Canal closures

Carolwildbird

Carolwildbird

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Well, after responding on the Nivernais thread, thought I would look at the VNF site for the latest official position.

The Canal de Centre: water still critical - canal was closed but is now reopened until 20th May. No notice so far on what happens after that.

The Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne will be closed from 30th April-28th May (DAMN!)

Canal de Nivernais-- there is no closure shown on the Vnf map!

Any better information?
 
Fluvial (http://www.fluvialnet.com/) says the Nivernais will be closed from 15 May to 8 June: (how's your French?)

Le Nivernais se réserve pour l'été en fermant l'échelle de Sardy
20 avril 2012 - 17:13
La longue période de gel, cet hiver, a retardé les travaux de rénovation du barrage du grand étang réservoir de Pannecière. Puis la faiblesse inhabituelle de la pluviométrie des derniers mois n'a pas permis un remplissage suffisant des autres étangs notamment celui de Vaux. Le canal du Nivernais risque donc de manquer d'eau cet été (contrairement à ce que nous affirmions en août dernier).

Réuni en urgence le 17 avril à Pannecière, le "Comité des Usagers" a ratifié quelques mesures immédiates qui devraient garantir (du moins on l'espère) une navigation correcte cet été sur toute la longueur du canal.

Le communiqué publié à l'issue de cette réunion précise les mesures prises :

"Au vu de tous les éléments techniques et législatifs, et en concertation avec tous les acteurs concernés présents (Conseil Régional de Bourgogne, Conseil Général de la Nièvre, VNF, EPTB Seine Grands Lacs, loueurs de bateaux, Amis du Canal du Nivernais, Association des commerçants ruraux, ANPEI, péniches hôtels, et Syndicat Mixte d’Equipement Touristique du Canal) :
- Il est décidé d’interrompre PROVISOIREMENT la navigation, UNIQUEMENT dans la Vallée de Sardy, entre les écluses 1 et 24 du Versant Seine, à partir du 15 Mai jusqu’au 8 Juin 2012.
- Pendant cette période la navigation est assurée normalement d’Auxerre à Corbigny/Bassin de la Chaise et sur tout le versant Loire de Decize à Baye.
- Jusqu’à cette période et après celle-ci la navigation s’effectuera normalement sans restriction d’Auxerre à Decize".
 
Carolwildbird said:
The Canal de Centre: water still critical - canal was closed but is now reopened until 20th May. No notice so far on what happens after that.
Click to expand...

I live close to the Nivernais but my boat is on the Saone. I had intended to bring it via the Canal du Centre route as far as the Seine and then down the Yonne to Auxerre, leaving in the first week of May. My local paper stated that the canal would be open till May 20th, as you say. It will then re-open in the Summer if there has been adequate rainfall. The date for re-opening is speculation at the moment. The main reason for re-opening is to protect the hire boat businesses.

The article also said that boats would be locked through two at a time - not singly - to conserve water. I'm not sure how that would be policed as I seem to recall, on my way down, that many or most of the locks were unmanned and activated by the lock user. Mind you, that was eight years ago so my memory might be at fault.

Given the closure of the Marne canal, I should imagine that there will be more traffic on the Centre canal - so I don't suppose you'd have long to wait at a lock if you found yourself travelling alone at any point.

I am going to drive down to the Canal du Centre in the next few days to talk to the lock-keeper at the large lock at the eastern end of the canal, where it joins the Saone - it's the only way, I think, to find out what's what, as these situations sometimes change quite quickly. Also what is officially stated isn't necessarily the same as what is practised. If I discover anything that might be useful, I'll post it on here.
 
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Rain!

Don't know if it will make a difference but i've driven from Zeebrugge to Valence today in almost none stop rain and it's only just stopped here!
 
Yonne Closures

We went down to Migennes on 3rd May to bring Matilda back towards Paris, to find the Yonne very high, barrages open, and locks closed. The local notices said the closure would be reviewed by Monday of this week (14th) but no guarantees so we came home by plane. We aim to return mid June.
I couldn't find anywhere on the VNF site where this was published.......can anyone guide me?
John
 
Fluvial reports that things are looking good for the summer:


Les pluies du printemps ont sauvé la saison d'été des canaux du Centre
12 mai 2012 - 10:59
En gâchant le début de saison de la plaisance, les pluies très abondantes de ces dernières semaines ont rechargé les étangs réservoirs des canaux du Centre. Un mal pour un bien en quelque sorte, car au vu du très faible niveau des réserves en eau à l'entrée du printemps, le canal du Centre et le canal du Nivernais étaient menacés de fermeture dès le milieu du mois de mai.

Vif soulagement donc en Bourgogne pour les acteurs de la plaisance et du tourisme. Réunis à Montceau-les-Mines, vendredi matin, à l'instigation de la Région et de Voie Navigables de France, ils ont eu confirmation de la levée des menaces de fermeture :
- Pour le Nivernais, il avait été prévu de fermer temporairement la navigation dans l'échelle de Sardy, du 15 mai au 8 juin, pour ne pas prendre le risque de manquer d'eau en juillet et en août. Il n'y a plus de crainte aujourd'hui, et l'Avis de fermeture a été annulé vendredi ;
- Pour le canal du Centre dont les réserves en eau étaient catastrophiquement basses - au point d'avoir provoqué un début de polémique mettant en cause VNF - il était prévu d'interrompre la navigation dès le 20 mai. Mais la pluviométrie a grandement amélioré le situation, et, vendredi, l'engagement a été pris de garantir la navigation au moins jusqu'au 18 août.
- Quant au canal de Briare et au canal de Bourgogne, il n'y a plus d'inquiétude non plus, maintenant.

Nick
 
In (Google) translation (i.e understandable but quaint) . . .

The spring rains have saved the summer canals Centre
May 12, 2012 - 10:59
Wasting the start of boating season, the heavy rains of recent weeks have reloaded the Canal du Centre reserves. A blessing in disguise in some way, because given the very low level of water reserves at the beginning of spring, the Central Canal and the Canal du Nivernais were threatened with closure in the middle of May.

So great relief in Burgundy for those involved in boating and tourism. Meeting in Montceau-les-Mines, Friday morning, at the instigation of the Region and Route Waterways of France, they had confirmation of the removal of threats of closure:
- For the Nivernais, it was planned to temporarily close the navigation in the scale of Sardy, May 15 to June 8, so as not to risk running out of water in July and August. There is no more fear today, and the Notice of closure was canceled Friday;
- For the Central Canal whose water supplies were catastrophically low - the point of causing an early controversy involving VNF - it was planned to stop navigation from May 20 But rainfall has greatly improved the situation, and on Friday the commitment was made to ensure navigation at least until August 18.
- As for the Briare canal and the canal of Burgundy, there is no more concern either, at this time.
 
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saskia said:
Fluvial (http://www.fluvialnet.com/) says the Nivernais will be closed from 15 May to 8 June: (how's your French?)

Le Nivernais se réserve pour l'été en fermant l'échelle de Sardy
20 avril 2012 - 17:13
La longue période de gel, cet hiver, a retardé les travaux de rénovation du barrage du grand étang réservoir de Pannecière. Puis la faiblesse inhabituelle de la pluviométrie des derniers mois n'a pas permis un remplissage suffisant des autres étangs notamment celui de Vaux. Le canal du Nivernais risque donc de manquer d'eau cet été (contrairement à ce que nous affirmions en août dernier).

Réuni en urgence le 17 avril à Pannecière, le "Comité des Usagers" a ratifié quelques mesures immédiates qui devraient garantir (du moins on l'espère) une navigation correcte cet été sur toute la longueur du canal.

Le communiqué publié à l'issue de cette réunion précise les mesures prises :

"Au vu de tous les éléments techniques et législatifs, et en concertation avec tous les acteurs concernés présents (Conseil Régional de Bourgogne, Conseil Général de la Nièvre, VNF, EPTB Seine Grands Lacs, loueurs de bateaux, Amis du Canal du Nivernais, Association des commerçants ruraux, ANPEI, péniches hôtels, et Syndicat Mixte d’Equipement Touristique du Canal) :
- Il est décidé d’interrompre PROVISOIREMENT la navigation, UNIQUEMENT dans la Vallée de Sardy, entre les écluses 1 et 24 du Versant Seine, à partir du 15 Mai jusqu’au 8 Juin 2012.
- Pendant cette période la navigation est assurée normalement d’Auxerre à Corbigny/Bassin de la Chaise et sur tout le versant Loire de Decize à Baye.
- Jusqu’à cette période et après celle-ci la navigation s’effectuera normalement sans restriction d’Auxerre à Decize".
Click to expand...

The Nivernais reserves for the summer, closing across Sardy
April 20, 2012 - 17:13

The long period of frost this winter has delayed the renovation of the dam's reservoir Pannecière large pond. And unusually low rainfall in recent months has not allowed a sufficient filling of other lakes including that of Vaux.

The Nivernais canal is therefore likely to run out of water this summer (contrary to what we said last August).

Meeting in an emergency to Pannecière April 17, the "Users Committee" ratified some immediate actions that should guarantee (at least we hope) a navigation correct this summer along the entire length of the canal.

The communiqué issued after the meeting said the measures taken:

"In view of all technical and legislative, and in consultation with all stakeholders present (Burgundy Regional Council, General Council of the Nievre, VNF, EPTB Seine Great Lakes, boat charters, Friends of the Canal du Nivernais Association of rural traders, ANPEI, houseboats, hotels and Tourist Joint Association of Equipment of Canal):

It is decided to discontinue PROVISIONALLY navigation, ONLY in the Valley of Sardy, between Locks 1 and 24 of Versant Seine, from May 15 until June 8, 2012.

During this period navigation is normally provided from Auxerre to Corbigny / Basin chair and across the Loire side of Decize to Baye.

Up to this period and after it would make navigation normally unrestricted Auxerre Decize ".
 
I have just travelled up the Canal du Centre from the Saone by boat, arriving at Digoin this afternoon. The canal was almost devoid of other boats - I can't have passed more than half a dozen or so. The busiest part was at the Northern end - Fragne and Santenay. Then almost nothing - so no difficulty getting a pontoon berth at places like Montceau les Mines or Digoin. All the locks were open and waiting when I arrived and I shared a lock with another boat on only one occasion - the entire journey took five days.

Water levels were high throughout and most locks had water flowing over the top of the gates. Sadly though, we were held up several times by problems - doors not opening/closing etc. It happened twice yesterday when we lost more than 2 hours.
 
Canal info

Those who plan to spend any time in the canals should join the DBA. they have people all over who monitor conditions closely and are often consulted by VNF before things happen.
Also bear in mind that many of the nicest canals are not run by VNF, but by the Conseil Regioal. DBA has liaison with them all.
Chack their website.
 
Non VNF canals and rivers include the tidal Seine, the Lot, the Baise and the Breton canals.
Some canals have been 'passed' to regional/local authorities to manage but information about them (works, water supplies) is still, I think, available on the VNF site (links previously posted). I'd welcome any correction to this understanding.
I'm not sure which DBA website/page binch is referring to.
 
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