Welcome to the Bude Canal and Harbour Engagement Platform

As mentioned in earlier articles on this platform, dredging the Bude canal is not a straightforward operation. To cope with some of the complexities of the site we have divided up the dredging into zones where different methods can be applied. One of the simplest sections to dredge is near the start of the canal at Whalesborough and we are really pleased that we are now in a position to go ahead with silt removal in the section of the canal adjacent to the field known a Whalesborogh Ham. Here an excavator can access the embankment beside the canal, and there is available space to deposit arising alongside the embankment. This is the method most similar to how the canal would have traditionally been dredged, but is not possible along its entire length due to lack of available land, bank instability and the ecology of certain stretches.

Pending some final confirmation of equipment and labour availability we may be ready to undertake desilting in this zone as soon as w/c 7th November, or shortly afterwards. Land users affected by the proposal have already been engaged and this activity should not impact on any section of the publicly accessible paths.

The Bude Valley Volunteers help to manage many of the important green and blue spaces around Bude. They get involved with a wide range of tasks from coppicing willow and pulling invasive Himalayan Balsam to digging-in old Christmas trees and planting marram grass to restore the sand dunes at Widemouth Bay. They also undertake nature-walks and contribute recordings to the Cornwall Wildlife Trusts species data records.

If you would be interested in joining some of the working parties or nature-recording walks, please, please visit: bude valley volunteers (bude-area.co.uk) and complete an application form.

Cornwall Council has been developing a dredging programme for the canal in response to community and stakeholder demand for some time, and coming days will see a turning point for the proposals if the scheme is successful in its funding bid to the South West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee: South West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The canal receives high levels of silt input, particularly during times of flood, when the canal is opened to act a pressure value reliving the Lower Neet of flood waters. The catchments of the Start and Neet, which terminate in the canal, are flashy, changing rapidly at times of high rainfall, during which overland flow and energetic rivers have the power to erode exposed surface soil and river banks, bringing particles along in suspension until energy disperses across the wider reach of the canal and therefore settle out of the water column, building up on the bed of the canal.

Due to constraints around protected sites, invasive non-native zebra mussels and lack of available space canal-side, the de-silting operation is complex and brings with it a significant price-tag, but with the benefit of being highly effective and environmentally friendly. In the lower reaches the proposal is to deploy a Cornish developed and patented cutter-head technology, which encapsulates sediment in housed apparatus within which the invasive zebra mussel can die-off before onward transport to a suitable receptor site. This technology, delivered by a Cornish firm, has had no evidence of dredging operations recorded just 3 meters from the dredging point in lab and real-world trials.

The planned dredging programme aims to reinstate the desired depths for a navigable channel throughout the lower reaches, from the harbour to Rodd's lock. prior works will also excavate silt at Whalesborough so that the source of silt supply is reduced. Doing this will safeguard the canal for current users and future generations, a ambition that is in the spotlight following the temporary closure of the canal this year.

The dredging proposal also has relevance to climate change impacts, with an increase in periods of drought increasingly likely in the future. A silted-up canal will carry a shallower depth of water and therefore dry more rapidly posing an increased a risk of aquatic habitat loss as a result. With a full-scale fish rescue being only narrowly avoided this year, we can see this as evidence that steps, including dredging, should be taken now to avoid similar, or worse, events.

If you would like to find out more about our dredging proposals, please see the presentations in our documents bar.

We are delighted to share Hilary's Story; a contribution to Bude Climate Partnership's Our Bude, Our Stories initiative from Hilary Philip's, a keen member of the Bude Valley Management Advisory Group, that helps inform and guide management of the canal harbour and Local Nature Reserve.

In a short film, Hilary talks about the need to strike a fine balance between the use of the environment by people and the needs of nature for space, highlighting that climate change presents a particular problem that has brought this sometime troublesome interrelationship into sharp focus - just like the lens on her camera that has provided the frame for her exploration of Bude's habitats and the detail required to deeply understand the precious habitat that exists beneath every footstep.

To see Hilary's story, and learn more about what you can do to care for nature either out and about, or whilst at home, visit: Hilary's Story | Bude Climate

Many of you will be aware that all water-based activities on the canal were temporarily suspended on 19th August due to low water levels.

We are pleased that we have now been able to prepare an area for safe launching.

The area is located in the upper recreational zone and is clearly signed on site.

It is important that launching on the east bank only takes place from the designated area. Barriers remain in place cordoning off areas where access over the banks remains prohibited.

For further details about the types of activities available please visit: Visit Bude Canal | Things to do in Bude | Visit Bude

Or see our activity providers list.

Saturday 30^th April saw the first successful lock out of the season with local boat “Chug Chug” and yachts “Tina Maria” and “Mistral” leaving Bude destined for Plymouth and Mylor harbours respectively.

The middle of May saw exceptionally large swells large enough to top the inner gates resulting in the metal storm bars having to be re-instated. This inevitably deposited a large amount of sand into the lock chamber preventing the outer gates from being closed again. With normal sluicing methods unsuccessful, we had to resort to dive contractors clearing the sand manually with high power hydrant pumps to get operational again.

The 4th July saw our second lock movement locking in visiting yacht “Judo” a traditional Cornish Shrimper, and locking out local fishing boat “Mantis”. After a short stay, “Judo” locked out again on the following Wednesday returning to Padstow.

These, sadly due to our exceptionally hot summer and drought conditions, were the only lock operations of the year.

With water levels dropping to a record low, due to the national drought conditions, yet again the lock chamber has sanded up rendering the lock unusable. This has resulted in the necessary decision to fit the storm chains etc early, to prevent damage, shutting the lock down for the year. Because of this, the next Lock movement is expected May 2023.

The full autumn 2022 update for Bude harbour can be found at: Bude Harbour Autumn Update 2022 - Cornwall Harbours

For full updates relating to the Sea Lock and Bude Harbour, please visit: Bude - Cornwall Harbours

2022 has seen the driest summer in 50 years, with a drought covering Cornwall, along with much of the rest of England, officially declared on 12^th August. Prior to this, water levels in the Neet had been particularly low, resulting in no abstraction into the canal being possible from late June to early September. EA data showed rainfall totals for August ranged from 12% of the long-term average in north east England to a shocking 0% for us in the in southeast and south west of England.

In response to the drought conditions, and possible catastrophic impact on aquatic life in the canal, Cornwall Council worked with the Environment Agency and South West Water to develop a response strategy, including provision for a fish rescue. Fortunately, rain was forthcoming in early September and a fish rescue was not needed. Nonetheless, in recognition that drought conditions are an increasingly likely consequence of climate change the partnership will evaluate its response to the 2022 event and continue to develop a plan to help avoid such low water levels in the canal in future.

Due to the impact of the drought on the canal banks, particularly in the upper basin used by water-based activity providers, the canal remained closed to users due to safety concerns until a temporary launch area was opened on 23rd September.

The Bude Canal is an integral part of Bude - It is central to the identity of the town and is an amenity resource that contributes to the quality of life and well-being of a broad spectrum of the local population. The canal also plays a role in the strategic flood response for Bude, acting as a pressure value relieving the River Neet of flood water, and the Bude Canal and Marshes was the first site in Cornwall to designated as a Local Nature Reserve, providing habitat for a number of rare species, including successfully reintroduced water voles.

The canal experiences high levels of silt accumulation as sediment particles are transported downstream from the catchment of the Rivers Neet and Strat. These catchments are largely covered with grass-based agriculture and there are good levels of year-round soil cover, nonetheless, soil is particularly vulnerable at times of intense rainfall and the catchment is flashy, meaning that following high rainfall sediment gets rapidly transported by increased flows with little opportunity to settle out before reaching a dead-end in the canal.

A full dredging scheme was last undertaken in 2008 and since then, some excavation of material in the upper sections of the canal has taken place. Nonetheless, these high rates of siltation have meant that water depths in the canal have reduced and a dredging scheme is required to safeguard the canal for people and the environment.

The dredging programme has been in development for some time, with the canal being a site a numerous complexities including that the lower reaches contain invasive non-native zebra mussels meaning that the dredged material must be treated in ways that mitigate against any risk to further spead in the environment. .

Plans began in 2021 when a full bathymetric survey was undertaken to provide a high quality baseline of the volumes of silt involved. A dual frequency single beam bathymetry system was used for accuracy, and an almost silent electric outboard engine helped make sure that the survey didn't disturb wildlife. Find out more about the survey at: Bude Canal Survey — Exo Environmental (exo-env.co.uk)

Since then, Cornwall Council has worked to develop a method that takes account of the constraints associated with the presence of zebra mussels, but also involves alternatively, lower impact, methods where possible. The scheme is being developed in close association with the EA and SWW, including with advice from a zebra mussel specialist whose research into their ecology in the Bude Canal is funded by SWW. To read more about this partnership see: Help protect Bude Canal for future generations (southwestwater.co.uk)