Craig Goch Dam

The Craig Goch Dam, often called the Top dam, is a masonry dam in the Elan Valley of Wales and creates the upper-most of the Elan Valley Reservoirs. Construction on the dam began in 1897, and it was completed in 1904. The primary purpose of the dam and the other reservoirs is to supply Birmingham with water.[1][2] In 1997, a 480 kW hydroelectric generator began operation at the dam.[3][4]

Craig Goch Dam
Location of dam in Wales
Coordinates	52°18′17″N 03°37′26″W
Construction began	1897
Opening date	1904
Dam and spillways
Height	120 ft (37 m)
Length	390 ft (119 m)
Width (base)	104 ft (32 m)
Dam volume	80,000 cu yd (61,164 m^3)
Reservoir
Creates	Craig Goch Reservoir
Total capacity	6,137 acre⋅ft (7,569,878 m^3)
Surface area	217 acres (1 km^2)
Power Station
Commission date	1997
Turbines	1 x Francis-type
Installed capacity	480 kW

Potential river transfer scheme

The Craig Goch reservoir had been identified in the 1970s and in the 1990s as a potential source of water for the south-east of England.[5] The latest project envisaged raising the existing dam, adding a secondary dam at the head of the River Ystwyth valley and piping water from the high head generated into the River Severn and subsequently transferring it by pipeline aqueduct to the head-waters of the River Thames in the Cotswolds.[5]

Media appearances

Craig Goch Dam was featured prominently in Episode 3 Series 3 of BBC Wales drama series Hinterland, broadcast 2017.

References

1. "CRAIG GOCH DAM, ELAN VALLEY WATER SCHEME". Royal Commission. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
2. "The Elan Valley dams - Craig Goch dam". Powys Digital History Project. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
3. "Dams & Reservoirs". Elan Valley. Archived from the original on 24 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
4. "Elan Valley Hydro Scheme". University of Strathclyde. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
5. "Thames scheme threatens river life". New Scientist. 3 August 1996. Retrieved 3 September 2020.