Hebden Water

[_Scott_]

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[Martyn Hartley]

It is one of our local runs - last run 2 weeks ago. The upper section (from the Pennine Way Car Park between Walshaw Dean and Widdop Reservoirs), has 1 total tree blockage, and 2 ropes across the river. We portaged the tree, went over 1 rope, and under the other.

On the main river (below Blake Dean) overhanging trees are a constant hazard, and trees in the river are common. Hence line of sight is difficult and small groups are recomended. There is one tree below the mill that has been there a while, and is a portage. There was a second, which just went hard left. Some of the footbridges are problematic in high water - one is rigged with scaffolding. There are several weirs, all of which go in low water, but their are a couple of bigger ones further down which need respect.

However it is a superb run - almost continuous upper end grade 2/3 with constant interest. Needs lots of water, because of all the reservoirs on the tribs, but should be going now.

Enjoy!

[caveman_si]

Just a quick heads up, theres a few trees as you would expect on Hebden water.

Had a cracking little run down it. This one is obvious but worth mentioning


Also after a little incident with one of group we moved the 30ft tree hidden just under the water in this pic to the side. (from up stream it was visible right of the rock but river left it wasnt until you hit it as it was submerged).


We left it tied to the side with a couple of slings.

[Mark R]

Guide.

[Jim Pullen]

Hi Mark,
my name's Jonah, I'm a river ecology student from Durham University. I've
recently set up some monitoring equipment on Hebden Water, Alcomden Water
and Graining Water above Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. The gear
consists of a cable loop running across the river bed and returning about
one foot above water level (at low flow). The equipment is to monitor fish
movements. The loops are clealry visible at low flows but may become
submerged if the levels rise much. They are an obstruction to canoeists
unfortunately, but can be easily portaged and will be removed in the last
week in October. The lowest site is about 150m below the road bridge and
confluence at Blake Dean with two further upstream on Graining Water and
one upstream on Alcomden Water.
I've emailed all the local canoeing clubs to let them know what I'm up to,
and I spoke to some paddlers on site on the day of the last flood (I guess
the only time the river has been navigable recently) but they didn't show
much interest. Could you post something to warn people please? If anyone
is interested I'm quite happy for them to contact me. Also, if you've got
any advice on how to let more canoeists know could you let me know?
Sorry to interupt the paddling, but it is for the good of the river and
only temporary!
Jonah

Jonah Tosney
Postgraduate Research Student
Geogrpaphy Department
Durham University

He gave a phone number and email address, but I won't post these to avoid him getting sp@mmed. If anyone needs to contact him please pm me.

[Jim Pullen]

I've removed my Hebden Water site and my lower Graining Water site today (both near the road bridge and scout hut) the remaining sites are on Alcomden Water (unlikely to be paddled?) and on Graining Water about 750m downstream of Widdop reservoir. I'll let you know when these come out - should be in the next two weeks.
Jonah

[Jim Pullen]

Hi Jim,
all my monitoring gear has been removed now - it might go back in in February though, I'll let you know. Thanks a lot for your help with this!
Jonah

[Martyn Hartley]

Took the dog for a walk along the river at the weekend. There were 2 trees down as you enter the National Trust woodland area. The 1st was on the easy grade 2 approach, but the second is on the tight boulder choked grade 3. There is the usual debris in the entry shoot, but 25 yards downstream there is a full tree in the river, and there isn't much room for a group to stop and get out.

Could well be more downstream, but I turned round at the 1st bridge...

[woodsy]

There are two trees down at the moment, the first, shortly after the first stone bridge (top of Hardcastle crags),
It was possible to sneak past this on the left in lowish water today- Would be definite portage in higher levels.
The second (towards the bottom of Gorge, Hardcastle crags) completely blocked the river & requires a portage .
Take care
Woodsy

[mgdenison]

Just a quick heads up, theres a few trees as you would expect on Hebden water.

Had a cracking little run down it. This one is obvious but worth mentioning

This is still there - the far river left has been removed by a friend of ours but still needs care.
In high water like today it is very dangerous.
Lower water it is passable but with care.

Also there is a tree across the whole river below the weir after this.
Recommended to portage round and put in just after as defo a tanglement hazard.

On a trip today the top section as you enter the gorges is definitely grade 3/4. as it drops down and through a tight section which is fast flowing

[James Hartley]

For any one wanting a gauge calibration on what is a doable level, 0.6 is what we have worked it out to be. 0.6 and up and it will run. Ran it yesterday ( had been showing 0.73 a few hours before we had been able to get on, and was a good level stepping stones covered) Low level tress always an issue, one downed tree as a must make portage (early on before the first main grade 3 as you enter the woods for the first time after Blake Dean) the rest was clear, though there was one bridge out lower down and while not an issue currently, in the past when this has occurred they use scaffolding to repair it, and the scaffolding can be an issue as makes for an excellent strainer. They are a lot of downed trees at the moment along the way, the only one causing an issue is the one currently mentioned, but be aware, they may move and become an issue if we get any decent rain

[Poke]

Have updated the Rainchasers site with the calibrations..
http://rainchasers.com/river/hebden-wat ... den-bridge
Do you think these are more or less correct?

It had said that 1.5m and up was "high", but since the river only reached 1.3 last week, and hebden bridge was in the news because of flooding, I'm guessing 1.0m may be a better punt.

Do you think these need to be altered at all?
Any more calibrations, please do post on the rainchasers site using facebook!!
Cheers
Tim

[Finchy]

Further to James' post, there is now a tree down after the Grade 3 section as well. It's imediately after a left hand bend and we had a slight panic on to get out in time.

Keep your eyes peeled folks.

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Ran this twice over the last month, once at 0.6 on the gauge, and another time at around 1.1 on the gauge. Never ran it prior to this, and what an under rated run it is! Loads of fun, Grade 2/3 all the way, with one gorge that I'd put at 3+ in the high water.

The tree before the wooded gorge is there, easy portage river right, and another tree lower down which can be passed over on the left in both low and high water. There is a weir which is a must make portage, though went without to much problems in lower water.

Great run, and one of the tribs, Alcombden Water is also worth paddling in high water.

[Rachel T]

Paddled 8/1/16 at 0.62 = get out steps: first step down from pavement was 1" under water. "Dangerous" weir (second below iron foot bridge) no problem at this level but if higher how could you portage on left bank as house in way??? One tree forced portage towards bottom (easy portage on RH bank amongst dog walkers). Final tunnel bridge in town has scaffold filling left half of river (below weir with island below) - suggest walk up to inspect from get out.

[Jag]

Flood defences have been added to the river in the form of tree trunks across the flow that are chained to rocks to prevent them washing down stream. We saw at least three of these whilst walking but there are probably more.
https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/e ... gs-2854207
There are also a large number of more natural looking fallen trees across the river.

[wendywoo]

Jag's mentioned the chained logs across Hebden Water.
Large (30cm to 45cm) tree trunks have been chained loosely in place across the river bank to bank in about ten places upstream and downstream of Gibson Mill.
Chaining them means that they're likely to float up as the river rises.
Paddling Hebden Water just got a lot trickier.
Go see for yourselves and make your own decision before you get on the water.

These large leaky dams can reduce the 1 in 100 year flood peak by 20% so maybe not to get grumpy about them.
Now don't get me started on moorland grips ...