We acknowledge that a number of boaters are having issues navigating along Well Creek at Nordelph and apologise for any inconvenience within their journey. However, we do not consider the Well Creek as non-navigable as per the Well Creek Trust’s Facebook post, therefore we currently do not propose to close navigation.
Since the downstream gates were re-installed at Marmont Priory Lock and the Environment Agency desilted the tidal river at Salters Lode Lock, there have been many boaters making trips and we have been supporting, where possible, boaters who have had issues. Navigation may be challenging, and boaters should navigate with caution at their own risk. We suggest that boaters planning to navigate this stretch make contact and take advice from our Navigation Officer or Lock keepers.

Since 2015 there have been seven phases of desilting of the Well Creek undertaken and there are the three most complex to deliver sections remaining, including the section through Nordelph.

We currently do not have budget to address the remaining sections, as use of our limited funds must be prioritised taking account of the deteriorating condition of many of our sets of lock gates that also require replacement.

We are not currently eligible for government funding for our navigation works.

We are developing our capital programme and further desilting of Well Creek is an important component of this,
however we will likely need third party funding for any works, especially if works are to be accelerated.

Through Nordelph the cott weed is a particular problem, in part because of the lack of water depth, and not helped this year by the relatively warm spring. We had a weed-boat in the water starting to tackle the issue last week (wc 21/04/2025) however it quickly became apparent that the scale and weight of cott this year will likely overwhelm the capability of our plant and equipment on this stretch. With urgency we are therefore reviewing our approach and developing a land/road-based method of weed management for this section of Well Creek. This may require bespoke permits that could take time to secure, it will also be more costly and likely more disruptive to the local community.
In terms of the sunken vessel at the shop’s mooring in Upwell, this has indeed come loose and is now causing more of a hazard. We plan to remove the vessel as soon as practical.

Well Creek is a fantastic waterway that adds so much value to the local community and provides an important link route regionally and nationally, however there are multiple and often competing interests to balance in managing and maintaining the banks, channels, natural environment and village aesthetics.
Frequent boat traffic plays a crucial role in helping to manage weed and keeping our navigations open. It is important that collectively we ‘talk up’ the wonderful Well Creek and have balance to reduce the risk of being counterproductive in what we trust is a shared objective to ensure a thriving Well Creek.

Paul Burrows, Chief Executive

In September 2023, we commenced a trial to test if and how manual intervention could result in more efficient and effective operation of St Germans pumping station. The trial will continue through the 2024/25 ‘pumping season’.

We are hoping the second winter of the trial will be closer to a ‘normal winter’ so we can broaden and deepen our learning. We will consider the results and learning from the trial in 2025 before making any decisions on any permanent changes to our operations. This briefing explains the background and context for a pumping operations trial.

The Middle Level Commissioners are responsible for the regulation on the Middle Level navigable waterways as outlined in Schedule One of the Middle Level Act (2018). This includes within marinas connected to our navigable waterways.

Regulation and enforcement are a necessary part of our role as a navigation authority and this includes for the power to remove vessels from our waterways which are unregistered, sunk, stranded, abandoned or left/moored without lawful authority.

We see removal as a last resort when dealing with unregistered vessels. Whenever possible we will work with the owners of vessels to bring them into compliance, ensuring they meet the requirements for registration which, to help ensure the safety of all who use the waterways, includes boat safety certification and insurance.

Registration income is essential for the maintenance and improvements of the navigation services we provide on our waterways. Not paying a licence fee or defaulting on payments directly affects the service we are able to provide, impacting fellow vessel owners.

The cost of removing vessels is considerable and in our experience so far rarely recoverable from absent and/or unknown owners. This is a financial burden within our navigation account that reduces our ability to deliver other navigation services and improvements.

The first version of our boat removal protocol was published on 16th October 2020 and the second version is an update based on experience and learning.

The updated protocol is available here. We would value any comments and feedback on the updated protocol before we finalise it. Please provide feedback within an email titled ‘MLC Boat removal protocol version 2; Feedback’ to admin@middlelevel.gov.uk by 24th May 2024.