Editing River Aire (section)

== Leeds flood alleviation scheme==
In October 2017 at Crown Point near Leeds city centre and [[Knowsthorpe|Knostrop]] two movable weirs, the first in the UK, were installed in the first phase of a two phase plan to reduce floods. Reducing the height of the weir, by deflating a 'bladder' has the potential to reduce flood levels by up to one metre upstream. The Knostrop weir was operated during the [[2019 England floods]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/live-leeds-weather-rain-flooding-17217110|title=Live: Leeds trains cancelled and diverted but flood warnings lifted|last1=Millington|first1=Matt|last2=Johnson|first2=Kristian|date=8 November 2019|website=leedslive|access-date=17 November 2019|last3=Ovens|first3=Ruth}}</ref> A 600m stretch of land, Knostrop Cut island, was removed allowing the river and canal to merge creating additional flood water capacity. Adrian Gill, area flood risk manager at the [[Environment Agency]] said, "The scheme has reduced the risk of flooding to 3,000 homes, 500 business and 300 acres of development land south-east of Leeds Train Station to Woodlesford".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leeds.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/flood-alleviation-scheme/flood-alleviation-scheme-phase-one|title=Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme: Phase One|website=www.leeds.gov.uk|accessdate=17 November 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604113900/https://www.leeds.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/flood-alleviation-scheme/flood-alleviation-scheme-phase-one|archivedate=4 June 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Phase two will use natural flood management techniques to help slow the flow, helping to protect a further 1,048 homes and 474 businesses. Work on phase two, designed to provide a one-in-100 year level of protection, will take place on an 8&nbsp;km stretch upstream of Leeds station starting in late 2019. A pilot scheme, costing £500,000 is underway (in November 2019). If additional funding can be secured the flood plain near Calverley will be used for water storage providing a one-in-200 year level of protection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leeds.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/flood-alleviation-scheme/flood-alleviation-scheme-phase-two|title=Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme: Phase two|website=www.leeds.gov.uk|access-date=17 November 2019}}</ref>