A 260-year-old canal is at risk of drying out.
The Sankey Canal, between Bewsey Lock, in Warrington, and Spike Island, in Widnes, is at risk as its main water supplier stops generating electricity.
Fiddlers Ferry Power Station is awaiting demolition, meaning the canal could be remarkably changed.
First opened in 1757, the canal is recognised as one of the first from the Industrial Revolution.
The canal helped to kickstart the economic development of the area, and the main reason for building the canal was to develop the Lancashire Coal Field around St Helens.
This helped to supply the expanding population of Liverpool with cheaper fuel.
The canal is also recognised as an important wildlife corridor by local authorities, as well as a tourist attraction.
If the canal were to dry up, it's said the loss to wildlife would be "enormous", with the waters being "heavily stocked" with fish.
The canal is also a local beauty spot for families, cyclists and walkers.
Originally the canal took feed water from Carr Mill Dam in St Helens and the Sankey Brook but with in-filled sections on the line these sources have not been available and the canals lower sections relied on the power station.
The locks are also functional along this stretch and give access to the tidal Mersey.
Over the past 10 years a vast amount of money, effort and time has been spent on installing a new swing bridge at Tan Hose Lane, an electrically operated lift bridge at Fiddlers Ferry and a further swing bridge is planned for later this year at Spike Island.
Other improvements have included the upgrading of the towpaths and the installation of the canal milestones donated by the canal society and various sponsors.
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Jim Forkin Inland Waterways Association Chairman (Chester and Merseyside Branch) said “This canal has associations with the beginning of the civil engineering profession in Britain, it was to help start the canal building manias which facilitated the industrial revolution and it needs to be saved and restored.
"Global warming resulting in the closing of coal fired power stations is something we have to accept and we can only encourage the engineers working on the project to resolve the issues promptly”.
