In December 2021 and January 2022 there were an unprecedented number of fish deaths on a localised stretch of the Canal & River Trust’s Aire & Calder navigation at Knottingley.
An investigation, led by the Trust’s environmental and fisheries teams, with the assistance of local freight operators, involved analysing silt and water samples taken from several locations along the navigation during pre-arranged freight barge passages.
March 2022 saw the waterway open to freight traffic again following an intensified dredging programme and a request that freight operators travel at slower than normal speeds through this stretch to minimise the risk to fish.
Canal & River Trust continue to monitor the situation carefully and respond quickly should there be any further problems reported.
To find out more see: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/news/freight-barges-to-resume-service-on-aire-and-calder-navigation
See also https://northsearegion.eu/iwts20
