91 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF NOTTINGHAM AND DISTRICT 



had an excellent effect on the lands by lowering the water table and 

 hence preventing water-logging besides accelerating discharge. 



Meanwhile, a complete hydrauhc survey of the river systems was put 

 in hand from which a comprehensive scheme is being prepared, parts of 

 which are now in progress. The scheme, which is estimated to cost two 

 and a quarter miUion pounds and to be carried out in fifteen years, com- 

 prises, inter alia, the following works: — 



A Comprehensive Pumping Scheme for the low lying lands in the region 

 of the Isle of Axholme, including the Hatfield Chase Area — historically 

 famous for the works carried out by the great Anglo-Dutch engineer. 

 Sir Cornehus Vermuyden in the reign of Charles I; tidal bank works of 

 some magnitude in the lower reaches of the River Trent; the regrading 

 and resectioning of all rivers with the setting back of flood embankments 

 in order to control flood waters; the construction of flood rehef channels; 

 the sluicing of solid weirs; and local schemes for the special protection 

 of built-up areas, including Tamworth and Long Eaton. 



Of the foregoing works, the construction of the Keadby Pumping 

 Station has now commenced, together with the regrading and resectioning 

 of the main rivers in the area affected, whilst work on the River Idle 

 and other rivers in the nature of regrading is in progress, together with 

 extensive bank repairs in the tidal reach of the river between Gains- 

 borough and Trent Falls. 



The Board early decided to carry out as much work as possible by 

 direct administration and to that end works organizations have been set 

 up which divide the Catchment Area into three parts, namely: — 



(1) The Northern Area, comprising the tidal reach of the River Trent 

 and all main channels discharging therein. 



(2) The Home Area, comprising the River Trent from Cromwell Lock to 

 Burton-on-Trent, together with the Rivers Soar, Erewash and Der- 

 went. 



(3) The Southern Area, which includes the remainder of the main chan- 

 nels, including the upper reaches of the River Trent and the Rivers 

 Dove, Tame, Cole, Anker, Sow and Penk. 



The works in the Northern and Southern areas are under the direct 

 control of Divisional Engineers, while the Home Area is directly con- 

 trolled from the Head Office at Nottingham. The necessary plant for 

 the work is considerable and comprises 15 excavators, 69 floating craft, 

 — ranging from a large grab dredger to weeding punts, — locomotives, tips 

 and rails, pile drivers and the like. Workshops have been constructed at 

 Owston Ferry and Elford where all running repairs and overhauls of 

 machinery are carried out, and where much of the plant such as hand 

 trucks, wheel barrows, etc. are made. The labour strength totals ap- 

 proximately 500 men. including such tradesmen as carpenters, smiths 

 and bricklayers. 



The study of the flood relief comprehensive scheme is one of con- 

 siderable difficulty and magnitude and it is reahsed that hydraulic 

 formulae are far too nebulous in character to enable schemes to be pre- 

 pared from calculations alone, and an important feature of the preparation 

 of flood schemes lies in the study of working landscape models, upon 



