River Booms.

[andyg]

Apologies if this has been covered before. Earlier this week and last,I noticed Herbert Woods deploy a boom across the entrance to there yard from the main river. Can I ask what it's purpose is...again sorry if its a daft question 

[Mouldy]

As I understand it, they raise a barrier when there is a salt surge to prevent it from affecting the fish in their basin.  To me, it seems a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, as the number of fish it saves, by comparison to the number in the rivers, must be minimal.

[Ray]

I think, and I'm no expert, that as the salt water incursion works it's way upstream so do the fish and the basin which seems like a haven becomes a trap as the salt water means they can't get out to keep moving upstream.

No idea how effective it is but presumably it helps. The EA operate it I think.

[andyg]

I assumed it had something to do with fish etc. Its clearly not a flood defence its not big enough. Thanks for the info. There seemed a mad rush to move some boats that were going out on hire before it was closed. That would be an absolute nightmare on a very busy turnaround day.. 

[rightsaidfred]

1 hour ago, Ray said:

I think, and I'm no expert, that as the salt water incursion works it's way upstream so do the fish and the basin which seems like a haven becomes a trap as the salt water means they can't get out to keep moving upstream.

No idea how effective it is but presumably it helps. The EA operate it I think.

A lot of the fish naturally migrate to the boat yards to overwinter apart from being pushed up by a salt surge, that's why the EA have the barrier there for protection.

Fred

[Bernard]

It was installed after several tons of fish were killed after getting trapped by a salt tide, certainly not shutting the door after the horse has bolted.