A rivers main priority is to move water everything else should come secondI think you mean 'was'.
as I’ve said before my fil started with a water authority at 15 and retired from the same place at 60 by which time he was in charge of 5/6 gangs which most had worked there all their time those guys knew every corner on their rivers that silted up, cut trees and willows and regular dredged where ever needed it
those guys will have forgotten more than the ea/ you and your mate r sole