Paddington Arm, Grand Union Canal (Kensal Road Stretch)
Photos taken between 5:27pm and 6:04pm
View from Ladbroke Grove Bridge looking West
These photos show a marked improvement in the visual condition of the Grand Union Canal at Ladbroke Grove Bridge, following the extensive accumulation of duckweed recorded during previous surveys.
View from Ladbroke Grove Bridge looking East
The reduction in floating vegetation has exposed large areas of open water, allowing clear reflections of the surrounding buildings, trees and evening sky.
click to enlarge image
The canal surface is now almost entirely free of floating vegetation, with extensive areas of open water reflecting the surrounding residential buildings, moored boats, trees and evening sky.
The water appeared calm, with very little surface disturbance and no obvious accumulation of floating litter, foam or oil. Only occasional small floating particles were visible
The contrast with previous observations is particularly striking. Where extensive mats of duckweed had previously covered large sections of the canal, the water is now largely unobstructed.
Only occasional small patches of floating material remain visible, together with a limited amount of scattered debris.The water appeared calm, with very little surface movement and no obvious signs of oil, foam or other surface pollution.
The water is it's normal green-brown, with strong reflections. Only occasional small patches of floating material remain visible, together with a limited amount of scattered debris.
The contrast with earlier observations is striking. Sections of the canal that were previously covered by extensive green mats now display almost completely open water. Some vegetation appears to be growing beneath the surface, although some may be branches extending from nearby bush.
View from Ha'Penny Bridge looking East
The water surface is now almost entirely free of floating vegetation, revealing clear reflections of the surrounding buildings, moored boats and evening sky. There is an absence of significant floating vegetation around the moored boats and along the canal margins, where duckweed had previously accumulated.
View from Ha'Penny Bridge looking West
Green-grey water, reflecting the evening clouds. Gentle ripples were present across parts of the water surface, but there was similarly little evidence of duckweed accumulation. Several Canada Geese appear to be resting along the left canal margin.
However, the reasons for the disappearance remain uncertain. Changes in wind direction, water movement, boat activity or seasonal conditions may have contributed to the redistribution or decline of the floating vegetation.
Overall Visual Assessment: Based solely on these visual observations...
| Indicator | Observation | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Water colour | Natural / expected | ● Excellent |
| Water clarity | Moderate | ▲ Fair |
| Water movement | Gentle movement | ◆ Good |
| Floating litter | Very little | ◆ Good |
| Surface pollution | Trace | ◆ Good |
| Algae / floating vegetation coverage | Trace — less than 10% | ● Excellent |
| Wildlife activity | Some observed | ▲ Fair |
| Oil / foam | None | ● Excellent |
| Bank vegetation | Healthy / abundant | ● Excellent |
Waterway appears to have returned to it's previous good visual condition, with only minor issues observed and no significant visible pollution.