Nant-y-moch Reservoir

Nant y Moch
dam spillway
Location	Cambrian Mountains, Wales
Coordinates	52°28′5″N 3°50′22″W / 52.46806°N 3.83944°W / 52.46806; -3.83944Coordinates: 52°28′5″N 3°50′22″W / 52.46806°N 3.83944°W / 52.46806; -3.83944
Lake type	reservoir
Basin countries	United Kingdom
Surface area	66.8 km²

Nant-y-moch Reservoir is situated in the Cambrian Mountains in northern Ceredigion, Wales. The reservoir which flooded a part of the valley of the River Rheidol and its headwaters derives its name from a stream, the Nant-y-moch (in English = the pigs stream,), which formerly flowed into the River Rheidol at this spot. The dam is about three miles north of the village of Ponterwyd. The reservoir forms part of the Cwm Rheidol hydroelectric power scheme and the headwaters of the reservoir include the source of the River Rheidol. The Nant-y-moch component of the hydroelectric scheme has an installed capacity of 13 MW generated as the water from Nant-y-moch enters Dinas Reservoir ^[1]

The area of Nant-y-moch is currently part of the location for a huge scale wind-turbine development, a project over which there is growing controversy in the area. Scottish and Southern Energy plc (SSE) is planning to build 60 to 80 turbines each proposed to be 145m or 475 feet tall. This is one and a half times the height of Big Ben, and as much as three times the height of turbines used in much smaller earlier projects in Ceredigion. Opponents argue that the benefits of the projects, and approximate constant of 128 - 160MW does not justify the impact on the landscape ^[2].

History

Nant-y-moch Reservoir was created in 1964. The construction of the dam flooded the valley south of it, which included the hamlet of Nant-y-moch. The contents of the graveyard which was to be submerged were relocated to the chapel at Ponterwyd, and a number of cairns were painstakingly moved, some of which dated back as far as the Iron Age.

References

1. ^ [http://www.alltwaliswindfarm.co.uk/links/1803brosjyre_Rheidol_spread.pdf The Rheidol hydro-electric scheme]
2. ^ Nant-y-moch - The proposal

External links

• Aerial photo of the reservoir
• High definition timelapse video of Nant y Moch dam and reservoir
• Panoramic view of Nant y Moch from Drosgol peak