Bridge on Cher at Montrichard During Drought

As regular readers will know all too well, we are a little bit preoccupied at the moment with the drought.  Sometimes though it is hard to find the words to describe how much drier it is this year compared to years past, so we'll let these pictures do the talking.

This picture is of the depth gauge on one of the bridge arches.  The photo was taken on 1st June 2008 and shows the water level at just over 2.5m. 

Depth gauge on Cher under Montrichard bridge in June 2008

These photos are taken from the Montrichard side of the bridge looking upstream.  The first, from June 2008, had to taken from the road as the promenade along the river is under water.  The depth gauge is hard to pick out but in the first photo it is showing a water depth of over 2.5m.

The second photo was taken on 25 May 2011 from the promenade.  The lowest marker on the depth gauge shows 0.3m when the water is on the top of the concrete plinth around the arch supports, so the difference in water level between the years is well over 2.2m.  

Montrichard bridge 1 June 2008

Montrichard bridge during drought 25 May 2011

This second pair of photos is taken from further downstream.  The first one from 2008 shows the promenade underwater, with the benches looking out of place in the water.  The difference in water level is stark, with the second picture showing how high the arches are.

Montrichard bridge 1 June 2008

Montrichard bridge during drought 25 May 2011

This last pair of pictures is from the Montrichard side looking downstream.  In the top photo you can just see the promenade disappearing into the water with the path under the arch impassable. 

Montrichard bridge 1 June 2008

Montrichard bridge during drought 25 May 2011