Watercourse management

A watercourse is the channel that a flowing body of water follows. These include rivers, streams, anabranches and canals.

We manage our watercourses in two ways: routine control and maintenance activities, including use of our legal powers and responsibilities, and strategic drainage activities.

Please refer to The Environment Agency for more information on watercourse management.

Routine control and maintenance activities

Routine maintenance and upkeep of watercourses is the responsibility of riparian owners (someone who owns land which is adjacent to a watercourse or land which has a watercourse running through or underneath it).

To maintain watercourses which the council are historically responsible for our open spaces service provider idverde, de-silt and maintain watercourses as required.

The Environment Agency manages and polices the following main rivers, also undertaking its own clearance and maintenance activities:

• Barkby Brook, Black Brook, Burleigh Brook, Fishpool Brook, Grammar School Brook, Moat Brook, Poultney Brook, Queniborough Brook, Rearsby Brook, River Soar, River Wreake, Rothley Brook, Shortcliffe Brook, Sileby Brook, Thrussington Dyke, Willow Brook, Woodbrooke.