More than 10,000 lbs of freshwater fish are to be rescued from the Brent reservoir in West Hendon using a 300m long net tomorrow.
Essential safety work needs to be carried out on the sluice gates, which requires the entire reservoir to be drained.
The reservoir acts as flood storage in periods of torrential rain and unless the repairs are carried out, the reservoir will not be able to hold the excess water, thus causing flooding.
The fish, including pike, carp and perch, will be loaded into oxygenated tanks on vans 35 vanloads in all and taken to Ealing. Divers will also install a giant filter to prevent silt entering the canal. The cost of the operatio is estimated at around £300,000.
The entire reservoir enough water to fill three million baths will then be gradually drained in January before work on the sluice gates can be undertaken. The fish will be returned from their extended break in February.
December 12, 2001 18:31
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