A watercourse is the channel that a flowing body of water follows. These include rivers, streams, anabranches and canals.

We manage our watercourses in two ways: routine control and maintenance activities, including use of our legal powers and responsibilities, and strategic drainage activities.

Please refer to The Environment Agency for more information on watercourse management.

Routine control and maintenance activities

Routine maintenance and upkeep of watercourses is the responsibility of riparian owners (someone who owns land which is adjacent to a watercourse or land which has a watercourse running through or underneath it).

To maintain watercourses which the council are historically responsible for our open spaces service provider idverde, de-silt and maintain watercourses as required. A schedule with frequent updates on the work already completed to watercourses can be found below:

The Environment Agency manages and polices the following main rivers, also undertaking its own clearance and maintenance activities:

  • Barkby Brook, Black Brook, Burleigh Brook, Fishpool Brook, Grammar School Brook, Moat Brook, Poultney Brook, Queniborough Brook, Rearsby Brook, River Soar, River Wreake, Rothley Brook, Shortcliffe Brook, Sileby Brook, Thrussington Dyke, Willow Brook, Woodbrooke.

River Soar and Grand Union canal strategy

The River Soar and Grand Union canal corridor surrounds the districts of Charnwood, Blaby, Oadby and Wigston, as well as running through the centre of the city of Leicester.

The water provides an important link between the urban environments and rural Leicestershire, providing an element of green space as well as functioning as an access route between the differing areas.

The emerging strategy provides an assessment of the current position, issues and future opportunities for River Soar and Grand Union Canal, recommending a series of short to medium term actions to secure a successful long-term future.

Strategic drainage activities

We carry out specific projects to protect areas that have been identified as being particularly prone to flooding.

Each project is subject to a practicality study which, if it meets certain criteria, will lead to full project appraisal. This will identify a cost effective solution that can be progressed to an acceptable flood alleviation scheme.

Last updated: Mon 2nd December, 2019 @ 09:41