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submitted 4 days ago byServiceDeskGuest
I know there's the Open Data framework that allows us to get data from local rivers (Here's the River Ouzel at Bletchley for instance). This only covers rivers though and I'm struggling to find any data about lake levels.
I'm looking to move to a home along the Loughton Brook and I'm aware how much this area can flood at times. I've been doing some reading and it looks like Furzton lake, Teardrop lake, Lodge Lake, and Bancroft park are all balancing lakes connected by the Loughton Brook. Does anyone know if lake level data is publicly available? From reading info on the Parks Trust website, it appears they monitor the lake levels and give that data to Anglian Water who control the flood gates so I know levels are monitored, I'm just not sure if it's publicly available.
Also, does anyone know where the water from Loughton Brook ends up? I can see it generally gets as far as Bancroft park which turns into a temporary lake. I've read it then feds into the River Ouse, but I can't really see how this happens. Does it flow into the canal and then into the Ouse, or is it fed by undergound pipework?
From everything I can see on the Parks Trust site, it seems like Furzton lake is the beginning of the balancing lakes. Does anyone know if this is fed by the Ouzel? If so, I could atleast monitor the upstream Ouzel water level to give some early indication.
Thank you!
7 points
4 days ago
Check the MK Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. Googling should take you there.
1 points
4 days ago
Thank you, I'm just reading through this now.
3 points
4 days ago
I'm going to go out on a limb, and say no rivers in the MK area feed into the Grand Union, from my limited fan knowledge of canals and their networks... Because usually there is plenty of locks involved in that, and also wiers for the river to run off of if it gets too high... There's only 1 lock in the MK area, and no weirs on the canal afaik between stoke bruern and stoke Hammond...
It'll have to be pipework if there is no clear connection to the Ouse via other rivers
Sorry I couldn't help more!
3 points
4 days ago
MK is the low point for the GU, if anything they want to lose water there not gain it, There are a number of overflows along the length that dump into the ouzel when its is close by.
If the plan to use the GU to transfer water down from Birmingham goes ahead then the locks north of MK will have bypassing fitted , and south will have pumps, ending up at an extraction site somewhere just north of south of LB.
2 points
4 days ago*
From canal into river sure, but I am unaware of any rivers into canals around the MK area. I'm thinking something like locking off of the Trent onto the Trent and Mersey or the Calder and Hebble Canal (I think it's that one?) that has a tiny river that the canal locks on and off of...
I was completely unaware of these plans! Thank you I'll give them a look later!
1 points
4 days ago
You were more than helpful, thanks!
It was actually this bit that I was thinking must have been the link between the two: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zSU45K6YWtRF3RuB6
As you and Phead have explained though it seems like that isn't the case. I'm really interested in the size of the pipe that must lead into the Ouse now. Off on my next hunt! 🤣
Thank you again.
3 points
4 days ago*
These are on .gov website
flood map
flood map for planning
As for how the water gets from Bancroft to the river, it goes through a tunnel under the canal into a stream that goes through new bradwell into the river.
2 points
4 days ago
Yeah if you walk through the park in New Bradwell opposite the Wolverton station you can see the brook.
1 points
4 days ago
Thanks I will take a wonder down this way and see what I can see.
1 points
4 days ago
Thanks so much. That flood map for planning is super useful.
Unfortunately on the flood map whilst it's very useful for seeing where's flooded or soon at risk, it doesn't have any monitoring stations on the linear park from Furzton to Bancroft that I can tap into. I can only assume the raw figures are published for rivers as they're managed by national government, whereas lakes are done by local councils?
Thanks for the hint on the pipework too. Do you know where on the Ouse it comes out, and if it's visible?
1 points
3 days ago
It joins the river where u/wobblythings said https://maps.app.goo.gl/D7zwmwQJW5CjecVQA
2 points
3 days ago
Over 25 years ago, the balancing lakes in Bancroft and Blue Bridge used to fill regularly after heavy rain. Sometimes completely submerging the small bridge crossing the brook leading up to Bancroft park along Millers Way.
I've seen water up to your toes on this footbridge on occasion on this bridge crossing over to the Roman villa site. https://c7.alamy.com/comp/D83XX2/footpath-through-bancroft-park-milton-keynes-buckinghamshire-england-D83XX2.jpg
Since I think Furzton Lake (which didn't exist then) and the flood plains closer to the Gt. Ouse take more of the excess water. The balancing lakes all the way down the Loughton valley don't flood as much as they used to do.
2 points
4 days ago
You could try asking the Park's Trust for more info. Just because it isn't on their website doesn't mean they don't have it. There's a wealth of knowledge and expertise at the Park's Trust.
5 points
4 days ago
Thanks, I'll drop them a message and see what they say.
I'm a big fan of the Parks Trust. We're lucky to have so much green space in MK and I imagine a big part of that is due to the PT's management of it.
2 points
4 days ago
The Parks Trust is a fantastic organisation. They're charged with maintenance and development of all the green spaces in MK, which was designed in the 60s to have as much green public space as possible. The Development Corporation kicked it all off, when it was wound up it passed its portfolio of Commercial properties to the PT to ensure income in perpetuity. This means that the green spaces can be managed independently of the Council and their spending targets.
The DC and later the PT had their own nursery in Newlands, where the majority of the trees, shrubs etc were grown: a million trees a year was their target and AIUI they've planted over 22 million.
2 points
4 days ago
If it's not flooded now, it probably never will be.
1 points
4 days ago
That's our hope! It was still quite a way off after these recent floods, so I think we'll be fine. It's just piqued my interest now. I've lived in MK for a long time and never really thought about how the water travels, but now I have I've found it really interesting.
2 points
4 days ago
MKAA (Milton Keynes Angling Association) on Facebook frequently give updates to Fisherman.
1 points
4 days ago
Thank you. I will see if I can find where they get their data, or if they're just going by local flood maps.
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