Whaley Bridge and the Toddbrook dam

[Tannedbaldhead]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/am...

This looks scary.

[Zetec-S]

Not familiar with the area, I assumed it was a good distance away from any town or village.

But no... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Toddbrook+Rese...

I think I'd be a bit concerned if I lived near there

[outnumbered]

The dam is managed by a charity (Canal and River trust) ???

[andymadmak]

617 been up to their usual tricks again? The cheeky scamps

[eldar]

Centred on The Cock, I see....

[CAPP0]

this

Seems to be getting worse, there are lots of pictures on social media. How much water normally runs over it? There's quite a flow currently:



Apparently the whole town has been told to evacuate.

Do we think it's going to give out?

[otolith]

outnumbered said:

The dam is managed by a charity (Canal and River trust) ???

Canals and some navigable rivers used to be run by British Waterways, a state owned corporation, but the government decided to shut it down and hand it over to a charitable trust in a bonfire of the quangos.

It's not a local charity, it's essentially a privatised chunk of national infrastructure run with charitable status.

[Zetec-S]

Town now being evacuated

[bobbo89]

The concrete that's broken up and blown out doesn't look that structural and looks to exist mainly for overflow with the actual structure of the dam still being largely intact. I'd be surprised if that goes anywhere!

[dudleybloke]

Looks pretty bad.
Anyone know how deep the reservoir is?

[Earthdweller]

CAPP0 said:

this

Seems to be getting worse, there are lots of pictures on social media. How much water normally runs over it? There's quite a flow currently:



Apparently the whole town has been told to evacuate.

Do we think it's going to give out?

I don’t think I’d be standing on top of that tbf

[scottydoesntknow]

Yikes, that'll make a mess if it lets go.

[Plinth]

andymadmak said:

617 been up to their usual tricks again? The cheeky scamps

[outnumbered]

bobbo89 said:

The concrete that's broken up and blown out doesn't look that structural and looks to exist mainly for overflow with the actual structure of the dam still being largely intact. I'd be surprised if that goes anywhere!

If the dam is basically just a big earth wall, then that concrete bit is only there to stop the earth wall being washed away, isn't it ? So if the concrete is gone, it's not protecting the earth wall. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oroville_Dam_crisis for a previous example.

[Digga]

outnumbered said:

bobbo89 said:

The concrete that's broken up and blown out doesn't look that structural and looks to exist mainly for overflow with the actual structure of the dam still being largely intact. I'd be surprised if that goes anywhere!

If the dam is basically just a big earth wall, then that concrete bit is only there to stop the earth wall being washed away, isn't it ? So if the concrete is gone, it's not protecting the earth wall. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oroville_Dam_crisis for a previous example.

^That incident was what sprung to my mind too.

I hope they are able to fix the issue and prevent further danger.

[Zetec-S]

Earthdweller said:

CAPP0 said:

this

Seems to be getting worse, there are lots of pictures on social media. How much water normally runs over it? There's quite a flow currently:



Apparently the whole town has been told to evacuate.

Do we think it's going to give out?

I don’t think I’d be standing on top of that tbf

Or anywhere near the bottom.

[anonymous-user]

outnumbered said:

bobbo89 said:

The concrete that's broken up and blown out doesn't look that structural and looks to exist mainly for overflow with the actual structure of the dam still being largely intact. I'd be surprised if that goes anywhere!

If the dam is basically just a big earth wall, then that concrete bit is only there to stop the earth wall being washed away, isn't it ? So if the concrete is gone, it's not protecting the earth wall. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oroville_Dam_crisis for a previous example.

this ^^. Earth dams hold back the water by their mass. If they get waterlogged internally, they can slump, and thin, and then there might not be enough mass left to hold back the water, and once it breaks through, however small, it's game over!

That concrete cap prevents spillway water from seaping into the dam and waterlogging and eroding it.........

[vonuber]

I know the area well, grew up nearby.
Cam recommend driving the b5470.

[bobbo89]

Max_Torque said:

this ^^. Earth dams hold back the water by their mass. If they get waterlogged internally, they can slump, and thin, and then there might not be enough mass left to hold back the water, and once it breaks through, however small, it's game over!

That concrete cap prevents spillway water from seaping into the dam and waterlogging and eroding it.........

Exactly, now that there's no more spillway water though it'll likely hold out. Any more rain though and it'll be squeeky bum time!

[Zetec-S]

bobbo89 said:

Exactly, now that there's no more spillway water though it'll likely hold out. Any more rain though and it'll be squeeky bum time!