Montgomery Canal Conservation Management Strategy (1.2MB PDF)

9) Although target levels of 2,500 and 5,000 are included in this strategy, the actual “steady state” level of navigation
for any given section of canal will depend on maintaining the required ecological standards.
7.4.2 Moorings and Navigation Levels – use of the Boat Traffic Model
The base mechanism for determining likely boat movement numbers from various activities is British Waterways’ Boat
Traffic Model. This utilises known annual averages for trips by private and hire boats, including distances travelled, and
factors them in to the potential mooring sites identified. For example, an average private boat undertakes about 17
movements per year, made up of five short, two medium and 1.5 long trips per year, where the average distance of each
type of trip is:
– Short = 26km round trip
– Medium = 77km round trip
– Long = 386km round trip
Figure 7.10 shows two versions of the boat traffic model, worked out for the Montgomery Canal, following completion of
Phase 1 restoration to Garthmyl. These versions demonstrate how boat movements change based on different
assumptions for number and location of permanent moorings, trip boats/hire boats etc.
Since the number of visiting boats and the number of moorings is to be managed, the basic model will provide a reliable
guide to boating activity along the entire length of the canal. Its accuracy is further enhanced once the results are
complemented by data from automatic boat and lock counters. A network of these counters will be installed ahead of
restoration. Different parameters can be used within the model if and when required – for instance to reflect changes in
management rules on the Montgomery which influence boating behaviour.
10) The boat traffic model, supported by a network of automatic boat and lock counters, will be used to guide the
creation of new moorings for the Montgomery Canal and to manage the boat movements to agreed levels.
The parameters that can be changed within the model, and therefore need strategic decisions are:
1. The numbers, or proportions, of visiting boats from the Llangollen Canal. Current numbers are effectively limited by
the relatively short section of canal open, and the defined opening times at Frankton Locks.
2. The number and locations of moorings for private craft.
3. The numbers and locations of commercial craft, covering holiday hire boats, day boats, and local trip boats.
The boat model can therefore be used to assess implications of new mooring proposals as well to identify number of
visiting boats that can be permitted within the agreed targets. The annual assessment allows visiting boat numbers
(the most flexible component of boating figures) to be fairly flexibly controlled, on an annual basis. Other elements
(moored boats and trip/hire boats), which depend on some form of commercial or legal agreement of longer duration,
can only be controlled on much longer timescales, once capacity is clearly available.
Model run version 1: maximising private permanent moorings
This run begins with the target of 5,000 boat movements in England and 2,500 in Wales. Visiting boats are assumed to
be managed at levels of 1,500 boats through the Frankton Locks per year (3,000 boat movements) and 625 boats
across the Vyrnwy Aqueduct (1,250 boat movements). Commercial operations comprising six hire boats, 4 day boats and
2 trip boats are then assumed, just below current levels. Day and hire boats are assumed to be ‘eco-designed’
(see below) and to have only half the impact of conventional boats. Trip boats are assumed to be horse-drawn
(see below) and have only a tenth of the impact of conventional boats.
Within these constraints, the model then maximises the number of private, permanently moored boats on the canal in
accordance with the following assumptions about trip choices for boats based at ten separate mooring locations.
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