This historic waterway performs a vital function in draining Romney Marsh during the winter and providing fresh water for irrigation during the summer. The section passing through Hythe is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is the responsibility of Shepway District Council to maintain. In recent years parts of the bank walls have collapsed or moved due to ground pressure. Folkestone and Hythe DC have carried out two schemes to strengthen and replace these sections with a combination of ground anchors and sheet piles.