Canal & River Trust survey shows boater satisfaction falling after drought disruption

England and Wales’ prolonged drought in 2025 left a lasting mark on the country’s inland waterways, with new figures showing boater satisfaction has fallen as cruising plans were disrupted by unprecedented canal closures. While Canal & River Trust says confidence has held up better than expected, the survey highlights how increasingly extreme weather is reshaping expectations for canal networks across the UK.

In its latest Annual Boaters’ Survey results, Canal & River Trust says overall satisfaction is now 50 per cent, down from 55 per cent in 2025 but remaining above the 2024 low point of 46 per cent. This comes in a context of ‘significant disruption’ across the network.

One in five canals closed at peak of crisis

The results reflect the impact of one of the most severe UK droughts on record in summer 2025, which led to widespread navigation restrictions and, at its peak, the closure of around 20 per cent of the canal network in England and Wales.

Seventy per cent of boaters said they were unable to navigate as expected because of reduced water availability.

“These results reflect the impact of an exceptionally challenging summer, when prolonged dry weather led to significant disruption across the network,” says Alex Hennessey, national boating manager at Canal & River Trust. “We know this had a real effect on people’s enjoyment, leaving many boaters high and dry and unable to complete their cruising plans.

“While overall satisfaction has reduced, it remains above the low point seen in 2024. Broader sentiment towards the trust has held steady, suggesting there is a degree of resilience in how boaters view our work. We want to have a much better relationship with boaters, and we need to build that trust through better communication, a clearer explanation of our work, and involving boaters in the issues that affect them.”

Stoppages emerged as the dominant factor affecting experience on the waterways, with 58 per cent of boaters saying they negatively influenced their satisfaction, a significant increase compared with 15 per cent in 2025.

Boaters are, however, divided on the extent to which these challenges could have been mitigated. Just over half felt that closures were outside the trust’s control due to the drought, while 32 per cent believed more could have been done to reduce the impact. The full report can be read online.

Better Boating Plan delivers progress in some areas

Findings also indicate that some elements of delivery under the Better Boating Plan continue to perform relatively well with continued improvement in areas such as vegetation management.

The survey reinforces the importance of maintaining focus on core operational priorities. Measures relating to navigation and infrastructure, including keeping waterways navigable and locks operational, have seen a decline in sentiment this year, while essential facilities and waste services are identified as weaker areas of perceived performance.

“The findings underline the importance of the Better Boating Plan’s ongoing investment, particularly our focus on navigation, maintenance and communication. We will continue to prioritise these areas as we invest in the network and plan for the increasing pressures of more extreme weather,” notes Hennessey.

The 2026 survey achieved a record 2,042 responses, which the trust says provides ‘a strong and representative evidence base’ for understanding boater experience across the network.