Federal funding for New York’s US$16bn Hudson Tunnel Project has been frozen, forcing the Gateway Development Commission to suspend works from 6 February after spending over US$1bn and employing about 1,000 site workers. A Manhattan federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order, giving the administration until 5 p.m. on 12 February to restore reimbursements or appeal, while contractors warn that demobilisation, resequencing and remobilisation will add cost and delay. Sites are now in “safe-pause” mode, with dewatering, ground support and environmental monitoring maintained, and assembly of two Herrenknecht TBMs in New Jersey likely to slip beyond the planned spring 2026 launch without funding certainty.

A sinkhole roughly 8–10 m wide and several metres deep has opened on the AJ Burkitt Reserve sporting oval in Heidelberg, directly adjacent to the North East Link tunnel alignment in Melbourne’s northeast. Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority has confirmed the “surface hole” is in the vicinity of active tunnelling operations, leading to a work pause while engineers and emergency crews carry out geotechnical investigations and monitoring. No injuries or structural damage have been reported, but the area remains fully cordoned off pending cause determination and stability assessment.

China’s Zijin Mining is expanding RG Gold’s Raygorodok operation in Kazakhstan with a $500 million processing plant while deploying SKRI’s ‘phytocapture’ system, planting over 100,000 Scots pines across more than 20 hectares about 1.7 km downwind of the open pit. Supercomputer modelling using regional wind-rose data sets tree species and spacing to form multilayered vegetative barriers, not simple landscaping. SKRI reports particulate-matter reductions above 40%, with the forest belt expected to capture roughly one-third of dust emissions as mining advances towards the barrier.

Electrification of mining fleets is advancing beyond early pilots, with battery-electric haul trucks, loaders and light vehicles moving from trial phases into multi-year deployment contracts despite recent pull-backs in some OEM roadmaps. Dan Gleeson details how mines are pairing 6–8 MWh battery trucks with on-site fast-charging bays and trolley-assist lines, and integrating underground BEVs with upgraded 11 kV substations and ventilation recalculations. Operators are reassessing mine plans, ramp gradients and power quality to manage peak loads, charger placement and heat rejection from high-capacity battery systems.

Western Australia is moving to tighten transparency across its diesel and fuel supply chain to protect mine productivity, with new reporting obligations on wholesalers and critical infrastructure operators after recent shipping disruptions and refinery closures. The measures focus on real‑time visibility of stock levels, import routes and storage at key hubs such as Kwinana and Port Hedland, aiming to reduce unplanned shutdown risk for large open‑pit iron ore and gold operations that rely on continuous haul‑truck and power‑generation fuel. For mine planners and operators, the changes signal closer scrutiny of fuel contingency planning, on‑site storage capacity and contract diversification.

South Australia’s $15.4 billion River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project has installed the first of three 300‑tonne tunnel boring machine cutterheads, a key step in delivering Adelaide’s non‑stop north–south transport corridor. The lift confirms TBM assembly is advancing on schedule for the twin‑tunnel section, which will carry high‑volume traffic beneath existing urban development. For civil and geotechnical teams, the milestone signals imminent full‑face tunnelling, with associated demands on segment lining logistics, spoil management and settlement monitoring in densely built areas.

More than $107 million from the latest round of the Federal Government’s Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program (SLRIP) will fund 42 new road projects across Australia, targeting safety and productivity upgrades. Over $91 million of this is allocated to projects on nationally significant routes, supporting works such as intersection treatments, shoulder widening and pavement rehabilitation. Designers and contractors can expect a pipeline of small to medium packages focused on reducing crash risk and improving freight efficiency on existing corridors.

A House of Commons committee warns that accelerating coastal erosion is putting UK transport corridors, utilities and other critical national infrastructure at growing risk, with some assets already within metres of receding cliff lines and undefended shorelines. MPs found current planning rules and fragmented funding streams delay or block schemes such as realignment of coastal roads, relocation of wastewater treatment works and reinforcement of rail embankments. The inquiry calls for a national coastal adaptation strategy, clearer responsibilities between the Environment Agency and local authorities, and long-term funding to prioritise defence, managed retreat or asset abandonment.

Half of small and medium builders report job starts being delayed, with 49% affected, as 72% struggle to recruit skilled trades such as bricklayers, carpenters and site managers, according to the joint FMB and CIOB state of trade survey for H2 2025. Respondents cite extended lead times for critical path activities, difficulty assembling full site teams, and pressure on labour rates as key constraints on programme delivery. For infrastructure and housing projects, this signals higher risk of schedule overrun and tighter competition for experienced site-based personnel.

Major coastal defence works have started on the Sussex coast as the Environment Agency launches its annual spring programme to protect thousands of homes and businesses from tidal and storm-surge flooding. The campaign typically includes beach recharge using imported shingle, repair and raising of timber and rock groynes, and maintenance of concrete seawalls along key frontages such as Pevensey and Shoreham. Contractors will be working within tight tidal windows, with designs based on recent extreme water levels and wave conditions to maintain crest levels and reduce overtopping risk.

Proposals to finally ban cash retentions in UK construction contracts are dissected in Re:Construction podcast Episode 199, with Bishop and Taylor weighing impacts on supply-chain cashflow, SME contractors and existing JCT/NEC payment mechanisms. The hosts also question a Whitehall plan to cut statutory consultation requirements on infrastructure and planning decisions, examining risks for project challenge and programme certainty. A lighter segment looks at plug‑in solar panels and the oddly named fuel component Fatty Acid Methyl Ester, touching on practical implications for site power and plant emissions.

Two major roundabouts have opened on the A12 in East Suffolk to serve the Sizewell C nuclear power station construction site, which is expected to host almost 8,000 workers at peak. The junctions are designed to handle high volumes of HGV and workforce traffic accessing the coastal site, reducing reliance on smaller local roads. For civil and geotechnical teams, the works signal substantial highway interface, pavement design and traffic management demands over the multi-year construction period.

Rio Tinto has committed $1.8 million to Lifeline WA to fund crisis support volunteers answering calls across Western Australia, with a focus on remote mining communities in the Pilbara. The three-year funding package will support recruitment, training and retention of telephone crisis supporters, who handle calls from FIFO workers, contractors and families affected by isolation, shift work and mental health pressures. For mine operators, the move signals continued expectation for structured psychosocial risk management alongside traditional safety systems on large iron ore operations.

Donaldson Filtration Solutions has launched the SSG+ Donaclone air cleaner, a high‑capacity pre-cleaner and filter unit designed for heavy-duty mining engines operating in extreme dust loads. The system combines axial seal primary elements with Donaclone pre-cleaner tubes to eject a large proportion of coarse dust before it reaches the filter media, extending service intervals on haul trucks, loaders and drills. For mine maintenance teams, the unit targets reduced unplanned downtime, more stable engine performance and lower filter consumption in high‑particulate pit and haul road environments.

Johnson Matthey’s DPFi electrically regenerating diesel particulate filter has secured Canadian Standards Association (CSA) certification for underground mining and tunnelling, adding to existing approvals from Canmet Materials and a third independent body. The system uses active electrical regeneration rather than exhaust heat to burn off soot, enabling tighter control of backpressure and emissions on diesel equipment operating in confined headings. CSA certification gives mine operators a recognised safety benchmark for retrofitting diesel fleets to meet stringent underground particulate limits in Canada.

GRS has been awarded the full roads and sewers package for Persimmon Homes’ new residential scheme, The Acorns, at Pepper Lane in Standish, adding to its ongoing work at Persimmon’s Jack Walker Way site in Blackburn. With more than 60 years’ civil engineering experience, GRS will handle end‑to‑end delivery of adoptable highways and drainage infrastructure to Persimmon Homes North West’s quality and safety standards. The repeat appointment signals continued demand for contractors able to manage complete groundworks, utilities interfaces and Section 38/104‑type obligations on volume housebuilding sites.

Coyle Equipment Services has added two Isuzu rigids—a 13.5‑tonne F135.240(E) and a 7.5‑tonne N75.190(E)—supplied by Cordwallis Group and fitted with bespoke dropside bodies from TLC Auto Refinishing. The bodies are engineered for the uneven weight distribution and pressure points of heavy hydraulic attachments, with reinforced decks and multiple heavy‑duty lashing points for varied load configurations. Both trucks also incorporate a working‑at‑height fall restraint system, signalling continued emphasis on load security and operator safety in specialist equipment transport.

A new pedestrian overpass at Ballarat Station in Victoria has opened with stair and lift access to each platform, completing the multi-stage Ballarat Station Upgrade. The fully grade-separated crossing removes the need for passengers to traverse live tracks, improving DDA-compliant access for people with disability, prams and luggage. For designers and asset managers, the project signals continued prioritisation of vertical transport and segregated pedestrian rail crossings in regional station upgrades.

A Ten Minute Rule Bill introduced by a backbench MP in the House of Commons seeks to overhaul how personal protective equipment is specified, designed and procured across the public sector, including for construction and infrastructure works. The proposal targets inclusive PPE sizing and fit for women and smaller-bodied workers, rather than relying on scaled-down male templates, and would place duties on contracting authorities to require compliant kit in framework and project tenders. If adopted, it could force revisions to site safety policies, supplier frameworks and risk assessments where ill-fitting PPE currently compromises protection and task performance.

Canada and Quebec are negotiating a rescue of Glencore’s Horne Smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, the country’s only copper smelter and one of the few North American plants able to treat both copper concentrate and about 100,000 tonnes of e‑waste annually, after the company paused nearly C$1 billion of planned investment over tighter arsenic limits. Quebec may delay a new 15 ng/m³ arsenic cap to 2029 and keep it to at least 2033, while Ottawa considers roughly C$150 million in support for pollution-control upgrades, despite the proposed limit remaining five times above the provincial safety threshold. Closure would further strain North American smelting capacity, disrupt supply to customers such as Nexans’ Montreal operations, and intensify local health and legal pressures already linked to elevated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rates and a certified class-action lawsuit.

Victorian train drivers and around 1000 engineers are training on a full-size X’Trapolis 2.0 replica ahead of the new suburban fleet entering service this year. The simulator replicates the new train’s cab layout, braking systems and signalling interfaces, allowing operators to rehearse degraded-mode running, emergency braking and platform interface management in controlled conditions. For civil and rail systems engineers, early familiarisation with the X’Trapolis 2.0’s performance envelope and control systems will influence future track geometry, power supply planning and station upgrade requirements.

Sandvik has secured five orders from Byrnecut, the world’s largest underground mining contractor, to deploy its AutoMine automation system across multiple underground operations. The contracts cover AutoMine for both loading and hauling fleets and development drills, integrating with Sandvik’s existing underground loaders and trucks to enable tele-remote and autonomous operation from surface control rooms. For geotechnical and operations teams, the move signals further separation of personnel from high-risk headings and tighter control of ground exposure times around drawpoints and development faces.

TECO Australia and New Zealand is promoting controlled conveyor motor starting to cut drivetrain stress in mining bulk handling systems, focusing on how torque and current ramps are managed under load. By using electronic soft starters and variable speed drives instead of direct-on-line starting, TECO aims to reduce shock loading on gearboxes, couplings and belts, particularly on long overland conveyors and high-inertia reclaim systems. The approach targets fewer mechanical failures, longer component life and more stable start-up on heavily loaded conveyors.

Huws Gray has been fined £2.2m plus full costs at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court after 56-year-old labourer Paul Coulson was fatally crushed by a three‑tonne pallet of timber on a conveyor at the Herringswell Sawmills site in Suffolk on 22 May 2024. HSE investigators found workers had entered the conveyor framework at least 19 times in five weeks despite warning signage, with no physical guarding or system change implemented until after the incident. Post‑accident measures now include fixed guarding to prevent access, unwrapping pallets before loading, and expanded CCTV coverage of all conveyor angles.

JCB will from June 2026 offer selected tracked excavators – the 140X, 145XR, 150X, 220X and 245XR – factory‑specified to run on 100% FAME B100 biodiesel derived from recycled vegetable oils, supplied by Syntech Biofuel and compliant with BS EN 14214 and ISCC certification. Machines ordered with a B100 pack and dealer B100 enhanced service contract retain full JCB warranty, and can be converted back to conventional diesel before resale to protect residual values. JCB claims up to 93% greenhouse gas reduction versus standard diesel with no performance loss, giving contractors an immediate low‑carbon option for heavy earthworks plant.

Heathrow Airport is seeking “real-time” expert scrutiny from the Civil Aviation Authority and independent specialists on its proposed £33bn expansion, aiming to avoid cost escalation and schedule slippage seen on HS2. The programme includes a third runway, terminal upgrades and associated surface access works, with early-stage assurance focused on phasing, constructability around live operations and interfaces with the M25 and rail links. For designers and contractors, this signals tighter cost control, more iterative design reviews and closer regulatory oversight of geotechnical risk and airfield pavement works.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle, peaking at category 4 near Exmouth with forecast gusts to 165 km/h and heavy rainfall, has forced port closures at Ashburton, Cape Preston West, Dampier, Varanus Island and Geraldton, disrupting iron ore and LNG export logistics across Western Australia. Rio Tinto suspended port operations while maintaining mining and rail, Mineral Resources halted marine operations at Ashburton under its cyclone plan, and Fenix Resources scaled back non-essential mining and haulage amid diesel shortages linked to Middle East supply constraints. Westgold and Ramelius prepared for significant rainfall around Mount Magnet, with Ramelius planning short-term fuel sourcing from Perth instead of Geraldton.

Ministers have announced a Whitehall drive to cut “overlapping consultations” and “outdated regulations” on the same day the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government launched two further consultations, bringing its total to 15 live exercises. One nine‑week consultation, closing 28 May, proposes redefining Category A building control for higher‑risk buildings (over 18 m/seven storeys) so many in‑flat works and small, low‑complexity communal works move to the simpler Category B route. A second 12‑week consultation, closing 18 June, proposes mandatory certification for fire risk assessors, ending routine self‑assessment by building owners and landlords.

Work to upgrade New South Wales’ Newell Highway between Moree and Boggabilla is advancing, with one package nearing completion as crews mobilise on a new safety and pavement project. Current works at Tackinrbi and South Croppa form part of a staged programme of shoulder widening, pavement strengthening and safety treatments on the northern Newell corridor. For civil and pavement engineers, the focus is on improving heavy vehicle performance and reducing crash risk on this key freight route linking Queensland and southern NSW.

Twenty-two contracts have been released to market under the $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program, with five construction packages and 17 design contracts covering priority sections between Brisbane and Cairns. The program targets high‑risk segments of the 1,677‑kilometre corridor with treatments such as wide centreline and roadside barriers, intersection upgrades and overtaking lanes, aimed at reducing head‑on and run‑off‑road crashes. Designers and contractors should expect staged delivery, brownfield works under live traffic and tight interfaces with existing pavement and drainage assets.

Design work has started on a major safety upgrade to the Mary Gilmore Way level crossing at Bribbaree, south of Grenfell in regional New South Wales, with proposals to integrate machine learning-based train and vehicle detection into the signalling system. The crossing is one of 19 sites being modernised under a Federal program, moving beyond conventional flashing lights and boom gates towards predictive, data-driven control. For road and rail engineers, this signals future requirements for power, communications redundancy and fail-safe integration of ML algorithms into existing interlocking and control systems.

A coastal landslide on the East Devon coast at Branscombe has left multiple timber beach chalets tilted and partially cantilevered over the cliff edge, with foundations exposed after a major cliff recession event reported by the BBC. The failure occurred in weak, highly erodible cliff materials following prolonged wet weather and recent storms, accelerating existing coastal erosion. Local authorities have cordoned off the area and are assessing further instability risks, raising immediate questions over setback distances, slope monitoring, and long-term coastal retreat planning for similar soft-cliff sites.

Conference themes for the 2024 Australian Bulk Handling Expo will centre on practical bulk solids handling, focusing on what works when materials behave unpredictably in real plants rather than in idealised theory. Sessions are expected to drill into issues such as flow blockages, dust and spillage control, and wear on transfer chutes and conveyors under high-throughput conditions. For engineers, the event signals strong demand for field-proven design, maintenance and troubleshooting methods on operating sites, not just new models and simulations.

OTR – Tyres Wheels Service is supplying heavy-duty off-the-road (OTR) tyres and wheel assemblies to Australian mine fleets operating from remote outposts to large open pits, aiming to cut unplanned downtime and tyre-related incidents. The company couples tyre and rim supply with on-site condition monitoring, rotation planning and repair services, enabling better management of haul truck and loader tyre life cycles under high-load, abrasive conditions. For operators, the integrated support model shifts focus from reactive tyre changes to planned maintenance, with direct implications for availability and pit productivity.

REMATRACK TTX conveyor monitoring from Rema Tip Top is being used to prevent unplanned stoppages and product loss on high-capacity belt lines by continuously tracking belt condition and loading. The system uses belt-mounted RFID tags and fixed readers to log individual product movements, detect mis-tracking and slippage, and trigger alarms before damage escalates to a full shutdown. For mine operators, this enables earlier intervention on idlers, skirting and splice issues, reducing downtime and protecting throughput on critical haul and process conveyors.

United Infrastructure has begun an £11m cathodic protection upgrade at National Gas’s Bacton Gas Terminal in North Norfolk, targeting buried steel pipelines and other soil- and water-submerged assets, with completion due in early 2028. Works are being delivered on a live upper-tier COMAH site, demanding detailed phasing, specialist corrosion engineering and stringent safety controls to maintain terminal operations. A Project Environmental Management Plan aligned with ISO 14001 is in place, signalling tighter asset integrity management similar to United’s previous programmes at St Fergus gas terminal.

Middle East conflict-driven disruption to shipping lanes and materials exports is prompting UK engineering firms to warn of “prolonged volatility” in costs and lead times for key inputs such as structural steel, bitumen and mechanical plant. Industry bodies are calling for government action including firmer National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline commitments, targeted guarantees for long-lead imports, and temporary financial support for contractors facing fixed-price public works. Project teams are being advised to revisit risk allowances, programme float and contract clauses on price escalation and force majeure for 2026–2027 schemes.

Gemfields’ 2025 revenue fell 32% to $135.1 million and EBITDA dropped 85% to $6.2 million as disruptions at the Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique and the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia cut production and auction volumes. Seven auctions raised $129 million, but Kagem mining was halted for five months amid weak Chinese demand and oversupply from a rival Zambian producer, while Montepuez faced low premium-ruby recoveries, rising illegal mining and a fatal incursion that killed two police officers. The group is delaying commissioning of its $70 million Montepuez processing plant into H1 2026, has sold Fabergé for $50 million and completed a $30 million rights offer, while warning that Middle East-driven diesel supply risks could hit Mozambique and Zambia operations.

Work to install the second 320m HS2 viaduct over the M6 at junction 4 near Chelmsley Wood will start on 11 April, with engineers sliding the first 107m section of the west deck across a southbound slip road. The operation follows the earlier installation of the east deck and uses incremental launching to avoid long-term closures on one of the UK’s busiest motorways. For designers and contractors, the scheme illustrates practical staging for high-speed rail structures over live strategic highways.

Coastal erosion has destroyed a section of the A379 Slapton line in Devon, severing a key coastal route, but central government has offered only sympathy and no funding or technical commitment to reinstate it. The community, which depends on the road as the primary link between Kingsbridge and Dartmouth, now faces long diversion routes on minor inland roads not designed for current traffic volumes or heavy vehicles. For geotechnical and coastal engineers, the situation signals continued uncertainty over who funds long-term adaptation of low-lying coastal highways exposed to accelerating shoreline retreat.

Government has opened a 12‑week public consultation, running until 17 June 2026, on proposed updates to Approved Document B, covering fire safety guidance for buildings in England. Key proposals include mandatory evacuation lift guidance for residential buildings over 18 m, revised provisions for specialised housing (alarm coverage and sprinklers), new rules on fire spread across external walls, balconies, roofs and roof‑mounted PV panels, and updated fire resistance guidance for car parks. The review also considers implementing Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendations via BS 9414 for assessing external cladding systems, with any changes expected to take effect from September 2029.

Nominations for the 2024 Women in Industry Awards have been extended to 2 April, giving mining, manufacturing, transport, waste and infrastructure businesses extra time to put forward female engineers, operators and leaders. The awards, to be held in Sydney on Thursday 20 June, cover categories such as Excellence in Engineering, Safety Advocacy and Industry Advocacy, spanning both site-based and corporate roles. For geotechnical, civil and mining firms, the extension allows more complete internal nomination processes and recognition of technical project contributions often overlooked in annual HR cycles.

New South Wales will adopt the new National Construction Code (NCC 2025) from May, bringing state projects under the latest nationally harmonised building standards for structural safety, fire performance, accessibility and energy efficiency. Published by the Australian Building Codes Board with Federal, state and territory governments, NCC 2025 is the primary technical reference for design and construction compliance across residential, commercial and public infrastructure. Designers, contractors and certifiers in NSW will need to align specifications, documentation and approvals with the updated performance requirements and referenced standards.

The retirement of Bentley’s gINT platform is forcing geotechnical teams to rethink borehole, lab and in situ data workflows built over decades around .gpj databases and log templates. Firms now face decisions on migrating legacy projects, revalidating correlations and AGS/CSV exports, and integrating cloud-based systems with GIS, BIM and common data environments such as ProjectWise. For practitioners, the key technical risk is loss of data integrity and traceability during conversion, especially where historic projects mix imperial/metric units, custom fields and non-standard symbol libraries.

New South Wales is prioritising diesel and petrol deliveries to mining operations alongside other critical sectors as it manages constrained fuel supplies across the state. The policy aims to keep large open-cut and underground fleets, fixed plant and rail haulage operating, with fuel allocation coordinated through major distributors rather than ad hoc site-by-site deals. Mine operators are being asked to refine contingency plans, including reduced non-essential equipment use and tighter fuel inventory monitoring, to avoid production stoppages if supply tightens further.

A $50 million New South Wales Government package will upgrade key detour routes in the Blue Mountains and Central West following the closure of several sections of the Great Western Highway since 12 March. Works will focus on heavy-duty asphalting, shoulder widening and targeted corridor improvements to carry diverted highway traffic, including higher axle loads and freight volumes. For designers and contractors, the spend signals near-term demand for pavement rehabilitation, drainage upgrades and temporary traffic management on secondary routes now acting as de facto arterial links.

Gold mine output hit a record 3,672 tonnes in 2025 as the Nevada Gold Mines JV between Barrick (61.5%) and Newmont (38.5%) retained top spot with 2,595 koz, despite a 3% year-on-year drop and a brewing dispute over alleged diversion of resources to Barrick’s Fourmile project. Uzbekistan’s Muruntau (1,708 koz, +4%) and Russia’s Olimpiada (1,357 koz, -6%) completed the top three, while Grasberg’s production halved to 937 koz after a September 2025 mudslide killed seven workers and forced force majeure. New entrants and risers included Polyus’ Blagodatnoye at 736 koz (+47% on Mill‑5 ramp‑up) and B2Gold’s Fekola at 530.8 koz (+35.1%), signalling where near‑term volume growth is concentrated.

The National Crime Agency and National Federation of Builders have launched a joint campaign targeting invoice fraud in construction, after Report Fraud data showed £3.9m lost in 83 cases in September 2025 alone, with average losses above £47,000 and 85% of all Payment Diversion Fraud value linked to invoices. Construction is flagged as high risk due to complex subcontractor supply chains, frequent high-value payments and email-based payment instructions that are easily intercepted or spoofed. The campaign urges finance teams to verify any bank detail changes via known phone numbers, resist “urgent payment” pressure and use the NCA/NFB guidance sheet to tighten controls.

Hexagon’s latest-generation Vehicle Intervention System has become the first and only open-pit Level 9 collision avoidance solution to pass the University of Pretoria’s Collision Prevention System Technology Readiness Level 4 test. The UP TRL4 protocol subjects systems to controlled, repeatable collision scenarios to verify automatic braking and intervention performance on large haul trucks and other heavy mobile equipment. The result signals that VIS can meet South Africa’s Level 9 requirement for automated vehicle intervention, moving beyond advisory-only Level 7/8 CPS deployments in open-pit mines.

MPs have pressed the environment minister on whether large-scale river dredging will be adopted to reduce rural flooding during extreme rainfall, amid pressure from farming communities hit by repeated winter overflows. The debate centres on whether increasing channel capacity by removing bed sediment and vegetation in rivers such as the Severn and Wye offers better value than upstream storage, washlands and natural flood management. Engineers will need to weigh short-term conveyance gains against impacts on bank stability, habitat loss, maintenance cycles and downstream flood peaks.