The hydraulics research will seek to clarify the mechanisms by which plants can be damaged by moving boats. This will aid the design of channels that minimise such damage and the development of boat management techniques. Both projects are part of the CrossCut programme 'Sustainable Development of the Inland Waterways, ' which is part funded by the EU's Interreg IIIB Programme for North West Europe.

IWA National Chairman John Fletcher said, 'The results of the hydraulics research will have far reaching implications, not only for the Montgomery Canal but also for the completion of other waterway restoration schemes where there is an existing high nature conservation value. It will allow us to better understand the hydraulic effects of boat traffic, develop solutions to minimise damage and move projects forward.'