RJS1977 Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Don't rivers enjoy straightening themselves? Isn't that why last century's meanders become this century's oxbow lake? No, over time the bends on the river become more exaggerated (through erosion on the outside of the bend and deposition on the inside). Eventually, however, erosion connects two adjacent meanders, allowing the water to take a short cut, with the now by-passed section of river becoming the oxbow lake. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge Dread Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Don't rivers enjoy straightening themselves? Isn't that why last century's meanders become this century's oxbow lake? They did when I was at school, I do remember "oxbow lakes", not much else but certainly "oxbow lakes"!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted March 16, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 16, 2014 Our geography master was delighted to watch the gradual creation of an oxbow lake on his daily train journey to skool. This was the River Mole, just north of Boxhill station, back in the '60s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted March 21, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 21, 2014 The Thames is already a series of big bends - which curve round its various flood plains - and when it rises sufficiently the flood plains take the excess water. If they're not there to do that it simply means that more water heads downstream to find the next bit of floodplain. At present there are considerable areas around Oxford which flood and absorb and slow down the flood water but it still builds up downstream. If those areas don't flood the water has t go somewhere else and it will find the easiest route. What has happened near here is that water from the flooding has remained, thus far, in various old ditches and channels which 'cut the corner' in various places and which will grow if they get some help when the real seasonal floods arrive (although I doubt there will be much of that this spring) as the river is now dropping fast. On a TV programme last night about the flooding a meeting of Wraysbury residents was shown who were calling for new 'straight flood channel' to by-pass the village. Wouldn't such a thing become someone else's problem? On another part of the programme the amazing voluntary help for the clean up of farms and properties was shown. People from all over were there helping. It begs the question, why aren't the military involved in helping? There are hundreds of marines based down the road in Taunton. I recall that after all the late 'political' visits at the worst of the floods a couple of military appeared, assessed a flooded road and went away again, yet in Wraysbury they were very much in evidence within a couple of days. Even in the Thames Valley areas affected, their help could be deployed with the clear up for ordinary people.many who can't afford insurance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted March 21, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 21, 2014 Line speed now applies on the Down line over the Somerset Levels, with the 30 mph restriction on the Up line through the area that had been flooded now raised to 50 mph. A temporary signalling solution to avoid stopping at one signal in each direction and being cautioned past is being developed for early installation, pending full renewals of the damaged equipment thereafter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiderHead Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 On a TV programme last night about the flooding a meeting of Wraysbury residents was shown who were calling for new 'straight flood channel' to by-pass the village. Wouldn't such a thing become someone else's problem? Exactly. Same with the dredging calls - all it does is creates problems for those further downstream, and quicker. As for the Forces, they have been helping with things they have specialist expertise in. They are professionals and I wouldnt want to see them have to don a pair of marigolds. It strikes me as the kind of work which would be good for Back to Work schemes (or whatever they are called these days.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiderHead Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Line speed now applies on the Down line over the Somerset Levels, with the 30 mph restriction on the Up line through the area that had been flooded now raised to 50 mph. A temporary signalling solution to avoid stopping at one signal in each direction and being cautioned past is being developed for early installation, pending full renewals of the damaged equipment thereafter. Good news Was much work needed to fix the eroded ballast? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted March 21, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 21, 2014 Good news Was much work needed to fix the eroded ballast? We did a couple of ballast drops with a ballast train, but I don't think it was as bad as initially feared. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted March 21, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 21, 2014 On a TV programme last night about the flooding a meeting of Wraysbury residents was shown who were calling for new 'straight flood channel' to by-pass the village. Wouldn't such a thing become someone else's problem? On another part of the programme the amazing voluntary help for the clean up of farms and properties was shown. People from all over were there helping. It begs the question, why aren't the military involved in helping? There are hundreds of marines based down the road in Taunton. I recall that after all the late 'political' visits at the worst of the floods a couple of military appeared, assessed a flooded road and went away again, yet in Wraysbury they were very much in evidence within a couple of days. Even in the Thames Valley areas affected, their help could be deployed with the clear up for ordinary people.many who can't afford insurance. As I understand things the situation with military assistance is quite straightforward - it is up to the local authority to request it although things might be slightly different if rescue resources are required (is that down to the emergency services requesting help?). Anything else should be covered by the relevant local authority emergency plan but I get the impression that some of those might have been less than adequate when tested by the recent floods in the lower part of thames Valley where at least one Chief Executive was reported as not understanding that it was up to him to call in the military to help and not something which happened by magic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted March 21, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 21, 2014 Exactly. Same with the dredging calls - all it does is creates problems for those further downstream, and quicker. As for the Forces, they have been helping with things they have specialist expertise in. They are professionals and I wouldnt want to see them have to don a pair of marigolds. It strikes me as the kind of work which would be good for Back to Work schemes (or whatever they are called these days.) It would also make sense to use those that are sentenced to do community service, suitably supervised. SS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkie_pudd Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 It would also make sense to use those that are sentenced to do community service, suitably supervised. SS well it has been said in recent years fetch the old chain gang work back and I`d support that for this type of community help / restoration etc. which would also retrain them for said drainage work or other stuff for future employment once released etc. would be a win / win all round like all the debris that has been deposited on the levels by the floods help clear it. There again in todays modern civilized world that's problem too much common sense and against human rights Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 well it has been said in recent years fetch the old chain gang work back and I`d support that for this type of community help / restoration etc. which would also retrain them for said drainage work or other stuff for future employment once released etc. would be a win / win all round like all the debris that has been deposited on the levels by the floods help clear it. There again in todays modern civilized world that's problem too much common sense and against human rights There are plenty of Community Service Orders being given out; the problem is finding supervisors for them, which costs money that apparently isn't available. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium brushman47544 Posted March 21, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 21, 2014 Our geography master was delighted to watch the gradual creation of an oxbow lake on his daily train journey to skool. This was the River Mole, just north of Boxhill station, back in the '60s. I remember watching that happen too. Wonder what it's like now... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkie_pudd Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 There are plenty of Community Service Orders being given out; the problem is finding supervisors for them, which costs money that apparently isn't available. so very true till government plucks it out of the blue for their own ideas........ mind you as a friend said shame they didn't turn the flooding into coffee I`d have drunk it dry in 2/3 days.... dunno what she was implying lol a few tankers of milk and vga`s of sugar and I`m sorted .... slurp slurp Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted March 30, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 30, 2014 I've recently been sent compelling evidence that the railway between Cogload and Bridgwater may have flooded in the past: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ian Smeeton Posted March 30, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 30, 2014 Remains of Oxbow lake on the river Mole courtesy Google Maps https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=box+hill+station&ie=UTF-8&ei=JYM4U-bjOZOUhQef6YGIAg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ Dry, and now protected by a sluice? Just at the top edge of this image. You need to sift north half the image & zoom a bit, but it is there. Regards Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
talisman56 Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Remains of Oxbow lake on the river Mole courtesy Google Maps https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=box+hill+station&ie=UTF-8&ei=JYM4U-bjOZOUhQef6YGIAg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ Dry, and now protected by a sluice? Just at the top edge of this image. You need to sift north half the image & zoom a bit, but it is there. Regards Ian From the steps cut into the bank either side I'd say someone's put a couple of 6" by 2" planks in for a bridge... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coombe Barton Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Dredging to begin on the Levels http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-26808840 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymw Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Hi, Three interesting photos here - the first two showing the build up of silt (the second date should be 2013), the third what then happened. http://micksmuses.com/category/somerset-journal/ Best wishes, Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted April 2, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 2, 2014 Surprise, surprise..... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/flooding/10737778/Environment-Agency-loses-taxpayers-money-on-river-dredging-equipment-hire-to-replace-gear-it-sold.html This sale of equipment was criticised back at the very beginning of the crisis in an interview with Micheal Eavis. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25975708 I will always remember the unbelievably arrogant response on one of our regional TV programmes from an EA senior manager, who dismissed the idea that dredging would not have helped and that the EA knew better than the locals. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted April 2, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 2, 2014 I've recently been sent compelling evidence that the railway between Cogload and Bridgwater may have flooded in the past: 1875 flooding at Durston_01.jpg Hi CK Is that a paddle steamer? I only ask cos I far to young to remember such things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flubrush Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Surprise, surprise..... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/flooding/10737778/Environment-Agency-loses-taxpayers-money-on-river-dredging-equipment-hire-to-replace-gear-it-sold.html This sale of equipment was criticised back at the very beginning of the crisis in an interview with Micheal Eavis. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25975708 I will always remember the unbelievably arrogant response on one of our regional TV programmes from an EA senior manager, who dismissed the idea that dredging would not have helped and that the EA knew better than the locals. "The Environment Agency spent more than £800,000 hiring equipment to dredge swollen rivers after it sold off its own machines for just £230,000." So what? What the EA got for selling off (possibly old) machinery and the hire costs for equipment to be used in place bear no real relationship to each other. What should have been compared was the costs of running the EA equipment, and its maintenance and replacement, and I suspect that these costs may have been closer to £800,000 per annum. And there is always the possibility that the EA's original equipment was only provisioned to cope with a regular workload and that the hire of additional equipment was required in any case to cover anything else. It would be extremely unlikely that the EA would staff and equip to cope with a hundred year event every year. "A letter seen by the Telegraph from an Environment Agency employee...... The letter says: “As with every decision our directors make there was no back-up plan or contingency plan so it was chaos for many months and this was a contributing factor to the recent flooding I am sure.”" No note of who that employee might be and his/her credentials for commenting on the management and making the statement about a "contributing factor" - it could have been someone in the mail room who saw the letter. I used to work in a large public organisation many years ago and we used to call this kind of story "canteen table comment". It's pretty poor journalism. Jim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted April 2, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 2, 2014 It's pretty poor journalism. But it is what people want to read. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 It's pretty poor journalism. What do we expect - written by some ignorant member of the press in words that only are designed to inflame the ideas of the ignorant masses. Nothing ever based on fact, unless the facts can be distorted to satisfy some agenda or propaganda. This time a case of pandering to those that believe that "it's the government's fault", "all this could be prevented by spending more money", ... Ignorant in this case of basic economics and even simple accounting principles. The masses rarely question what they read or hear and never seek out the motives behind the editorial selection of selective "news". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiderHead Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 I recently had to investigate one of these Telegraph online articles. There were 6 facts presented in the article, 3 of which were completely false (2 of which could have been checked in 5mins on the Companies House website). The editorial slant of the article was in contradiction with even the correct facts presented by the author, and the title of the article bore no relation to the facts or editorial content. The author was not a full-time journalist but a nurse (the article was not related in any way to nursing or the medical profession.) Having the Telegraph banner at the top of these articles implies that they are all written by professional journalists working under direct editorial control with proper fact-checking and all the other processes we associate with traditional journalism. This is very far from the case. I'd suggest treating them as you would a blog entry by someone you've never heard of. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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