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Witham Navigable Drains
The principal outlets, into the tidal Haven below Boston were the Maud Foster and Hobhole Sluices. Initially all drainage was by gravity through gates, but the need to reduce water levels in the northern part of the fens led to the construction of the Lade Bank Pumping Station in 1867. A lock was provided to enable navigation to be maintained.
Mechanical pumping was progressively introduced and then modernised to increase the volume of pumping and maintain optimum water levels. One effect of this was the closure of the lock at Lade Bank. Combined with the closure of East Fen Lock, this resulted in the isolation of the southern section of the Hobhole Drain from the remainder of the network.
Today, navigation is variable, depending on water levels and the extent of clearing of weed on smaller drains in particular. Water levels are kept lower during winter than summer. This ensures maximum winter capacity during periods of higher rainfall, and equally maintains a higher water table during summer as well as providing a reservoir for irrigation. Access is from the River Witham at Anton's Gowt Lock.
The Witham Navigable Drains are well covered by the Wikipedia article Link

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