AS I write (October 25) the water level in the River Ouse through York is quite high due to recent heavy rainfall.
Some people have suggested that to alleviate flooding the river should be dredged. I maintain that this will not make the slightest difference.
Above Naburn, the river level will not fall below the level of the weir, below the weir the level is governed largely by the tidal system. If the river bed through York was dredged to a depth of a further 10ft, as fast as any substrate is taken out the hole will fill with water which is continually flowing in from the upper reaches.
Because of the speed at which dredgers work there will be no perceptible difference in water level as the amount of water flowing is greater than the amount taken out by a dredger. QED. If there is any flooding anywhere can I ask reporters to use the correct terminology? Dramatic as it sounds, 99 times out of 100 rivers do not "burst their banks" they merely overflow.
J Rogers,
Northfield,
Updated: 09:28 Thursday, October 27, 2005
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