plans to re-route the outfall along a new channel which would meet the river witham at the scalp, near boston, were authorised in 1794, but the money could not be raised at the time, due to the financial crisis caused by the french wars. grundy's shorter channel had been finished by 1810, improving both drainage and navigation. james walker reported in 1835 on further improvements, making the recommendation that the river below spalding should be constrained between high banks, so that the scouring action of the water would dredge its own channel. rather than excavating, which he estimated would cost £70,000, he suggested using fascines made of thorn branches, around which silt would be deposited. such a scheme would only cost £13,000, and the work went on for many years. the effects of the embankments had resulted in the bed of the river below fosdyke being around lower by 1845. in 1867, the river welland outfall act enabled the trustees to raise money to repair the walls where the tide had washed away some of the fill behind the fascines. a dredger was employed between 1889 and 1890, which had been invented by a mr harrison, the superintendent of works.