The river valley is flat and prone to flooding, especially in York and Selby. The river has two weirs with locks, at Linton-on-Ouse and Naburn, so that larger boats can reach York. It has been used for commercial navigation since the time of the Romans. The Ouse is tidal up to Naburn Locks.
The main issues on the River Ouse are:
RURAL POLLUTION
PHYSICAL MODIFICATIONS
POLLUTION FROM WASTE WATER
The River Ouse begins as Ouse Gill Beck near Great Ouseburn, joining the River Ure near Linton-on-Ouse. It flows through York, Selby, and Goole before meeting the River Trent at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary. The Ouse is 84 km (52 miles) long, but including the Ure, the system stretches 208 km (129 miles), making it the UK’s sixth-longest river.
The name "Ouse" comes from the Celtic Usa, meaning "water." Its tributaries—including the Swale, Ure, Nidd, Wharfe, Aire, Derwent, Don, and Foss—drain a large upland area of northern England, including much of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors.
There are four riverside SSSIs associated with the Ouse around York; Clifton Ings and Rawcliffe Meadows, Fulford Ings, Naburn Marsh and Acaster South Ings. Ings meadows were traditionally used as a source of hay and to provide late summer grazing for livestock. They are often flooded in winter. The lower end of the Ouse also joins the Humber Estuary SSSi from the M62 (Ouse Carr).
