river river mile long river flows source approximately miles north forms boundary manchester near 17th 18th centuries lower reaches trading route 19th century river course downstream manchester permanently altered construction opened canal turned manchester major inland led development park largest industrial estate europe changes 20th 21st centuries prevent flooding manchester river severely industrial waste industrial revolution second half 20th century number initiatives implemented improve water quality fish create diverse environment wildlife stretches river flowing manchester attracted large scale investment business residential developments parts important wildlife recreational activities pleasure cruising rowing racing fishing course source confluence miles long rising flows south bury merging near turning west joins near turning southeast area lower manchester joining rivers turns west course ends east natural history early 19th century stocked fish wildlife people living near water drinking domestic purposes industrial revolution increasing levels pollution caused waste products discharged river local industries proved fatal wildlife fish stocks disappearing completely situation somewhat 20th century slow improvement water quality leading fresh populations sightings brown trout increasingly common problems water quality basins apparent redevelopment years runoff roads accumulated slow running waters area organic matter causing oxygen compressed air injection system introduced raised oxygen levels water improving water quality extent number species present like freshwater shrimp increased spawning growth rates fish species perch increased highest england sites special scientific interest located close banks near confluence moses gate country park near site designated biological interest based flora typical limestone grassland including nationally rare herbs end designated second site site geological interest found river flows country park designated mute species ducks regularly sighted river manchester ship canal near sites britain diving ducks providing winter home approximately common ducks geology remains shallow seas covered south east lancashire late period deposits mud sand laid periods red deposited arid desert conditions compressed beds manchester alternating layers glaciers pleistocene period radically shaped landscape retreated leaving deposits sand boulder clay formed ridges lower site comprises steep banks river little designated geological interest primarily best site area displaying marine band associated strata site national importance interpreting coal measure great_britain river area river area extends climate area average rainfall millimetres compared millimetres rivers quickly respond rainfall topography varies considerably upper reaches dominated altitude metres metres consisting relatively flat land lies metres metres characterised steep narrow valleys contributes high rates run underlying solid geology comprises lower coal measures classified minor hold relatively small amounts water turn limestone rocks lower period surface deposits comprise thick upper reaches glacial boulder clay glacial sand gravel lower parts sand gravel classified minor whilst boulder clay non higher slopes upper provide large source material debris transported downstream lower parts channel material deposited contribute reduction channel capacity history origins uncertain accept anglo saxon origin meaning white spring flint knives materials associated man discovered late 19th century early 20th century isolated finds artefacts characteristic period valley possible hunting site excavated produced quantity late early bronze age tools found near bury bronze age burial sites found bury recorded human settlements celtic tribe farmed lower reaches river late iron age conquered tribes building forts rivers naming town built ford rectangular stone blocks thought man structure span river years brought peace withdrawal left tribes mercy renamed town later seized destroyed absorbed left tribes ruled expelled middle ages town known later manchester grew prospered trading vessels river hamlet forms city gifted near nottingham important gift fishing rights river 18th century salmon rights rivers lancashire let year hundreds pounds 19th century industrial revolution factories mills grew river banks borough engineer wrote book river father experiences seeing large fish chiefly fish rising flies point bridge manchester local industry dumped toxic chemicals river gas tar gas lime water fish stocks disappeared described waters receiving refuse cotton factories coal mines print works works works chemical works paper works kind industry scottish wrote book impressions english people describing river pretty stream miles higher trees banks fringes green set thick edges loses gets mills dirty things given wash loads houses thrown carry away steam boilers discharge contents drains till length rolls tall walls red sandstone considerably river flood liquid life dies animal vegetable resembles nature stream thrown eruption mud volcano victorian era passenger boat trips popular cut short foul river corporation promoted act parliament enabling establish appointed river inspector power action river rivers pollution prevention act designed solve problems river pollution largely ineffective lay legislation followed formed local authorities ordered provide sewage treatment facilities industrial concerns told use best practical means preventing pollution authorities watershed install sewage treatment works works famous characters associated river time born near bridge manchester difficulty river cry bring mark race rescue awarded number medals including gold silver medals bronze medal civilian awarded albert medal class final rescue monday saved young boy particularly sewage laden section river ill died tuberculosis aged rescued people river lifetime 20th century superseded wartime conditions brought deterioration river rivers prevention pollution act passed board disappeared replaced replaced turn flooding caused bend river border manchester flooding problem hundreds years decision widen river increase capacity work started september water flowed total cost project question house_of_commons member parliament highlighted condition main tributaries today afraid fish rivers virtually extinct anybody stands today city manchester outside looks black water flows beneath find difficult believe fish living creature lived called melancholy stream differences admiration excellent series reports river pollution prepared society ventured suggest similar survey rivers covered report sorry reading passages report like read says banks lined factories large small water drainage hills forming slopes river valley discharge small main river said natural water normally enters river cradle grave manchester ship canal second quotation find fish rivers apart occasional tributary insects life kind sewage fungus chemicals dirt profitable use sewage usually good encouraging feature situation hailed delight water rivers hold importance statement realised remind members frequency residents manchester subjected flooding waters announced flood defence works carried stretch river passing local property owners outraged asked bear cost work foot thick concrete wall underway june nearing completion august nearby homes threatened flooding heavy rain 1970s report stated signed agreement giving fishing rights miles river secretary society quoted saying extensive tests carried fish river satisfied water support fish life perch caught reports ill effects doubt pollution clearing long job sure future river report went state society intends carry operations soon newspaper reported small fish seen swimming notorious near deputy chief water quality officer said years ago fish getting far killed immediately pollution water river great deal better years fish probably able live long probably got main river small streams flowing think real progress harper went stocked fish length years ago refused guess reach state river authorities merged annual report said river internationally famous infamous river pollution better state compared condition time special survey carried years ago reported article october year stated years pollution control work reviewed biggest improvement dilapidated sewage plants paper mills treated little reduction pollution river deposits disused work stop fish exist stretch bury fish introduced stretches manchester feared years fish able breed freely river 1980s scheme improving section river road boating purposes included capital programme recent committee meeting criticised condition river councillor calling horrible spokesperson said river reputation getting better reached state satisfied added tests carried improved trout recently river near bury proposals welcomed university stating wished use section boat race later year reported hundreds trees shrubs planted banks green finger scheme bring countryside heart industrial outlining scheme prepared emphasised bleak character constructions river decaying rotting said main problems caused excess high organic content sewage discharge water upstream report recommended support given pollution control river 1980s sightings fish far downstream centre reported local newspapers february manchester evening news reported inches long spotted site manager working mark public house built disused border manchester plans developing river recreational use coming fruition reported bank holiday pleasure cruise river 20th century leave mark day experiment river cruises success canal river boats rode flooded river greater manchester waterways festival event aimed demonstrating pleasure boating transform bleak heart manchester local men felt waters clean brave mile charity fund raising swim manchester warned spokesman cocktail occasional sewage meant class river pollution chart local plan launched listing proposals improvement valley announced campaign cover large area north south promised available years land based projects september plans revealed mile long walkway centre developers announced plans develop railway arches river opposite wine bar restaurant manchester water bus maiden voyage known mark mile inaugural round trip end 1980s ambitious plans announced turn manchester international tourist centre mainly based derelict areas waterways manchester ship canal canal bringing investment new jobs years announced million redevelopment scheme include marina homes offices commercial developments 1990s newly formed launched regular tourist trips river landing stage opposite studios tour entrance street taking stretch universally welcomed september year retired chemical engineer claimed pleasure boat leaving clouds wake disturbed sediment river bed feature article appeared magazine virtues cruise stating thought liability fact major asset urban regeneration twin cities compete dress introduce society public invited waters construction work began new link manchester known box steel cable construction designed spanish architect represent ship sail chapel wharf regeneration scheme expected breathe new life run area create new jobs new mile long pound arts trail known sculpture trail reported june work began million lower 21st century july setback clean programme pollution incident affected approximately miles river causing death fish large number fish killed serve illustrate river improved melancholy stream 1950s project river decades announced improvements included fitting filters ensure litter washed river scheme improve bury october announced work completed end year increase number fish river massively improve environment locally benefits company said biggest scheme undertaken region project manager quoted saying reducing water main driver scheme new legislation states waste water causes water algae reduces oxygen water results aquatic life fish treatment plant built 1930s updated 1970s treats waste water population half million pollution incident march miles river turned orange iron old workings near source water survey identified stretch having fourth worst case pollution country treatment plant built remove pollution cost thought collapse heavy rains spring water stained damage wildlife reported commerce late 17th century businessman river far suggested significant commercial value extending far manchester parliament authorised alteration navigation act work completed creating canal locks mile route manchester allowing access boats tonnes known played central role cotton industry 18th century spearheaded industrial revolution canal 3rd duke built canal task crossing main obstacles faced solution build canal carrying bridge river barge england opened measured metres high metres long wonders age canal competed trade manchester years specially designed barges shallow draft known flats waterways years trade rivalry continued grow company offering reduced freight charges special rates concessions gain business important cargo carried raw cotton liverpool manchester timber pig iron lead copper nails tar sand grain flour carried passenger services operating canal years began compete daily services manchester began use liverpool manchester railway opened boat services went decline ceased operate completely 1860s manchester canals point access manchester previous year short connected non restoration manchester ship canal 19th century progressed increasing need large freight carriers led liverpool dominance port manchester increasingly reliant neighbour imports exports handling charges charged goods manchester solution build manchester ship canal purchased time largest written building began canal greatly deepening widening eastern section opened january reduced shipping costs raw cotton mills finished cloth overseas canal helped region centre industrial revolution transformed manchester england largest port despite miles inland canal built clear famous demolished allowed insufficient canal carry fortunately paid moved spot occupies today alongside canal canal carried manchester ship canal equally celebrated completed novel idea opening rotating degrees allow ships pass construction led development park largest industrial estate europe brought employment area eighty years 1960s begun lose position industrial world power mid-20th century cotton industry gone decline low cost competition asian manufacturers decline heavy industry area increasing size freight carrying ships competition road transport brought decline terminal docks closed river flood defence scheme lower reaches flooded times history documented floods december rapidly snow caused river flood sweeping away considerable property including building materials livestock locals reported height river great flood local public house suffered extensive damage water caused rear wall collapse local brewery flooded loss stock flat came free hitting regent bridge year great flood rain fell continuous days commencing tuesday november end day river risen feet normal park street lamps lit mills brought stop million property damaged hectares land flooded people rescued wrecked homes man died drowning height flood marked erected construction ship canal said reduced risk flooding providing larger outlet regent bridge properties flooded flooded alleviate problems flood storage basins capacity cubic metres constructed west road cost million defences help protect properties lower year flood concerns raised year flood breach defences cause million damage property defences proved successful january worst flooding hit region thirty years caused burst banks downstream centre manchester march work began upgrade flood defence scheme upgrade protection cope year flood scheme completed december involves creating flood storage basin north student village area hectares excavated material construct metre high embankment site regeneration large urban regeneration project published work began years later site residential business leisure purposes development living manchester ship canal flows fashionable plans turn tide years neglect embrace river fundamental manchester heritage future economic social growth vision central manchester major waterfront destination number key involved development regeneration vision include manchester councils manchester ship canal company environment agency local businesses landowners community groups wider manchester communities prepared planning guidance support delivery project restoration river creation new urban park called city park intention develop kilometres riverside meadows north centres areas authorities formally adopted draft planning guidance march guidance sets guidelines councils use material consideration determining applications planning permission matters area establishes set principles ensure provision continuous riverside cycle walkway high quality design new public open spaces infrastructure application october support pre project implementation work including design technical feasibility work sport rowing existed river manchester inaugurated september straight course racing continued manchester events turn 20th century rowing popular area local clubs competing regularly decline condition water second world war rowing clubs active formed making oldest open membership rowing clubs world club originally based grounds hall short distance downstream road river impossible pass river life following clean environment club operates boat house shared boat house sport governing body nominated hosts cities boat race held river river home friendly society oldest society world founded tributaries
River Irwell