Walton Backwaters

[pks1702]

Might be interesting this year!

Better go and have a look

From another place

The entrance to the Walton Backwaters in Essex is closing due to shifting shingle.

Described as a 'jewel in the crown' by locals, the charted depth of 1.9m in the channel leading to Titchmarch Marina is said to have fallen way below that figure. Last year the Community and Conservation Trust voiced concerns about the build up around Stone Point, which will block access to all but the smallest boats.

The trust is applying for planning permission to dredge the river around Stone Point. A statement from the trust said, "The plan is quite simple; to dig up the offending material at Stone Point and tip it back along the beach towards the Naze - all under strict compliance, control and monitoring."

There was a huge shift last year meaning you had to be between the can and the beach the width at this point was not enough for two boats to pass at anything other than HW and even then it was tight. I have heard of running along the beach but you literally were within 20 yards.

[wayneakp]

Hope that does get (sensitivly) dregged - a great spot to visit. Going in between the can and the beach was a little worrying though!

[pks1702]

I hope so too it is a great place for visiting boats.

[mbird]

Yes, it did look as though you were going to run straight up the beach when following the channel!

[Antares_9]

OH no, so back to wading (or possibly paddling) in front of the boats with a stick again then.

Quite a disappointment as it will mean missing the delights and excellent service of the Harbour Lights carvery.

[MY littleboat]

Look Mark... yopur boat has little sticky feet poking out of the bottom on your pic - you can use those to tiptoe through!

At least you can still get into the amazing Hamford Water and anchor, although last year the 'can and the beach' looked pretty close!

Alot more material out there than just the YBW piece. A bit more for you to ponder:

A CCT spokesman said; “Three major investment programmes are focused around Walton’s Mill Lane and to lose this historic waterway would literally be a disaster for the local economy.

“Despite the many cuts and changes taking place in government and public sector offices, CCT has received 110% support from all the officials we have been dealing with.

“Once we have planning approval we can get on with the task of pulling funding in to pay for delivery.â€

However, in an opposing statement, Chris Brooke, Chaiman of Walton’s fairways committee said to a local newspaper, “What they want to do is fine in principle and I don’t object to them dredging it up,†he said. “But they are scare mongering.

“There is erosion on the beach and more sand there would be advantageous, but this isn’t a life or death situation. It’s not a problem at present and many do not see it being a problem in the immediate future.

“There is plenty of water running down the backwaters keeping the channel clear. This is bad publicity and could negatively effect the marinas and visitors.â€

[senator]

It was close to the beech but there was still plenty of depth, can you really see them letting it silt up with the amount of boats in Titchmarsh?

Could be more of a problem if you have a lump of lead hanging underneath though.

[pks1702]

Yes there was still plenty of depth but it will be interesting to see what this year reveals.

Hamford has always been our first choice.

[pks1702]

Yes there was still plenty of depth but it will be interesting to see what this year reveals.

Hamford has always been our first choice.

Perhaps I should offer to map it

[Antares_9]

I am mapping it Perry, capturing all the position and depth data every five seconds each time we go out for upload to the hydrographic experiment site along with quite a number of others. When the project is finished it should provide some really accurate info, on an on going basis too.

[pks1702]

I am mapping it Perry

I had forgotten that

[Guest]

Good to hear that our passage planning system of "follow Kingfisher" is still reliable.

Phil and Carron

[pks1702]

Update from ECP

Walton Channel Warning (11th Mar 2012)

Significant shallowing of the channel near Stone Point at the entrance to the Walton Channel has been reported, together with increased tidal stream rates.

Alec Moss, Walton Backwaters Honorary Port Pilot for East Coast Pilot, has sent us the following description and advice for safe navigation:

- Shingle is accumulating at the NW corner of Stone Point and is narrowing the buoyed channel where depths are significantly less than those shown on the latest charts. Tidal streams in the area are now running in excess of 4kn at times with strong back eddies in the shallows.

- Be very cautious of shoaling between No 9 starboard hand buoy (NW of Stone Pt) and No 16 port hand buoy (W of Stone Pt).

- When transiting the section of channel between Nos 9 and 11, vessels should do so in single file, giving priority to those with the tide under them, because they will have reduced steerage ability.

- Boat skippers wishing to anchor near Stone Pt are advised to do so clear of the fairway and the influence of strong currents and back eddies in the area between Nos 9 and 11 starboard hand buoys.

[mbird]

We are hoping to visit there again in the summer, so will have to keep a close eye on this one

[pks1702]

Press Release

ACCESS TO THE WALTON BACKWATERS

The sands that configure the coastline on the area of the access to the Walton Backwaters have always been changing and this is an ongoing process. Twelve years ago there was a recharge of sand from dredgings on to the north end of Stone Point which was transported south to protect the beaches towards the Naze.

This sand has now drifted to the north and extended Stone Point.

Subsequently the channel has narrowed and deepened and now there is a proposal by a private organisation to move some of the sand back south to again protect the marsh and beach.

The sand may have altered but has not affected the access to the Backwaters and is unlikely to do so in the immediate future and there is just as much water as before. The Fairways Committee which leases the mooring rights to the area from the Crown Commissioners and the Walton and Frinton Yacht Club which maintains the buoyage in the channel continually monitor the area and currently are aware of no silting inhibiting the navigation to the area.

The coxswain of the Walton Lifeboat confirms that the channel has narrowed but there has been no change in the depth.

The Walton Backwaters are open for business as usual and welcome visitors from far and wide.

From what I can see there has been a narrowing of the channel but there appears no problem with access

[pks1702]

Latest Advice

Courtesy of ECP

Walton Channel

Shingle is accumulating at the NW corner of Stone Point and is narrowing the buoyed channel where depths are significantly less than those shown on the latest charts. Tidal streams in the area are now running in excess of 4kn at times with strong back eddies in the shallows.

Be very cautious of shoaling between No 9 starboard hand buoy (NW of Stone Pt) and No 16 port hand buoy (W of Stone Pt).

When transiting the section of channel between Nos 9 and 11, vessels should do so in single file, giving priority to those with the tide under them, because they will have reduced steerage ability.

Boat skippers wishing to anchor near Stone Pt are advised to do so clear of the fairway and the influence of strong currents and back eddies in the area between Nos 9 and 11 starboard hand buoys.

[wayneakp]

Thanks Perry

Very useful as the Backwaters is one of our favorite places and we hope to be visiting soon. Be interested as to what "significantly " means

Look forward to David's mapping before we attempt it

regards

Wayne

[pks1702]

Off to Woodbridge this weekend Wayne but due a visit to the Backwater's shortly.

I will try to take a few images and post them when we get round there.

When are you planning to be down?

[pks1702]

We were round here last week and the channel around Stone Point has narrowed quite a bit to the point that if punching the tide out from the Titchmarsh direction it is prudent to hold back and allow vessels with the tide to pass before the narrow dog leg section.

We came around this 2 hours before LW and had 4.5-6ft beneath us.

HHA have completed a survey - http://www.eastcoastsailing.co.uk/Stone ... 260612.pdf

From ECP -

“It confirmed our local observations that there is now a bar extending across from the NW corner of the stone between the No.9 SHB and the No.16 PHB. With a minimum depth of 0.5m at chart datum very close to the No.16 (Plumtree) PHB.

“Extra care should be taken at low water, particularly if two vessels are passing each other on the narrowest 50m track across the bar.

Apologies no photos but all concentration required to keep off the 'putty'.

[mbird]

We're hoping to get there in a couple of weeks, so I think we'll avoid LW.....

[senator]

Think we will be around that neck of the wood from 4th next month so will be interesting to see what chaos has happened in the meantime if we ever get weather that entices a few boats out.

[pks1702]

Some good news

Courtesy of W&FYC

A plough dredger will be working between No 9 and No 11 buoys, the Plumtree buoy No 16 removed, and replaced after 31st July.

The dredger will be in the area 2 hours either side of high water on Monday 30th July and Tuesday 31st July, on the morning tide only.

A guard vessel Limosa will be in attendance, and will be monitoring channel 16.

Issued by W.& F.Y.C.

29th July 2012

[senator]

Had they actually moved the channel buoys Perry, or was it just a case of watch the depth sounder?

I take it now we should be back to the normal narrow bit just off the point?

[pks1702]

Hi Ian,

There was a substantial dog leg coming into Stone Point which saw you heading for the very end of the point and then when 30-50 meters from the point a sharp dog leg to starboard running diagonally across where the old channel was before straightening up as normal. This was still the way of things around 3 weeks ago when we were round there.

My understanding is that the dredging will be carried out between 9 & 11 buoys (the two Greens around Stone Point) 16 (Plumtree) is the Red between these two and I think removed while the dredging takes place just to make it easier. I suspect they will try to 'straighten' the approach to more like that of the 2008 chart http://www.eastcoastrivers.com/wp-conte ... pril08.pdf

But I guess we won't know the exact position until it is completed on or just after 31st July. One thing is for sure it will be a significant improvement and open up both anchoring opportunities and the tidal window to transit the point.