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Water Management Advice & News
Read advice and news from The Rothen Group about water management. From weirs to lake maintenance. Plus how The Rothen Group can help you with your maintenance projects.


What is the Ecological Importance of Reed Beds?
Visit your local river or shoreline, and you’re almost guaranteed to find a reed bed. These tall verges of grasses and bulrushes often go unnoticed, blending quietly into the landscape. But they’re among the most important features of aquatic ecosystems, acting as biodiversity hotspots, capturing carbon, and protecting riverbanks from erosion.

Ian
4 hours ago4 min read


What is a Weir? And What is Their Purpose?
Weirs are a common sight along rivers in the UK. They’re used as part of water management, regulating upstream water levels, reducing flood flows, and preserving habitats.

Ian
Jan 224 min read


Fishing Lake Maintenance Top Tips
Few things are more relaxing than a day spent by a well-stocked fishpond. The sun bright in the sky, a gentle breeze rippling the water, a small flock of ducks quaking and swimming among the reeds. It’s an angler’s dream. But it can all go so wrong. Ropy algae, stagnant water, suffocating fish. Poor maintenance can transform a beautiful, serene fishpond into something that looks more like a bog.

Ian
Dec 22, 20254 min read


Navigating Nature: The Importance of Reed and Weed Management in UK Waterways
The UK’s canals, rivers, and inland waterways are more than just scenic landscapes. They are vital corridors for biodiversity, recreation, heritage, and local economies. However, these unique environments face an ongoing challenge; the unchecked growth of reeds and aquatic weeds. While plants like reeds, duckweed, and water lilies play a role in supporting ecosystems, excessive or unmanaged growth can: disrupt navigation block drainage increase flood risk damage infrastructur

Tallulah
May 25, 20253 min read


Waterway Piling for River and Canal Projects: Key Considerations
Waterway piling plays a critical role in the construction and maintenance of infrastructure along rivers, canals, and other waterways.

Tallulah
Mar 24, 20255 min read


Sustainable Canal Maintenance: How Green Practices are Shaping Canal Management
Sustainable canal maintenance practices are essential to ensuring the long-term functionality of canals whilst minimising ecological impact.

Tallulah
Oct 29, 20245 min read


Urban vs. Rural: Canal Maintenance Challenges Across the UK
Both urban and rural canals across the UK present unique maintenance challenges, requiring tailored strategies to ensure their longevity.

Tallulah
Oct 21, 20245 min read


Preparing Canals for Autumn: A Seasonal Guide to Waterway Maintenance
As we move into autumn, the demands on canal systems shift and present a unique set of challenges for waterway management.

Tallulah
Sep 22, 20246 min read


Why Do Canals Need Locks and Why Is Lock Maintenance Important?
Maintaining canal locks is a critical aspect of waterway management, ensuring their reliability, safety, and efficiency.

Tallulah
May 27, 20245 min read


Waterway Safety on Canals: Everything You Need to Know
Safety signs along our waterways are designed to alert users to any potential dangers and provide necessary safety information...

Tallulah
Apr 21, 20245 min read


5 Top Tips to Keep our Waterways Clean
we’re sharing five easy top tips that individuals and communities can follow to contribute to the cleanliness of our waterways...

Tallulah
Mar 21, 20244 min read


How does Water Management Affect the Environment?
Find out why water management is needed to maintain the balance between ecological harmony and our own needs.

Tallulah
Feb 19, 20244 min read


What Happens to Canals and Rivers with Poor Water Management?
Excellent water management is essential to ensure canals, rivers and other watercourses are preserved and functional. If this management falters, a ripple effect of issues can quickly unfold which could impact both the environment and surrounding infrastructure. In this article, we delve into the repercussions of poor water management on the network of canals and rivers in the UK, examining how neglect can lead to erosion, decay, ecological imbalance, and more. Banks erode O

Tallulah
Jan 22, 20243 min read


How to Reduce Waterway Flood Risk
Waterway flood risk is a growing concern in many regions of the UK due to changing weather patterns and increased urban development. Floods can cause extensive damage to properties, infrastructure, and the environment. However, proactive measures can help mitigate this risk. In this article, we will explore four effective strategies for reducing waterway flood risk, focusing on peatland restoration, soft bank maintenance , sandbag walling , and tree planting . Peatland Resto

Tallulah
Oct 23, 20234 min read


Who is Responsible for Waterway Restoration?
Here in the UK, our waterways hold immense historical, ecological, and recreational value. However, preserving these invaluable resources requires coordinated efforts, and the question of who is responsible for waterway restoration often arises. In our latest blog post, we will delve into the intricacies of waterway restoration, the various stakeholders involved, and how our business is dedicated to playing a crucial role in this important task. What is waterway restoration?

Tallulah
Aug 20, 20238 min read


What is Waterway Management?
With daily use canals, waterways, and the surrounding paths and fences are subject to normal wear and tear. Waterway maintenance is therefore a necessary part of waterway management. Without waterway repairs, problems for canals and rivers arise. Why do we need Waterway Management? Waterways management involves regular waterways maintenance and occasional waterways repair. For example, unless we put in place erosion control , pathways bordering a canal could end up sliding in

Tallulah
Nov 28, 20223 min read


What is Involved in Lake Maintenance?
Almost every body of water requires a wide range of maintenance services. A canal, pond or lake is healthier and more pleasant to use if it is free from aquatic weeds and foul odours. It also needs good oxygen levels to support a variety of aquatic plants . In the UK, the responsibility for lake and pond maintenance usually falls to the Canal & River Trust , water companies, and individuals in the case of privately owned lakes and ponds. This is different to fisheries managem

Tallulah
Oct 26, 20222 min read


Who is Responsible for UK River Maintenance?
In the UK, the responsibility for maintaining rivers falls to the owner. An individual can own a stretch of river if it runs on or underneath their land. If a river overlaps the boundary of a property, the land owner may be responsible for that too. For a lot of public rivers, it is The Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency that have the responsibility for their maintenance. River maintenance is necessary in order to manage flood risks, working with local authori

Charlotte
Sep 26, 20222 min read


A Guide to Marina Maintenance
Marine construction is difficult, and waterfront developments can be even more so. The cost to build a marina is expensive, so keeping it well-maintained is a must. After initially engaging marina construction companies, marina maintenance firms like The Rothen Group (TRG) should be your next port of call. These firms can help with your ongoing marina engineering and waterfront marine construction needs. We have detailed common questions about marina construction and marina

Charlotte
Jul 16, 20203 min read


Weed Cutting: Q&A from the Waterways
Weed cutting is a critical element of canal maintenance, helping to keep UK waterways clear and healthy. It requires the work of an expert, and those tasked with clearing weeds typically face long days in the sweltering summer heat. We caught up with Simon Higton, Helmsman at The Rothen Group, to look at a typical day removing duckweed from the waterways. What does a day of work typically look like for you? During the warmer summer months, my days are typically spent clear

Charlotte
Jun 11, 20204 min read

News & Blog
Learn from the experts in British waterways with insights, advice, and examples of our work. Explore our case studies to see how The Rothen Group is transforming canals across the UK.
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