Grimwith Reservoir | |
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A view of Grimwith Reservoir from the ruin on the north shore.
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Location | Yorkshire Dales, England |
Coordinates | 54°04′48″N 01°54′41″W / 54.08000°N 1.91139°WCoordinates: 54°04′48″N 01°54′41″W / 54.08000°N 1.91139°W |
Type | Reservoir |
Primary inflows | Blea Beck, Gate Up Gill, Grimwith Beck |
Primary outflows | River Dibb |
Catchment area | 25.5 km2 (9.8 sq mi) |
Basin countries | United Kingdom |
Surface area | 1.47 km2 (0.57 sq mi) |
Average depth | 14.8 m (49 ft) |
Water volume | 21,772,000 m3 (4.789×109 imp gal) |
Surface elevation | 288 m (945 ft) |
Grimwith Reservoir is located in the Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire, England. It is accessed from the B6265 road 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Hebden and 8 miles (13 km) west of Pateley Bridge. With a surface area of 1.47 square kilometres (0.57 sq mi) and holding 21,772,000 cubic metres (4.789×109 imp gal) of water it is Yorkshire Water's largest reservoir.
The original reservoir was built in 1864 by the Bradford Corporation, the Local Authority for the city of Bradford, approximately 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level in Wharfedale. Following an agreement made in 1970 the size of the reservoir was increased by seven times and the water level was raised by 20 metres (66 ft), with work starting in 1976 and being completed in 1983. The reservoir outlet is the site of a renewable energy project that saw the installation of a small turbine that generates 1400 MWh of electricity per annum.
The reservoir is an important area for birds and is home to wildfowl such as Eurasian wigeon, teal, greylag geese and Canada geese. Other birds that can be seen at various times in the area include ringed plover, northern lapwing, common redshank, Eurasian curlew, reed bunting, lesser redpoll, whinchat and sedge warbler.