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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 16th March, 2015)

Flood Defence


Flood Defence
Wigan flood defence scheme, Bottling Wood, taken from the top of the hydraulic gate.

Photo: Roger Whistlecroft  (Nikon Coolpix)
Views: 4,202

Comment by: Robin Leigh on 16th March 2015 at 01:45

It looks like the exit flume is 5 or 6m wide. Does the entire flow of the Dougie go through there when it's not flooding?

Comment by: Mick on 16th March 2015 at 08:02

What a good idea this was, protecting Wigan from future floods,,

Comment by: Giovanni on 16th March 2015 at 10:02

Where does the River Douglas start and end??
Or is it a tributary of another larger river?

Comment by: Syd on 16th March 2015 at 11:21

How does this flood defence system operate?

Comment by: Robert on 16th March 2015 at 12:48

Hi Giovanni, the Douglas starts at Douglas springs near Rivington. It then meanders its way through Adlington, Wigan, past Parbold, past Rufford (where the Yarrow river joins), past Tarlton (where the Rufford branch of the Leeds & Liverpool canal joins it), eventually flowing into the Ribble just after Hesketh Bank.

Comment by: Kas on 16th March 2015 at 16:58

Thanks Robert

Comment by: Neil Rigby on 16th March 2015 at 19:22

Robin,
The channel in the photo is where the water 'enters' and passes through the dam (the picture is an upstream shot.)
At times of flood, the entire area in the photo will fill with flood water as its is held back by the dam: see this photo http://www.hydro-int.com/UserFiles/news_images/Wigan%20-%20flood%20storage%20area%20part%20full.jpg

In the dam itself is a Hydro-Brake which allows the flood water to flow through the dam at a predetermined rate and which does not cause downstream flooding: see this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J99u6NCJSOU

Comment by: Robin Leigh on 16th March 2015 at 20:55

Thanks, Neil. I stand turned about and set straight.

Comment by: Titus on 16th March 2015 at 23:06

Many thanks for all the info Neil. Very interesting, and as Mick says, what a great thing for wigan to have.

Comment by: Giovanni on 17th March 2015 at 10:02

Thanks Robert for the info.

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