The open water courses at Wicken Fen, in fact throughout the Cambridgeshire fen area, are referred to by several names. These can often confuse the uninitiated but, with one or two exceptions all refer to the same thing. For the most part, these water courses are part of the land drainage system and all were created and are managed by human intervention.

Lode - These are usually the larger of the water courses. They tend to 'sit' much higher than the surrounding land and carry water from the high ground across the sunken open country to the river system. Many have historic origins, some dating as far back as the Romans.

Drain - As the name suggests these water courses have a drainage use. Normally they refer to significant channels that also conduct water directly to the river system. Unlike the lodes they lend to be at ground level. However, and this is where the confusion starts, some are no more than narrow channels.

Dyke & Ditch - As with some drains, dykes and ditches tend to be rather narrow channels, although not all, and at ground level. They also carried water across lower ground usually to an out-flow point.