the river was one of the earlier rivers to be granted an act of parliament for improvements, to allow navigation to stamford. the act was granted in the reign of elizabeth i in 1571, and detailed how stamford had prospered as a result of the river, but also stated that mills built between stamford and deeping had resulted in it no longer being navigable, as they had diverted the water. powers were granted to restore the river using either the old channel or the new one, although it is not clear exactly what was meant by this. there is no evidence that any work was carried out under the terms of the act.