Targeted dredging that started at the end of September is progressing well - if you have any questions please contact LMDB 01507 328095 or email enquiries@lmdb.co.uk
http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/flood2019
Targeted dredging that started at the end of September is progressing well. This community update provides more details about this and other activity that is taking place to reduce flood risk in the catchment. If you have any questions please contact Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board (LMDB), or the Environment Agency (EA), using the details at the end.
Dredging progress Around 68% of the first dredging phase, shown in yellow on the map overleaf, in the Steeping River and Wainfleet Relief Channel (WRC) upstream of Wainfleet is now complete – that’s around 16,000 cubic metres of silt removed. LMDB is managing this activity on the ground.
Residents will see the dredger on the Steeping River, moving through Wainfleet past Salem Bridge in early November. It will then complete the downstream section of the Steeping River and the eastern end of the WRC up to the railway just before Christmas.
Steeping River Community Update
November 2020
Steeping Steering Group Chair Robert Caudwell, centre, is with local councillors from the partnership, Joe Taylor and Wendy Bowkett, near Bycroft’s Bridge.
Water levels were lowered 150mm to allow the dredger to get underneath
bridges - they were lowered a further 150mm at the end of October to
normal winter retention level. Towards the end of November the river will
be further lowered below normal winter retention to allow the dredger to
pass under the lowest bridge on the river.
A second lagoon – Lagoon A – on the map is almost finished. This is
where the dredged mixture of silt and water will be pumped into for the
work on the lower part of the WRC and Steeping River.
At the end of this first phase the dredger will return to Holland. A slightly
smaller dredger will return next year to finish the section shown in orange
on the map on the WRC upstream of Lenton’s Bridge.
Targeted dredging to remove silt forms part of the Steeping Catchment
Action Plan that was launched in April. Partners concluded it is part of the
answer to reduce flood risk alongside other actions across four themes:
improving flow through the system, resilient community and infrastructure,
strengthening and maintaining defences and flood water storage
(including natural flood risk management).
The Catchment Action Plan can be see online here, along with previous
community updates www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/flood2019
© Ordnance Survey
Additional activity to reduce flood risk
Reducing bank erosion: Plans for ‘toe protection’ work – to help protect the bottom of the embankment near the waterline from erosion – are at final design stage. Stone in bags will be used where there is most erosion. Coir rolls (see photo below) and timber hurdles will also be used to add more long term protection and prevent future erosion. Work on site is scheduled to start in
January on:
o the left hand bank of the WRC between Thorpe Culvert Railway and Spilsby Road (plus bank repairs just upstream from Spilsby Road), and
o the left hand bank of the Steeping River
between Crow’s Bridge and Salem Bridge.
Raising low spots: Repairs on both banks of Lady Wath’s Beck, between the old railway bridge and the outfall, to fix a small slippage and raise the defences are due to take place before the end of November.
Reducing burrowing animal activity: Mesh barriers have been installed in several locations including downstream of Croft pumping station to prevent burrowing animals digging into the river bank where they could weaken the defences. A number of setts have been closed under Natural England licence.
This family of ducks is seen regularly accompanying the dredger on its journey!
***Thank you for staying away from dredging locations and letting staff progress their activity as well as helping your community to combat Covid-19***
Contact us
Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board: 01507 328095 enquiries@lmdb.co.uk @wmcidb Environment Agency: 03708 506 506 LNenquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk To report an incident please call (24-hour service) 0800 80 70 60 Floodline: 0345 988 1188 @EnvAgencyMids