Response (received 24-1-2017) from the Environment Agency to my questions:
Please see the following answers to your questions that have been provided by our Asset Performance Team:
The Jubilee River is a flood alleviation channel and not a flood storage area. The channel comes into operation when water levels in the main river Thames reach a predetermined level. Water is diverted down the Jubilee River in a controlled manner through incremental gate movements of Taplow Weir. The Jubilee River re-joins the River Thames just upstream of Datchet.
The Jubilee River does not store water, it is a flood alleviation channel. If the Jubilee River was not operated then properties would be at a greater risk of flooding in the Eton, Windor and Maidenhead area. The scheme as a whole protects around 3200 properties.
Eton, Windsor and Maidenhead would have been affected.
There is a specified set of operating procedures for the Jubilee River. Generally the control gates at Taplow are opened in 10m3/s intervals as the River Thames at Maidenhead rises. Typically the Jubilee River slowly reaches full capacity over many days.
Yes, we can confirm the protocol was followed.
The Jubilee River successfully protected the areas of Eton, Maidenhead and Windsor in 2014 as it is designed to do. Each time we operate the Jubilee River we look to improve on our procedures. For example, we used the water level information we collected during the 2014 flood event to calibrate the gate openings as we would with all major flood incidents.
The Environment Agency has been pursuing the planning for and purchasing of various temporary flood defences, some of which are earmarked for the Runneymede and Staines areas. These will be deployed on trigger levels formed from forecasting and levels experienced further upstream.
As stated before the Jubilee River is a flood relief channel and not a storage area and is operated to convey water downstream. Therefore we will continue to operate the Jubilee River as stated in our procedures and to reduce the flood risk to the areas previously stated.
The Environment Agency is currently well progressed in planning three new flood relief channels that will reduce flood risk from Windsor down to Teddington. For some initial detail of this scheme proposal please follow this links:
www.gov.uk/government/collections/river-thames-scheme
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-thames-scheme-newsletter-autumn-2016
- Why was the water from the Jubilee released?
The Jubilee River is a flood alleviation channel and not a flood storage area. The channel comes into operation when water levels in the main river Thames reach a predetermined level. Water is diverted down the Jubilee River in a controlled manner through incremental gate movements of Taplow Weir. The Jubilee River re-joins the River Thames just upstream of Datchet.
- What would have happened if the water from the Jubilee had not been released?
The Jubilee River does not store water, it is a flood alleviation channel. If the Jubilee River was not operated then properties would be at a greater risk of flooding in the Eton, Windor and Maidenhead area. The scheme as a whole protects around 3200 properties.
- Would alternative communities have been flooded if the water from the Jubilee had not been released and which communities are they?
Eton, Windsor and Maidenhead would have been affected.
- What was the protocol for flood management and releasing water from the Jubilee in 2014?
There is a specified set of operating procedures for the Jubilee River. Generally the control gates at Taplow are opened in 10m3/s intervals as the River Thames at Maidenhead rises. Typically the Jubilee River slowly reaches full capacity over many days.
- Was that protocol followed?
Yes, we can confirm the protocol was followed.
- Has the protocol for the use of the Jubilee in flood management changed or been improved since 2014?
The Jubilee River successfully protected the areas of Eton, Maidenhead and Windsor in 2014 as it is designed to do. Each time we operate the Jubilee River we look to improve on our procedures. For example, we used the water level information we collected during the 2014 flood event to calibrate the gate openings as we would with all major flood incidents.
- What is the current protocol for flood management as it effects Runnymede?
The Environment Agency has been pursuing the planning for and purchasing of various temporary flood defences, some of which are earmarked for the Runneymede and Staines areas. These will be deployed on trigger levels formed from forecasting and levels experienced further upstream.
- Under similar flood conditions in the future will the Environment Agency release the stored water from the Jubilee, thereby potentially increasing the flood depth at Egham, Runnymede and our home?
As stated before the Jubilee River is a flood relief channel and not a storage area and is operated to convey water downstream. Therefore we will continue to operate the Jubilee River as stated in our procedures and to reduce the flood risk to the areas previously stated.
- What plans have been put in place to protect Egham, Runnymede and our home from future flooding?
The Environment Agency is currently well progressed in planning three new flood relief channels that will reduce flood risk from Windsor down to Teddington. For some initial detail of this scheme proposal please follow this links:
www.gov.uk/government/collections/river-thames-scheme
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-thames-scheme-newsletter-autumn-2016
Flood management strategy as it affects Egham & Runnymede
FOI request to the Environment Agency 24/12/2016
During the floods of January and February 2014 our home was flooded. The sudden increase in water depth around and in the house occurred within a short period of time on the day that the water content of the Jubilee diversion was released into the main river.
To date we have received no reassurance as to the plans for future flood management as it effects our home and our neighbours in Runnymede. I would like answers to the following questions please.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Best regards
Fiona Dent
During the floods of January and February 2014 our home was flooded. The sudden increase in water depth around and in the house occurred within a short period of time on the day that the water content of the Jubilee diversion was released into the main river.
To date we have received no reassurance as to the plans for future flood management as it effects our home and our neighbours in Runnymede. I would like answers to the following questions please.
- Why was the water from the Jubilee released?
- What would have happened if the water from the Jubilee had not been released?
- Would alternative communities have been flooded if the water from the Jubilee had not been released and which communities are they?
- What was the protocol for flood management and releasing water from the Jubilee in 2014?
- Was that protocol followed?
- Has the protocol for the use of the Jubilee in flood management changed or been improved since 2014?
- What is the current protocol for flood management as it effects Runnymede?
- Under similar flood conditions in the future will the Environment Agency release the stored water from the Jubilee, thereby potentially increasing the flood depth at Egham, Runnymede and our home?
- What plans have been put in place to protect Egham, Runnymede and our home from future flooding?
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Best regards
Fiona Dent
