UK Kayaking News Roundup – 23 October 2026
Welcome to the Paddle With Tom UK Kayaking News Roundup for Friday 23 October 2026. This week brings five genuinely new stories from Wales and across England, with news on water quality, invasive plants, drought and navigation access.
From the River Taff pollution response to a short-lived opening on the River Stort, here are the updates worth knowing before your next paddle. Source links are provided for every story so you can check the latest position.
River Taff fuel pollution: source stopped, but river checks continue
21 October 2026
Archive location photograph: Brian Lee / Unsplash (not an image of the October 2026 spill).
Natural Resources Wales confirmed on 21 October that the source of kerosene pollution affecting the River Taff had stopped. The incident was first reported on 16 October and involved fuel reaching a tributary and the river through a complex underground drainage network.
NRW says its officers have observed fewer than ten dead fish so far, while early findings suggest possible impacts on aquatic invertebrates. Further sampling and ecological investigations are continuing, so stopping the source should not be mistaken for an all-clear for water users.
For paddlers, Public Health Wales has advised avoiding contact with affected water. Anyone planning to use the Taff in the affected area should check the latest official advice before launching.
River Stort gets a three-day navigation trial after drought closures
19 October 2026
Archive photograph: Stephen Craven / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0 (2011); not a current conditions photograph.
Some welcome news for paddlers on the River Stort: the Canal & River Trust opened the locks between Harlow Mill Lock 8 and Lower Lock 15 at 9.30am on Wednesday 21 October and said they would remain open until 3pm on Friday 23 October.
The opening is a controlled trial, not a permanent reopening. The Trust is monitoring how water levels respond to unrestricted navigation following the summer drought, and will review the results before deciding its next steps.
If you are considering a paddle here, check the current notice immediately before travelling. Low levels and local restrictions may still affect your route.
Paddle UK volunteers fight invasive floating pennywort on the Lee
19 October 2026
Reference species photograph: Mike Kirby / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0 (2010); photographed in West Yorkshire, not on the Lee.
Paddle UK has highlighted the latest progress in its River Lea Floating Pennywort Project. Working with the Canal & River Trust and other partners, volunteers have helped remove invasive floating pennywort from the Lee Navigation.
The project reports that 22.5km of waterways were cleared and 250 tonnes of the plant removed across 2025–26. Floating pennywort can form thick mats, obstruct paddling and reduce oxygen available to aquatic wildlife.
The practical takeaway is familiar but important: check, clean and dry your kayak, paddle and footwear between waterways. Small plant fragments can spread to a new location.
Severe drought: less reservoir water released into English rivers
20 October 2026
Archive photograph: David Smith / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0 (2015); not a current drought-level photograph.
The National Drought Group met water company leaders on 19 October, with a government update issued the following day. Severe drought continues in parts of south-west and south-east England after an exceptionally dry spring and summer.
The Environment Agency has granted permits allowing reduced reservoir releases into the River Exe from Wimbleball and the River Ouse from Ardingly. The measures aim to protect water supplies, but they also underline the pressure on river flows and wildlife.
For recreational paddlers, a shower of rain does not necessarily mean rivers or reservoir-fed canals have recovered. Check local water levels, access arrangements and the latest navigation notices before setting off.
Leeds & Liverpool Canal: Leigh Branch shuts for lock repairs
19 October 2026 notice; closure begins 22 October
Archive photograph: David Dixon / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0; not a photograph of the current repair works.
A new Canal & River Trust stoppage affects the Leigh Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal between Poolstock Top Lock 1 and Bottom Lock 2, near Wigan. The closure started at 7am on Thursday 22 October.
Crews are repairing the head-gate cills on both locks to prevent further water loss. The published closure runs until 5pm on 5 November, subject to progress on site.
Anyone planning a point-to-point canal paddle through this section should revise the route rather than assume passage is possible. Check the official notice for changes before travelling.
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