The Environment Agency looks after the River Thames and its tributaries throughout Oxford which is in its South East Region covering Kent & South London Area, Solent & South Downs Area, North East Thames Area and West Thames Area. After the Canal and River Trust, the Environment Agency is the second largest navigation authority in the United Kingdom managing navigation for 634 miles (1,020 km) of England's rivers.

We have a team of lock keepers who operate the locks and weirs to meet the needs of the users of the Thames and also do what they can to reduce the risk of flooding.  We also have a team of maintenance staff working out of our Osney depot who maintain and rebuild the structures up and down the length of the river.  We also offer several locations for fishing on the river through our lock and weir fishing permit scheme.If you are walking the Oxford Canal Heritage Trail and decide to return to Oxford via Wolvercote and then following the river Thames along Port Meadow, you will pass this lock