I was looking at the Kennet yesterday, and the flow rate wasn't up that much. In fact, it wasn't even a week or so back before our brief dry spell! But I can remember last January/Feb and the flow was much faster - although the rainfall leading up to then had actually been less than the recent months.

I'm wondering if there are other factors which make flow rates faster in winter. I can't imagine the water companies take dramatically less in winter. On a river like the Kennet, though, that has a canal running alongside, I wonder if the opening of locks for the boats releases a considerable amount of water? But that water would still be running through the canalised bits. I must admit the bits where I have noticed this phenomenon most have been the streams that run alongside the canal. Not sure. Any views?

The relevance, of course, is for planning fishing trips to take account of likely flow.

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Loads of variables to consider John....As far as the Kennet goes I can think of these....

Rainfall (how much and where) (A thunderstorm over Newbury would fill the river quicker than a storm over open fields)
Height of the water table - especially on the Marlborough downs
Extraction - especially from Axford
Canal traffic
Height of sluice gates
Time of year - less water gets taken up by plants in the winter - plus more evaporation in warmer weather
Weed growth.

Anymore??

Must admit to being surprised at the lack of flow early last week given the heavy rain (35mm) that fell on the 12th - My hunch is that the EA open up the sluices in readiness - the bad weather WAS well forecast... Levels at the moment are just about the lowest they've been all summer - no where near drought levels but 'normal' summer levels IMO....


C.

The real biggie is always transpiration of water through the leaves of trees.
In the early spring, a good shower can put theriver level up for 10 days or more.
After the leaf burst, a similar shower will still put the level up but it'll be back to normal in a couple of days.

Interesting. So in general terms, even if rainfall was equal all round the year, you'd expect flows to be considerably greater in winter. I've learnt something.

J