Possible Construction Of An Artificial Sea Near Watford

Throughout my life I have had recurring dreams about the construction of a artificial sea (or large lake) on the edge of Watford, so I thought it was time to give it some serious consideration. In the future, when I am inevitably mayor of Watford I intend to make it a cornerstone policy of my tenure, and it would be great to get some opinions from people with connections to Watford.

There are multiple scenarios possible, based on scope and budget. The largest would extend beyond the horizon (so 20 miles or more). Generally the best location seems to be to form a shoreline along Radlett Road, with the sea then extending east towards Bushey and Borehamwood. A less ambitious scenario would perhaps see the sea extending from north Watford and ending somewhere around Hemel, following the path of the Grand Union Canal.

In either case, it would be a huge project but not an insurmountable challenge. I foresee the biggest stumbling block being convincing Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council agreeing to their towns being lost beneath the waves for an artificial sea of unknown use. However, with enough compensation I do not see this being a terminal issue to the project. Some residents may refuse to leave their homes, in which case a glass dome would be placed over their house to allow them to continue in situ when the waters come. (Although it would be a shame if those domes were made of poor quality material and cracked....).

Funding could come from building affordable homes on islands among the sea, as well as Chinese investment. In reality, the construction element would be straightforward, simply involving damming the Colne, the Gade and possibly the Chess. Major transport links such as the M25, M1 and West Coast Main line would be put into concrete tunnels before the waters come to ensure their continued use. Smaller roads would no longer serve any purpose so would not be tunnelled.

Possible benefits, include tourism and boosting local wildlife. Current estimates of the humpback whale population in Hertfordshire are between 0 and 1, with most experts at the lower end of the spectrum. With an artificial sea, that number could be boosted into the thousands. Some populations of humpback in the Middle East are non-migratory, so I see no issue in their adaptation to an artificial sea. Other benefits include strengthening Watford's case for city status as well as the possibility of building a pier.

This may all sound fanciful, but the alternative (transplanting the whole town brick by brick to an unoccupied patch of coastal land) would be far more costly and would not be considered by my administration.

Any thoughts or feedback welcome. Would you elect a mayor who's election manifesto is based solely on the above?

 

I would definitely elect a mayor with such vision and ambition. However, I feel that you are missing a basic requirement here, which is that any inland sea must completely drown Luton, preferably without prior warning.

I propose the new shoreline should be at the high land of Kings Langley on Sea and Bedmond by the Mere, stretching North to meet up with Rutland Water, thus taking Leicester out as well. Holiday homes on the Isle of St Albans will go through the roof.

 

Everybody's gone surfi-i-i-n'......surfin' Croxley Green*.













* To be renamed Croxley Marine in due course.

 

Watford should be an independent nation state and a sea would be an excellent step towards this finally taking place.

 

Have you considered using global warming to provide the sea for free?

Instead of electric and green this and that, have everything from a fridge to a PlayStation powered by v8 engines, and in no time at all the sea will appear all by itself

You will save a fortune on construction costs, always a winner with the voters

 

I vote we have lovely crinkly edges like Norway.

 

I feel like this post hasn’t got the attention it deserves.

Mods!?

Perhaps move it to politics section where the intricacies could be properly debated by the finest minds on the forum.

 

If I can be the official pirate.......

Arghhhm in.

 

Why are pirates called ‘pirates’?

 

Because they're piratical, obviously.
http://talklikeapirate.com/wordpress/

 

No, because they aarrgghh.

 

When does a lake become a sea ? Why isn't the Dead Sea a lake ? Do you just need to add enough salt ?
I'm concerned about the amount of pond liner that may be required. Finding the source of any subsequent leaks may be very complicated.
Otherwise I'm fully behind this.

 

Wages.

 

FTFY

 

So, do we use the soil to create our own mountain range or a hell of a rockery ??

 

State of this thread.

 

A bit of escapism is exactly what we need at the moment !

 

Post of the year

No question you arrrggh the bomb

 

Any funding shortages could easily be made up by hosting high revenue events like "Its a Knockout '22" or creating a "SpongeBob Squarepants " Theme park from the glassed over houses of residents who refused to move.

 

Brilliant OP btw..

So nice to see some humour back on the forum.

 

We could name it Watfjiord.