was suspended when the Monkland Canal pipeline, running beneath Glasgow’s M8 motorway, became blocked and water levels dropped dramatically. The Monkland pipeline supplies up to 70% of the water needed to operate the Forth & Clyde canal. Two reservoirs near Kilsyth – Birkenburn and Townhead – supply the remainder of the Forth & Clyde’s water. The Monkland Canal, no longer open for navigation and detached from the canal system, is itself supplied with water from Hillend Reservoir, supplemented by water from Black Loch and Lily Loch, near Coatbridge to the east of Glasgow.
Hillend Reservoir was established between 1797 and 1799 and was, at the time, the world’s largest man-made reservoir. Last winter, Scottish Canals carried out engineering work on the reservoir weirs. Water levels had been reduced before work took place, to allow safe access to the weirs. The works were completed in May this year, with the hope that water levels would return to their maximum. However, the low water level has been compounded by the lack of rain this summer.
Scottish Canals looks after 19 water supply reservoirs in Scotland and works closely with SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) the government agency with responsibility for protecting and improving Scotland’s environment, including water supply and quality.
The impact of climate change can be seen in instances of both water shortage and too much water, such as when the Union Canal breached in 2020 after a fierce storm and torrential rain. The Crinan Canal in particular has seen draught restrictions and locking sharing implemented over a number of years. In fact, water supply was an issue way back in 1809 just five years after the incomplete canal was first opened and when government loans and additional funding were needed to complete construction of reservoirs to ensure a water supply for the canal.
Today, 10 reservoirs, many in remote locations, and a sea pump supply water to the canal. Telemetry, the automatic recording and transmission of data, is in place along the canal and was installed in six reservoirs and the two canal basins at Ardrishaig and Crinan during 2019.
Scottish Canals is the second largest owner of heritage in Scotland. Its Asset Management Strategy sets out Scottish Canals’ plans for the period 2018–30, necessary with a repair backlog of more than £70 million, previous underinvestment, restricted public sector funding, ageing structures, potential extreme weather, and the welcome but increased use. Works are prioritised against risk to the public and investment to give the largest benefit to the public – providing access to everyone who wishes to spend time alongside or on the canals. Pre-Covid, Scottish Canals was generating around 60% of its own income.
Winter shutdowns
This winter there will be a further round of work on the Crinan, upgrading Locks 12–15 and Cairnbaan Swing Bridge. A long stretch of the canal, from Lock 9 to Lock 15, will be drained and the canal will be closed to navigation from Sunday, October 2 to late March 2023.
The Caledonian Canal is due to be closed to navigation between January and March 2023 to allow for winter works and repair and improvements to two rail bridges.
Restrictions and temporary closures will be in place on the Union Canal from November this year to March 2023. These are necessary to allow strengthening work to take place on embankments along the canal.