The work at Elton has now been completed, walls strengthened, new sluices etc, the pumps have gone and the path along the wall is now open, just need some rain now to fill it up! Watch us get a long dry spell now.

The nets will be to catch any fish the cormorants have overlooked!!! I spoke to the netting lads last week and up to then they had only rescued a number of large bream. To be fair netting a water is not easy and they may have done better since. Does anyone have any info.?

Probably be no water in what so ever by next week, the workmen now have some pumps to pump the water out as the level has seemingly dropped below the sluice! And its pouring out, two boats still with massive nets shouldnt be long before its birdless!

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Thursday 10th of September 2009 10:03:46 AM

Eh Paul watch that mud in the morning, weve had a bit of rain today
Have you got your clothes clean or had to write them off?
My car boot stinks.
Im still chuckling now

The "Elton Mud" almost claimed its first victim early this morning, our very own Elton photographer Paul Wilson nearly dissapeared for good in the creek trying to cut accross the opening instead of walking safely around, a desperate plea for help via his mobile had me there to assist him, he was well in half way between his knees and his waist, camera and tripod still sinking as i attempted to get near him, as i began to pull him out i almost went in myself in my work gear! I almost lost a welly aswell but we got him out!

Paul can we do it again next week but will bring me camera so i can get some pictures for Ian's galleries.

Priceless entertainment, absolutely priceless

I know i said i wasnt going to mention it but sorry mate couldnt resist

Classic..I feel sorry for your work colleagues, ive never smelled anything or anyone quite so putrid

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Friday 21st of August 2009 09:01:58 AM

Article in this weeks Bury Times

THE boroughs biggest reservoir is being completely drained as part of an £800,000 project to strengthen its walls and replace vital drains and valves.

Work started last month to remove 923 million litres of water from Elton Reservoir so the massive refurbishment programme can begin.

The works which we are undertaking are vital repairs to comply with British Waterways statutory duties, and to ensure that the reservoir can operate safely at its full capacity.

Clive Mitchell, project manager for British Waterways
Hundreds of fish including a pike rumoured locally to be five feet long will also be removed and taken to temporary storage ponds.

The reservoir, which is popular with walkers, anglers and sailors, is due to be full again by December.

Clive Mitchell, project manager for British Waterways, said: The works which we are undertaking are vital repairs to comply with British Waterways statutory duties, and to ensure that the reservoir can operate safely at its full capacity.

The reservoir, which is off Bolton Road and straddles the Bury-Radcliffe border, was constructed in 1842 and has a surface area of 22 hectares. Rather than a water supply, it serves as a feeder for the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal which is in the process of being partially restored.

The maintenance work will see valves, timber plugs and drains replaced, the spillway weir and channel repaired and additional embankment protection added.

Water is being removed through a pumphouse and drained into the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, with any extra water spilling into the River Irwell.

It will be September before the reservoir is completely drained and work can be carried out on the bed.

Fish will be removed by a specialist contractor and kept in storage ponds in Chorley, before being returned later in the year.

The project is due to be completed in October, though it could be December before the reservoir is full again.

Despite the lengthy closure, the refurbishment is being seen positively by members of Elton Sailing Club, which is based on the reservoirs banks.

Club manager David Moore said: This is a job that has been planned for a couple of years and we are pleased that it is being done, despite the disruption. We wont be able to do any sailing until November, so in the mean time we are holding a few social events and ticking over.

We are looking ahead while the work is going on and seeing what we can do to improve the club. We plan to hold a big recruitment drive next year. We are determined to come back better and stronger than ever.

Visitors to the reservoir are being advised to take care because large areas of deep mud have been exposed as work is carried out.

Warning signs have been erected around the reservoir and the public right of way on the embankment crest is closed.

Mr Mitchell said: The reservoir is popular with walkers and during the works we are urging the public to keep to the designated footpath and not to walk on the exposed reservoir bed.

Lots of workmen sat around this morning, there must be still too much water in to start any proper work, I guess its approximately half way to being emptied now. They seem to be obssessed on putting even more "Keep Out" signs up around the edge, they must be every 5 metres apart now. Also a bright orange fence has been erected in a straight line from the sailing club to the Creek, at least that might keep people away from the shoreline. Also theres a security company present with some very large dogs hanging around the sailing club.

I sneaked on the dam wall this morning for a quick peep, it looks like the tide has gone out on the mersey, it stinks and theres health warning signs about blue green algae. At least 4 cars visible now, and a workmen said its going to be empty till the end of the year at least, so I wonder whether it be even worth visiting after another week or two!?

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Thursday 6th of August 2009 06:00:07 PM

These Mussel Pickers - are they closely related to Oystercatchers?
Sorry, it was too tempting!

Steve

Just got to ask,is there a code going on here or are there some mussel pickers on the res and if so where can i buy some,not to eat,but because of the e bay potential

cheers geoff

Dam now shut off.
Mussell pickers are rather brave. Commercial mussells are harvested and then cleaned in fresh water for 24 hours to remove any unmentionables. This is similar to the crayfish that are caught in canals. Elton reservoir is fed from the river irwell. Most of the upper Rossendale Valley empties its sewage into the Irwell after treatment of course. Has any one seen the same Mussell pickers returning? One of the dumped cars also appears to be an original Skoda. Possibly a collectable?

everyone has probably read the signs on the res but they are going to be doing pretty impressive works and repairs to the mains sliuces, three of them to get them back into working order, repairs to the wall on the dam and repairs to the dam itself, and as already announced draining the res fully.