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Clywedog Reservoir. World Photography Day - August 19 2022

Llanidloes reservoir 2014

Llanidloes reservoir low levels 2022

Llanidloes reservoir geese fkying in

The main photo shows the reservoir on World Photography Day, and the first PiP is of the reservoir in February 2014. It's possible to see that today's water levels are significantly lower following a long period of drought and unprecedented high temperatures in July and August, despite significant rainfall here at the beginning of the week. The other 2 PiPs show the Afon Clywedog, taken on August 19, which feeds the reservoir and lies to the west.

The dam is to regulate the flow in the River Severn to mitigate flooding and provide support for drinking water abstractions for the West Midlands. It was completed in 1967 and is situated near the B4518 road north of Llanidloes, Powys. It does this by releasing water into the river channel during low flow periods and re-filling during the wetter winter months. This enables major water abstractions to be made from the River Severn to supply the West Midlands with 50 million litres of drinking water.

The concrete buttress dam is the tallest concrete dam in the UK, with a height of 72 metres (236 ft) and a length of 230 metres (750 ft). When at capacity the reservoir contains approximately 50,000 megalitres of water.

It took me a bit of time to find the photo of the dam from 2014 in my archives. I must try a better system.
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21 comments

Trudy Tuinstra said:

fabulous pictures!
2 years ago ( translate )

Gillian Everett said:

Excellent series over time.
2 years ago ( translate )

Gudrun said:

A great viewpoint, but what a worrying change!
People are wasting water as if there was no tomorrow and I have read that in the UK a lot of drinking water is lost through leaky pipes....
2 years ago

Colin Ashcroft said:

This is a superb viewpoint of a very steep dam wall. The contrast with the reservoir full is excellent. The water shortage is an example of successive government failures to think ahead. The rain is falling and enough is captured but it is not available to all. The lack of a national water grid the real solution was never started.

I did think of this as a subject but saw your discussion yesterday and changed my mind. Our local reservoirs in Longdendale are low but we have seen them lower. In the East (into South Yorkshire) there are some that are empty.
2 years ago

Jean-Paul said:

Really awsome landscape view.
And a great story behind the pics. Thx for sharing!
2 years ago

Marta Wojtkowska said:

Beautiful shots, lovely composition of those two.
I see that the older one was taken in autumn, or maybe in late autumn.
Let's hope that by this autumn water levels will by appropriately high again.
2 years ago

Ulrich John said:

That’s excellent, Amelia !
2 years ago ( translate )

Nick Weall said:

Precious water and beautiful scenery. Thanks for all the info too.
2 years ago

Keith Burton said:

A thought provoking set of images Amelia...........which really get us thinking about climate change and particularly our use of natural resources........like water!

The difference between the water levels is quite staggering!

I like all these photos..........the image in the first PiP is my favourite as, ironically, I find the landscape very attractive.

Lovely shots of the Canada Geese and a well researched and written narrative too.
2 years ago

Amelia replied to Keith Burton:

I too prefer the 2014 version, Keith. Low winter light is much warmer sometimes, maybe due to the dead bracken on the hills..
2 years ago

Valfal said:

A wonderful capture of the dam and an excellent subject for the theme.

Happy World Photography Day, Amelia!
2 years ago

Rosalyn Hilborne said:

This is a superb series Amelia. Beautifully photographed.
Good information and something we should all be worried about.
2 years ago

Annaig56 said:

très jolie évasion,
2 years ago ( translate )

Stephan Fey said:

Sehr beeindruckende Bilder, Amelia!
2 years ago ( translate )

Eric Desjours said:

Totally impressive, via superb captures. The PiPs are also very nice.
2 years ago ( translate )