Chasewater Dam

Last week an inert (or  dummy)  French (a 68mm SNEB)  rocket was found on the exposed bed of Chasewater Reservoir.  For more technical details take a look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SNEB) .  SNEB rockets, such as the one found, would have been fired from a pod on an aircraft (such as a Hawk Hunter) and used in air-to-ground combat.   

French bomb

Our team reported the find  to the police which led to parts of the park being evacuated. 

We were also told that this rocket had been fired, but how it came to be in the Chasewater Reservoir is a mystery. If anyone has any information on this, please let us know.

Find out more about Hawker Hunters at: www.hawkerhunter.com/2234/index.html

The first stage of the fish rescue will get underway on Friday 5 March. Contractors will be onsite catching a sample of fish so that the general health of the population can be assesed.

The results of the check will help to determine where the fish will be released. The sample catch could take up to two days to complete. The fish rescue will get underway shortly after, and should be completed in the coming few weeks.

We know many people will want to watch this operation and look at the fish as they are caught so we are are looking into how we can best do this.

We’ll keep posting updates to the blog, and also let you know if there are any opportunities to volunteer as part of the fish rescue operation.

Lots of people have been asking about what will happen to the fish after they have been removed from Chasewater. Here’s a quick overview: 

After the works to Chasewater Dam are completed, it will take between two and three years to refill the reservoir. Lowering the water level will have a significant impact on the ecology of the reservoir bed, on which fish rely for their food and habitat. Once we start to refill it, it will take time for the ecology of the reservoir to recover, and for it to be able to sustain a healthy fish population. If we put fish back into the reservoir as soon as we start to refill it, they would likely be affected due to a lack of naturally occurring food and the condition of the reservoir.
 
Whilst it sounds simple to suggest that we keep the fish we take out of the reservoir, and then put them back in when the works are completed, unfortunatley this isn’t a practical solution.
 
The council has no available water bodies to temporarily rehome the fish. Jeffrey’s Swag is set to be lowered as part of the dam works, and has its own fish population that will need to survive in lowered water levels, so it isn’t an appropriate temporary home for additional fish. Stowe Pool in Lichfield is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and both the Environment Agency and Natural England were not positive about the suggestions of moving fish from Chasewater into the pool.
 
As a result we have sought both private quotes, and also spoken to British Waterways about the fish rescue operation. The private contractors were willing to carry out the works for a considerable charge, but would sell the fish as part of the process. British Waterways on the other hand are happy to rehome the fish in local waterways, but once rehomed, the fish will be owned by British Waterways and will not be returned to Chasewater.
 
Once the water levels and the ecology of the reservoir are back to acceptable levels, we could theoretically consider restocking the pools with new fish, but as we only make less than £500 from angling licenses a year, we won’t have available monies to do this. The lake’s SSSI status would also restrict how we could restock the reservoir, and no alien species or trout would be allowed back.
 
Therefore, we will be allowing the reservoir to restock with fish life naturally from the streams that feed the reservoir, as part of the refilling operation.

Whilst we recongise this may be a disappointing outcome for local anglers, we know it is the most ecologically sound approach.
 
In terms of moving forward, a sample of fish will be caught in the next few days to confirm the health of the population, after which British Waterways and the Environment Agency will agree where the fish are to be released.
 
In terms of the fish capture, we plan to catch the fish when the water level is lower so that it is an easier task, and the operation should be completed by the end of March.

WWII Bomb

WWII Bomb

Last Friday (19 February) the police called the army to Chasewater Country Park to deal with a suspected bomb, found on a newly exposed area on the dam wall, and thought to date back to World War II. (We’ll post some pictures on the blog tomorrow).

The device was taken away by a specialist disposal unit from Nottinghamshire. They later confirmed it was an inert mortar round that was probably used by British troops who may have taken part in training at Chasewater. They also confirmed it probably dates back to World War II.

We wanted to take the chance to remind all blog readers and visitors to Chasewater, that as the water in the reservoir lowers, more and more areas of muddy reservoir bed will be exposed. We would encourage people to keep their dogs and children away from the muddy areas, and not to walk on the reservoir bed under any circumstances, as the mud is slippy, dangerous and could be far deeper than it appears. Thanks!

With regards to the timing of the fish rescue, the team at Chasewater are waiting for the water level to drop a little lower, so it will be easier for us to catch as many fish as possible.

We plan to catch a sample of fish this week, so we can confirm the fish population is healthy. Once the test results are in, we will be able to confirm the locations where the fish will be released.

We continue to work closely with British Waterways and the Environment Agency to ensure that we carry out the operation properly, and we expect the main rescue to be completed by the end of March – before the start of the fish spawning season.

As soon as more details are known they will be posted to the blog.

Recording of the receding water up until February 2010 from our Dam Cam! We’ll keep posting updates, so do check back!

Tell us your stories as the water drops, and the tales of Chasewater rise from the deep!

As the water drops at Chasewater, could the local myths and legends about what is at the bottom of the reservoir be explained?

Are the rumours of a World War II bomber ditched in Chasewater true? Could Chasewater be home to its own Loch Ness Monster? Will we discover the truth of a giant pike that is said to be swimming in the deep?

Why not add your story of what you believe is at the bottom of the reservoir.

Great crested newt

The great crested newt is Britain’s largest and most threatened species of newt. It is sometimes called the warty newt, because it is dark brown to black, with a warty appearance.

The great crested newt’s underside is bright orange, with black markings, that are unique to each newt – a bit like a fingerprint.

Female newts tend to slightly longer than the males. In the breeding season, the males tend to grow a crest (or frilly bit of extra skin) between their head and the tail, as well as a silver streak along the middle of their tails.

Since the 1940s, populations of great crested newts have declined in most of Europe. Because of this, they are protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Searching for great crested newts

We believed that great crested newts lived in pools near to Chasewater Dam, so we carried out a survey of 15 possible pools near to the dam.

The surveys took place between April and June 2009. Nine great crested newts were counted as part of the survey, which suggested that a small population of newts live in the country park.  During the survey, we also counted smooth newts and common frogs and toads.

Keeping the newts safe during the works

After applying to Natural England for a license, we installed black fencing (over 900 metres) near to the dam.  The aim of the fencing is to keep the newts away from the work zone. So far, we haven’t caught any great crested newts, but we have moved 2,276 smooth newts, 34 common frogs and 353 common toads, to nearby ponds and pools.

The black fencing will stay in place until we’ve finished working on the dam.

We’re also improving the habitats where we move the newts, toads and frogs to. Works so far include planting scrub and aquatic vegetation, and creating amphibian homes (hibernacula).

A team of reservoir experts and representatives from Lichfield District Council opened the valves at Chasewater reservoir today.

Now that the valves are open, around billion gallons of water will drain out of the reservoir over the next few months, which will allow essential safety improvements to take place

The water will flow into the Anglesey Branch Canal and then into Crane Brook – which will join the River Tame in Fazeley.

Visitors to Chasewater will notice that the reservoir’s water level will drop dramatically over the coming months. As the water level goes down, it will expose the muddy reservoir bed, which visitors are being warned not to go near for fear of soft, deep mud and silt. 

This is why the district council is putting up temporary information panels across Chasewater. These will warn about the dangers, explain what the works involve, and how long they are expected to take.

While the works take place, visitors are asked to:

• stay on marked footpaths
• keep children and dogs under close supervision, away from the reservoir bed
• not walk on the exposed reservoir bed at any time

Councillor Val Richards, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure Services, said: “Opening the valves to drain the reservoir signifies the start of a major programme of safety improvements. Getting to this stage is the culmination of a lot of hard work, and it is good to finally get started on these works as it is essential that we make sure the dam meets current safety standards, making it safe for years to come.

“It is very important that visitors follow our safety advice. However, I would like to stress that Chasewater Country Park will be open as usual. Visitors can still enjoy the surrounding countryside and facilities, including the heritage railway and Innovation Centre.”

The reservoir is being drained in preparation for a major programme of safety improvements to Chasewater’s eastern dam. These works will make sure the dam remains safe for years to come. The works cannot begin until the water level has been lowered. The works will take around seven months to complete and should be finished by the end of the year. The council expects to start refilling the reservoir in September. However, it could take between two and four years to refill it to its normal level, as it will depend upon rainfall levels and the amount of water the local canal network needs.

“I would like to extend our gratitude to the clubs that use Chasewater reservoir for their understanding and patience during these works,” continued Cllr Richards.