Background

The South Forty Foot Drain, also known as the Black Sluice Navigation, is the main channel for the land drainage of the Black Sluice Level in the Lincolnshire Fens.  With accumulation of silt in this channel over time the Black Sluice IDB felt to make the channel navigable, manage water levels and mitigate flood risk a weed removal and dredging programme would be required.

Scope of Works

8 kilometres of weed removal was required in advance of a cutter suction dredging programme.

Solution

WM Plant Hire supplied CAT 45 tonne 22m long reach machine fitted with specialist weed rake attachments as well as a walking batemag excavator that could walk in the channel and pass weeds back to the long reach where bank stability was an issue or where there were physical access constraints.  This methodology proved most effective ensuring works were completed on programme.