Westwater Reservoir

Westwater Reservoir is an artificial reservoir in the Pentland Hills, Scottish Borders, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of West Linton, and 26 kilometres (16 mi) south west of Edinburgh. It is a drinking water reservoir for Edinburgh and the Lothians and is located 320 metres (1,050 ft) above sea level. It is an important site for wildfowl and is designated as a SSSI and a Ramsar site.

Westwater Reservoir
Westwater Reservoir dam
Westwater Reservoir
LocationPentland Hills, Scottish Borders
Coordinates55°45′23″N 3°24′29″W
Typereservoir
Basin countriesScotland
Surface elevation320 m (1,050 ft)
Official nameWestwater
Designated27 November 1995
Reference no.780[1]

Description

Westwater reservoir was opened in 1969 with an earthwork dam on the West Water, a tributary of the Lyne Water which, in turn, is a tributary of the River Tweed. The reservoir has an area of 36.8 hectares (91 acres).[2] The reservoir is surrounded by the North Slipperfield Estate which manages the land for rough grazing and shooting.[3]

Archaeology

Erosion caused by the creation of the reservoir exposed an Early Bronze Age flat cist cemetery. When this was excavated the archaeologists found nine surviving cists. These contained remains from both inhumations and cremations and most of the deceased were sub-adult or young adults. Evidence of floral tributes was found in three burials and grave goods were also found.[4]

Fishing

Westwater reservoir is used by fly fishing anglers and is stocked with brown trout.[5] The fishing rights were transferred from Scottish Water to the local angling club in 2003.[6]

Conservation

Westwater Reservoir is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Ramsar site. The reason for this is that in the autumn and winter the reservoir is host to a large roost of pink-footed geese which, in the years 2003–2008 had an average peak number of over 40,000 birds, almost 115 of the total population of this species. In addition to the pink-footed geese there is a diverse community of wildlife around the reservoir including breeding common gull, common ringed plover, dunlin and common tern. Other important wintering and passage species include common goldeneye, barnacle goose, tufted duck and Eurasian teal.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Westwater". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. "West Water Reservoir". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  3. Westwater Reservoir SSSI (Report). Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. Hunter, F.; Carter, S.; Davis, M.; et al. (2001). "Excavation of and Early Bronze Age cemetery and other sites a[sic] the West Water Reservoir, west Linton, Scottish Borders". Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. 130: 115–182. Abstract
  5. "Accessible Sporting Estate with Grouse Moor and Productive in Hand Farm". onthemarketcom. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  6. "Anglers offered fishing rights on reservoirs". The Herald. 4 October 2003. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
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