Embracing Autumn in the Brecks
Our quick guide for enjoying autumn to the fullest in the Norfolk and Suffolk Brecks. More
At the start of the Barton Mills Sluice Project, a series of data loggers were placed at key sites that would be affected by the lowering of the sluice. A test lowering could only take place if the groundwater was at an appropriate level. Over the last five years, rainfall has been unusually high or unusually low and trial lowerings have been too sporadic for enough data to be collected.
In addition, the flow rate at the Cut-off Channel head gate was measured using high-tech equipment by EA specialists, the project lead officer and a volunteer from the River Lark Catchment Partnership/Lark Angling Preservation Society. This data was gathered using a little raft, not unlike a bodyboard, with sensors attached.
Flow data logging equipment
Finally, in mid-June 2024, the EA project lead undertook to retrieve data from the dataloggers and (despite the rainfall being very heavy that day as you can see!) a full lowering of the sluice was trialled.
The sluice fully lowered
The effects of the lowering will be monitored, measured and collected, and the result will feed into the long-term lowering plan and development of the River Lark Flagship project – a direct legacy of BFER projects, with Anglian Water.
