Guidance

Anglian waterways: river conditions, closures and restrictions

Strong stream advice, river conditions, reach closures and restrictions affecting boaters on Anglian waterways.

Applies to England

Strong Stream Advice

The Environment Agency issues Strong Stream Advice (SSA) to inform river users when river levels are increasing and when locks are being prepared to discharge flood water. Notice boards, flags and lights are displayed prominently on riverbanks to inform boaters of the status of the river and red flags are also raised at several boat clubs. Environment Agency currently issue SSA on the River Ancholme, River Nene and River Great Ouse (Bedford Ouse).

Keep up to date

You can find out if SSA has been issued by calling our 24 hour SSA hotline: 0345 988 1188 or 0845 988 1188. Choose option 1 and listen to the pre-recorded information followed by one of these quick dial codes:

  • Nene: 032112
  • Great Ouse - Bedford to St Ives: 033211
  • Great Ouse - St Ives to Earith: 033212
  • Ancholme: 031212

Find out about call charges.

You can be added to our free Strong Stream Advice (SSA) messaging system. You will receive a voice message on your mobile phone and/or landline. The messages can be sent at any time of day or night.

You can also receive text and email messages. To register for SSA messages call us on 020302 55068 or email WaterwaysSSAAnglian@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Find more details about improvements to our SSA system including our River Great Ouse SSA system in our Strong Stream Advice - River information for boaters update Oct 2014 (PDF, 242 KB, 1 page).

River closures and restrictions

We also offer an online shared calendar that provides up to date information on river conditions for boating on Anglian Waterways. This and our other river calendars can be accessed on our Northampton Marina website via http://www.northamptonmarina.co.uk/navigation-works-calendar. Although this shouldn’t be a replacement for registering your details with us to receive river advice for boaters, you may find it useful and you can refer back to it regularly and create a subscription to get notifications sent in a way that you want, when you want.

Contact

For more information email WaterwaysAnglian@environment-agency.gov.uk or call our National Customer Call Centre on 03708 506 506.

Find out about call charges.

Updates to this page

Published 1 April 2014
Last updated 13 November 2017 + show all updates
  1. Updated quick dial codes for the Great Ouse.

  2. Closure and restriction information presented in different format to improve user experience.

  3. 3 notices for Great Ouse added - Denver Lock, Brownshill Lock and Cardington Lock.

  4. Navigation notices for the River Nene updated.

  5. Lock closure for Water Newton added.

  6. New notice added for Water Newton Lock. Work on Warmington Lock and Perio Lock cancelled.

  7. New notice added

  8. New notices addded.

  9. New notices been added to the River Nene.

  10. New notices added and updated.

  11. updated two notices

  12. Updated with new information.

  13. New information added

  14. Old notices removed.

  15. New notices added.

  16. New notice added and some notices ammended

  17. New information added and some information updated.

  18. Added new restrictions for River Nene.

  19. Additional restriction added for the Ouse for 18 September onwards.

  20. Notices added for River Glen and Great Ouse.

  21. Change to River Nene restriction, 15 September 2015.

  22. Information added under Ouse - repair works taking place on the Canoe Portage located upstream of Castle Mills Lock.

  23. New notices have been added and some notices removed.

  24. Removed older notices.

  25. New notices added as well as some updates.

  26. Have added 2 new notices.

  27. New notices added and old notices removed.

  28. New notices added and out of date notices removed

  29. New notice added.

  30. New notices added and some removed.

  31. New information has been added to St Neots lock notice.

  32. Notice removed

  33. New notice added.

  34. New information added.

  35. New information added.

  36. New updates added and old notice updated.

  37. Added new updates and ammend some content.

  38. Closure notice for River Welland added.

  39. Update to Peterborough Embankment, River Nene.

  40. Peterborough pump out now back in operation.

  41. updated email link

  42. notices removed

  43. Restrictions updated

  44. Updates to closures and restrictions

  45. Removed old notice.

  46. New notices added.

  47. Lock closure on the Nene added.

  48. Denver Lock closure

  49. New information added and some notices updated.

  50. opening dates for Hermitage lock and Denver lock

  51. Update to Denford Lock closure.

  52. Old notices removed.

  53. New notices added nd some updated

  54. New notices added.

  55. New notices have been added and some updated.

  56. New closures and restrictions added.

  57. Denver Lock, relief channel lock and pump - power off at denver on 22 August has been cancelled.

  58. Restriction on the Great Ouse, Earith Sluice, now removed.

  59. Sunken boat removed on Great Ouse, therefore notice removed. New restriction for 13 July 2014 on the Great Ouse added.

  60. New notice added.

  61. New notices added.

  62. New and ammend notices.

  63. Update to closures and restrictions for River Nene and the Great Ouse.

  64. Strong Stream Advice has been issued for the River Nene.

  65. This page was updated on 24 April 2014 11.20am.

  66. Additional restrictions for the Great Ouse.

  67. First published.

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