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Carsfad Dam And Fish Ladder

Dam (20th Century), Fish Ladder (20th Century)

Site Name Carsfad Dam And Fish Ladder

Classification Dam (20th Century), Fish Ladder (20th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Carsfad Loch, Dam; Carsfad Reservoir; Water Of Ken; Galloway Hydro-electric Scheme

Canmore ID 64261

Site Number NX68NW 25

NGR NX 60656 85669

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/64261

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Dumfries And Galloway
  • Parish Kells
  • Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
  • Former District Stewartry
  • Former County Kirkcudbrightshire

Archaeology Notes

NX68NW 25.00 60656 85669

Dam [NAT]

OS 1:10,000 map, 1981.

NX68NW 25.01 NX 60657 85667 Outlet Valve

NX68NW 25.02 NX 60506 85485 to NX 60555 85431 Aqueduct

For quarry (presumably associated) at NX 60253 85539, see NX68NW 110.

Catchment area: 171 sq miles (443 sq km)

Top water surface: 338ft (103m) OD

Surface area: 100 acres (41 ha)

Drawdown (daily maximum variation of level): c. 2ft (0.6m)

Anon. 1934 ['Galloway Water Power Scheme'].

Carsfad Dam

Purpose: to create head and provide daily storage

Type: arch and gravity

Maximum height of footway above river-bed: 70ft (21.3m)

Total length along crest (including intake): 1650ft (503m)

Length of arch portion of dam: 328ft (100m)

Radius of arch portion of dam: 190ft (57.9m)

Spillway level: 338ft (103m) OD

Normal maximum depth over crest: 3ft (0.9m)

Overfall spillway length: 736ft (224.4m)

Normal maximum spillway capacity: 14500 cusecs

Anon. 1938 ['Galloway Hydro-Electric Development'].

Carsfad Loch (Reservoir) has been formed by damming the Water of Ken. It supplies water to Carsfad Power Station (NX68NW 26), and is a major component of Stage II of the Galloway Hydro-Electric Scheme.

This structure crosses the boundary between the parishes of Kells and Dalry.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 21 October 2005.

Gibb and Partners et al. 1937.

Rock for the construction of this dam has probably been derived from the quarry (NX68NW 110) that is situated uphill to the W.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 8 May 2009.

Activities

Project (2007)

This project was undertaken to input site information listed in 'Civil engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' by R Paxton and J Shipway, 2007.

Publication Account (2007)

This dam is of an unusual shape, being curved in plan to three different radii and of varying heights and crosssections. It is of concrete and of combined arch and gravity form, with a maximum height of 70 ft from the river bed to the footway on the dam top. It was completed in 1937. The dam is located on the Water of Ken about two miles below the Kendoon Power Station and provides a reservoir whose top level is one foot below the tail-race level at Kendoon. Flood waters demanded a spillway extending the full width of the central arched portion of the dam plus the gravity section on the west bank,making a total spillway length of 736 ft. The total crest length of the dam is 1650 ft.

A fish pass of the ladder type is provided comprising 35 steps divided by resting pools into four flights.

The consulting engineer for the dam was Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners and the main contractor was A. M.

Carmichael Ltd.

R Paxton and J Shipway 2007

Reproduced from 'Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' with kind permission from Thomas Telford Publishers.

Field Visit (2010)

This Dam regulates the level of Carsfad Loch, providing daily storage. It is a combination of arch and gravity dam with fish ladder. Water is conducted along an aqueduct to reach Carsfad powerhouse. Carsfad formed part of phase II of the development of the Galloway scheme. This dam is a significant part of the infrastructure of phase II of the Galloway Power Scheme. The dam is of the hybrid arch and gravity type which characterises the Galloway scheme. It has a prominent setting, making a good contribution to the landscape. Architectural design interest is exhibited in the walkway oversailing the spillway on large piers and the functionalist modern classical scheme as part of a cohesive design with the powerhouse. The spillway running at 90 degrees perpendicular to the base of the dam is also a relatively unusual feature. P L Payne, 1988, 24; E Wood, 2002, 50; G Hill, 1984.

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