Guidance

River Medway: conditions, closures and restrictions

River conditions, reach closures and restrictions affecting boaters on the River Medway.

From:
Environment Agency
Published
1 April 2014
Last updated
4 February 2025 — See all updates

River conditions

For the current condition of the River Medway, please check the Allington Lock website for the most up to date information.

Annual drawdown - upper River Medway

The annual draw down of the upper River Medway commences 3 February 2025. For this:

  • we reserve the right to change these dates subject to poor weather or any operational needs
  • East Lock to Eldridges Lock may stay lowered for longer to allow our contractors to conduct repairs to the Penstock at East Lock
  • we have shortened this years draw down to enable the team to conduct more tree work

Proposed dates for the 2025 draw down of the upper River Medway are:

  • Monday 3 February - draw down Hampstead Lock to Sluice Weir
  • Monday 10 February - draw down Sluice Weir to Oak Weir Lock
  • Friday 14 February - reinstate Hampstead Lock to Sluice Weir Lock
  • Monday 17 February - draw down Oak Weir Lock to East Lock
  • Friday 21 February - reinstate Sluice Weir to Oak Weir Lock
  • Monday 24 February - draw down East Lock to Porters Lock
  • Friday 28 February - reinstate Oak Weir Lock to East Lock
  • Monday 3 March - draw down Porters Lock to Eldridges Lock
  • Friday 7 March - reinstate East Lock to Porters Lock
  • Monday 10 March - draw down Eldridges Lock to Town Lock
  • Friday 14 March - reinstate Porters Lock to Eldridges Lock
  • Monday 17 March - draw down Town Lock to Leigh F.S.A.
  • Friday 21 March - reinstate Eldridges Lock to Town Lock
  • Monday 24 March - reinstate  Town Lock to Leigh F.S.A.

Email updates

The Environment Agency sends email updates on planned River Medway closures and restrictions. To subscribe to this service, email allington.lock@environment-agency.gov.uk with ‘subscribe to notice to mariners’ in the subject line.

Updates to this page

Published 1 April 2014
Last updated 4 February 2025 + show all updates

  1. Added information on the annual drawdown - upper River Medway

  2. New information, including link to public website, added 31/07/19

  3. New data added 09/07/19

  4. Added 6 of 2018 Notice to Mariners

  5. New notice to mariners added.

  6. New notifications for mariners added.

  7. New Notice to Mariners added.

  8. Notice to Mariners 14 and 15 of 2017 added.

  9. Notice 9 of 2017 added.

  10. New Notice to Mariners added

  11. New notice to Mariners

  12. Notice 4 of 2017 added.

  13. Notice to Mariners 3 of 2017 added.

  14. Notice 2 of 2017 added

  15. New notice to Mariners

  16. Current stream condition on the River Medway changed to red with effect from 1pm Thursday 23rd June.

  17. Notice to Mariners added

  18. New 'Notice to Mariners' added.

  19. Change conditions to Red

  20. Table of river restrictions has been updated.

  21. New restriction to River Medway.

  22. New restriction added.

  23. Update on new river restrictions.

  24. Notice to mariners added

  25. New river restrictions

  26. Updated condition to 'Green: all clear'.

  27. Changed first sentence to reflect the current situation

  28. Condition changed to Red.

  29. Planned closures and river draining sections added.

  30. Changed condition to 'Green'.

  31. Condition changed to Red: strong stream.

  32. Condition changed to Green: all clear.

  33. River condition changed to Red.

  34. Condition changed to Red.

  35. Condition changed to Red: strong stream

  36. River condition updated to 'green: all clear'.

  37. Updated condition to Red.

  38. Updated condition to 'Green'.

  39. Strong stream notice updated.

  40. Changes to the stream warnings

  41. River condition on Medway changed from red to green.

  42. Red/strong stream warning issued for the Medway.

  43. Removed old notices.

  44. Updated conditions date.

  45. New notice added.

  46. New notices added.

  47. New notice added.

  48. Removed river restriction.

  49. Email updates information added.

  50. Old notice removed on 22 May 2014

  51. Completed works notices removed on 8 May 2014.

  52. New notices added on 17 April 2014.

  53. First published.

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