River closures and conditions
The Environment Agency provides details of the closures and conditions on the River Great Ouse and its tributaries.
For the latest information on the closures and conditions on the Great Ouse, visit the Environment Agency website.
Strong Stream Advice
At various times of the year the river will be flowing faster than normal. The River Great Ouse is one of the unique rivers in the region whereby the Environment Agency ‘reverses the locks' during flood events and times of high flows. This operation closes the affected locks to navigation.
The Strong Stream Advice procedure advises boat users that the locks are ‘reversed' and the Environment Agency strongly advise against attempting to navigate. All unpowered and powered boats are advised to seek safe mooring until the stream calms.
When Strong Stream Advice is in force, signs along the length of the river are activated. A number of boat clubs and marinas also display red flags to warn river users that Strong Stream Advice has been issued.
River users are also able to telephone our Floodline Information Service to hear a recorded message which will inform users whether Strong Stream Advice is on or off. To do this please follow these steps:
- Call Floodline on 0845 988 1188. You will be welcomed to Floodline and offered different touch-tone options.
- Choose option ‘1' by dialling ‘1' on your phone to ‘listen to pre-recorded information for flood warnings currently in force'.
- Enter the following quick dial Strong Stream Advice number: River Great Ouse 033211.