Craig Goch Dam

Craig Goch Dam
Location of dam in Wales
Coordinates	52°18′17″N 03°37′26″W / 52.30472°N 3.62389°W / 52.30472; -3.62389Coordinates: 52°18′17″N 03°37′26″W / 52.30472°N 3.62389°W / 52.30472; -3.62389
Construction began	1897
Opening date	1904
Dam and spillways
Height	120 ft (37 m)
Length	390 ft (119 m)
Base width	104 ft (32 m)
Volume	80,000 cu yd (61,164 m3)
Reservoir
Creates	Craig Goch Reservoir
Capacity	6,137 acre·ft (7,569,878 m3)
Surface area	217 acres (0 km3)
Power station
Commission date	1997
Turbines	1 x Francis-type
Installed capacity	480 kW

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 complete 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]

References

1. ^ "CRAIG GOCH DAM, ELAN VALLEY WATER SCHEME". Royal Commission. http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/32521/details/CRAIG+GOCH+DAM,+ELAN+VALLEY+WATER+SCHEME/. Retrieved 17 March 2011. 
2. ^ "The Elan Valley dams - Craig Goch dam". Powys Digital History Project. http://history.powys.org.uk/history/rhayader/craig.html. Retrieved 17 March 2011. 
3. ^ "Dams & Reservoirs". Elan Valley. http://www.elanvalley.org.uk/dams-reservoirs/. Retrieved 19 March 2011. 
4. ^ "Elan Valley Hydro Scheme". University of Strathclyde. http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/01-02/RE_info/hydrocase.htm#The%20four%20dams%20involved. Retrieved 19 March 2011.