River dredging to reduce flood risk
Three kilometres of the Old Bedford River is being dredged to reduce its risk of flooding.
The Environment Agency is removing accumulated silts and sediments from the river at Salter’s Lode.
Long reach excavators are being used from both sides of the river to dig out the material which is then placed on the river bank to dry, while 20m of steel sheet piling has also been installed in the crest of the embankment near Lakes Farm Pumping Station to repair a leak in the bank.
The Old Bedford River is 30km long and forms part of the Ouse Washes system, an important storage reservoir for flood waters from the Great Ouse river catchment.