It has now been just over a year since the valves were opened to start emptying Chasewater reservoir, I wrote about it at the time see the original post HERE. I Have been posting different photos over the past 12 months on that article, but thought it was time to do a complete update a year on after its was started to be drained.
On Tuesday 8th February I went over to Chasewater park & reservoir with camera to see how the work has progressed. You can see a gallery of some of the photos I took. These photos are more just for reference, if you look at previous article or my photo albums you can see other photos over the last year.
I spoke to two of the workmen onsite to get some info about the work ongoing. At the moment the reservoir is still 200mm above the canal water level. So some water still need to be drained. Though work does look like is being carried out at the moment. From the little old pier it is all fenced off with work access, this is the main area of work at the moment with around nine portacabins, also the whole of Pool Road is blocked off ie the road and path above and to the side of the dam. So you cant walk down that way from the visitors centre side to the canal access.
The main work as most people know is they are strengthening and giving it extra support to the dam wall. I was told this is estimated that the work would be complete around November 2011. And as far I could gather it will then fill up naturally ie by rain water etc and this could be upto 5 years to reach the original water level of the reservoir.
Remember the park, visitors centre, steam train railway & station are still open. You can still enjoy the walks around chasewater as well as the views. you should stick to the pathways around the reservoir, but if you do go onto the dried bed of the reservoir be care as parts do still have some deep water and the sand / stones can be slippy also parts of the ground are not firm under foot.
If anyone reading this has further information please comment on here, so that any information is shared. also as i get more information I will post it on this page. Below are some photos of that day.
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