Llandegfedd Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Llandegfedd Reservoir is a large 174 hectare water supply
reservoir
and is eight miles (13 km) north of Newport
in south Wales
. The reservoir is very close to Pontypool
, Cwmbran
and Usk
.
in May 1965. The reservoir itself covers an area of 434 acres (1.8 km²) and is managed by Welsh Water
's leisure and conservation company – Hamdden.
It is located near Llandegveth
village.
Spatial zoning based on the reservoir's physical characteristics and sports and conservation requirements compromise:
Seasonal restrictions:
Zoning and other restriction leaflets are available from the on-site ranger service.
and supports a R.Y.A
-recognised sailing
and windsurfing
school that operates from Easter to October. Dinghies, windsurfers and canoes can be hired and fishing is another common activity on and around the lake.
Season tickets and day tickets can be purchased for water sports.
, bream, roach
, pike and perch. The reservoir is well known for large pike catches. The Pike Anglers' Club of Great Britain lists the heaviest pike caught coming from the reservoir – a 46 lb 13oz fish caught on a lure in October 1992 by Roy Lewis.
, Teal
and Pochard, as well as Goldeneye
and Ruddy Duck
, and Bewick's Swan
and Goosander regularly use the reservoir as a roost, the swans feeding by day on Olway Meadows and the Goosanders probably coming from the river Usk
. Divers and rarer grebes are occasional visitors, as are sea duck (notably Long-tailed Duck
). Numbers of Common Gull
, Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull
s roost, and Siskin
and Redpoll
occur in the waterside trees. Residents include Great Crested Grebe
, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard
, while Cormorant
and Grey Heron
are regular visitors, and Merlin
, Peregrine
and Goshawk have been recorded.
A variety of waders pass through, with Ringed Plover
and Little Ringed Plover
, Oystercatcher
and Common Sandpiper
and Green Sandpiper
s being among the more likely. Other migrants have included Osprey
and Hobby
. Breeding summer visitors include Yellow Wagtail.
Water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
and is eight miles (13 km) north of Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
in south Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. The reservoir is very close to Pontypool
Pontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
, Cwmbran
Cwmbran
Cwmbrân is a new town in Wales. Today forming part of the county borough of Torfaen and lying within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, Cwmbrân was established in 1949 to provide new employment opportunities in the south eastern portion of the South Wales Coalfield. Cwmbrân means Crow...
and Usk
Usk
Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient Anglo-Welsh border crossing - the river can...
.
History
It was opened by Newport CorporationNewport City Council
Newport City Council is the governing body for the city of Newport, one of the subdivisions of Wales within the United Kingdom. It consists of 50 councillors, representing the city's 20 wards. Since the 2008 election, the council has been controlled jointly by the Conservatives and Liberal...
in May 1965. The reservoir itself covers an area of 434 acres (1.8 km²) and is managed by Welsh Water
Welsh Water
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is a company which supplies drinking water and wastewater services to most of Wales and parts of western England.It is regulated under the Water Industry Act 1991.-History:...
's leisure and conservation company – Hamdden.
It is located near Llandegveth
Llandegveth
Llandegveth is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, United Kingdom.- Location :Llandegveth is located between Cwmbran, in Torfaen, and Usk in rural Monmouthshire.- History & amenities :...
village.
Management and use
The reservoir is managed in accordance with the Llandegfedd Reservoir – Recreation and Conservation Management Plan and in consultation with the Llandegfedd Reservoir User Liaison Group. The scheme includes:Spatial zoning based on the reservoir's physical characteristics and sports and conservation requirements compromise:
- Conservation areas – shallow northern waters and shores, which are the principal wildfowl over-wintering, feeding and nesting areas.
- Sailing and windsurfing area – all water except conservation and diving zones.
- Diving area – deeper waters near the water outlet.
- Canoeing area – southern section of the Reservoir.
- Boat fly-fishing areas – all except the conservation and diving zones.
- Bank fishing areas – selected shores, which avoid other users and dangerous banks.
Seasonal restrictions:
- Sailing seasons – March to October, and 4 hours on Sundays during winter.
- Fly-fishing season – March to October.
- Diving – primarily a winter activity (poor visibility in summer).
Zoning and other restriction leaflets are available from the on-site ranger service.
Leisure activities
The reservoir is run as a country parkCountry park
A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment.-History:In the United Kingdom the term 'Country Park' has a special meaning. There are over 400 Country Parks in England alone . Most Country Parks were designated in the 1970s, under the...
and supports a R.Y.A
Royal Yachting Association
The Royal Yachting Association is the national governing body for certain watersports in the United Kingdom. Activities it covers include:* Sailing* Windsurfing* Motor cruising* Sportsboats* Personal watercraft* Powerboat racing...
-recognised sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
and windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
school that operates from Easter to October. Dinghies, windsurfers and canoes can be hired and fishing is another common activity on and around the lake.
Season tickets and day tickets can be purchased for water sports.
Fishing
The reservoir supports several varieties of fish – rainbow troutRainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
, bream, roach
Rutilus
Rutilus is a genus of fishes in the family Cyprinidae, commonly called roaches. Locally, the name "roach" without any further qualifiers is also used for particular species, particularly the Common Roach Rutilus (Latin for "shining, red, golden, auburn") is a genus of fishes in the family...
, pike and perch. The reservoir is well known for large pike catches. The Pike Anglers' Club of Great Britain lists the heaviest pike caught coming from the reservoir – a 46 lb 13oz fish caught on a lure in October 1992 by Roy Lewis.
Birds
Wintering wildfowl include large numbers of WigeonWigeon
The Eurasian Wigeon, also known as Widgeon or Eurasian Widgeon is one of three species of wigeon in the dabbling duck genus Anas. It is common and widespread within its range...
, Teal
Teal
Teal may mean:* Teal , a medium greenish-blue color* Various ducks:** Baikal Teal, Anas formosa** Black Teal, Aythya novaeseelandiae** Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors** Brown Teal, Anas aucklandica** Campbell Teal Anas nesiotis...
and Pochard, as well as Goldeneye
GoldenEye
GoldenEye is the seventeenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the first to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film was directed by Martin Campbell and is the first film in the series not to take story elements from the works of novelist Ian Fleming...
and Ruddy Duck
Ruddy Duck
The Ruddy Duck is a small stiff-tailed duck.Their breeding habitat is marshy lakes and ponds throughout much of North America, and in South America in the Andes. They nest in dense marsh vegetation near water. The female builds her nest out of grass, locating it in tall vegetation to hide it from...
, and Bewick's Swan
Bewick's Swan
The Tundra Swan is a small Holarctic swan. The two taxa within it are usually regarded as conspecific, but are also sometimes split into two species, Cygnus bewickii of the Palaearctic and the Whistling Swan, C. columbianus proper, of the Nearctic...
and Goosander regularly use the reservoir as a roost, the swans feeding by day on Olway Meadows and the Goosanders probably coming from the river Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
. Divers and rarer grebes are occasional visitors, as are sea duck (notably Long-tailed Duck
Long-tailed Duck
The Long-tailed Duck or Oldsquaw is a medium-sized sea duck. It is the only living member of its genus, Clangula; this was formerly used for the goldeneyes, with the Long-tailed Duck being placed in Harelda...
). Numbers of Common Gull
Common Gull
The Common Gull or Mew Gull Larus canus is a medium-sized gull which breeds in northern Asia, northern Europe and northwestern North America. It migrates further south in winter...
, Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull
Black-headed Gull
The Black-headed Gull is a small gull which breeds in much of Europe and Asia, and also in coastal eastern Canada. Most of the population is migratory, wintering further south, but some birds in the milder westernmost areas of Europe are resident...
s roost, and Siskin
Eurasian Siskin
The Eurasian Siskin is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European Siskin, Common Siskin or just Siskin. Other names include Black-headed Goldfinch, barley bird and aberdevine. It is very common throughout Europe and Asia...
and Redpoll
Redpoll
The Redpolls are a group of small passerine birds in the finch family Fringillidae which have characteristic red markings on their heads. They were formerly placed into the genus Acanthis together with the linnets and the twite, but their closest relatives are actually the crossbills, that are...
occur in the waterside trees. Residents include Great Crested Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
The Great Crested Grebe is a member of the grebe family of water birds.- Description :The Great Crested Grebe is long with a wingspan. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations...
, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard
Buzzard
A buzzard is one of several large birds, but there are a number of meanings as detailed below.-Old World:In the Old World Buzzard can mean:* One of several medium-sized, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings....
, while Cormorant
Cormorant
The bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.- Names :...
and Grey Heron
Grey Heron
The Grey Heron , is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions...
are regular visitors, and Merlin
Merlin
Merlin is a legendary figure best known as the wizard featured in the Arthurian legend. The standard depiction of the character first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, written c. 1136, and is based on an amalgamation of previous historical and legendary figures...
, Peregrine
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
and Goshawk have been recorded.
A variety of waders pass through, with Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
The Common Ringed Plover or Ringed Plover is a small plover.Adults are 17-19.5 cm in length with a 35–41 cm wingspan. They have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes...
and Little Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
The Little Ringed Plover is a small plover. Adults have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes with white above and a short dark bill...
, Oystercatcher
Oystercatcher
The oystercatchers are a group of waders; they form the family Haematopodidae, which has a single genus, Haematopus. They are found on coasts worldwide apart from the polar regions and some tropical regions of Africa and South East Asia...
and Common Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
The Common Sandpiper is a small Palearctic wader. This bird and its American sister species, the Spotted Sandpiper , make up the genus Actitis. They are parapatric and replace each other geographically; stray birds of either species may settle down with breeders of the other and hybridize...
and Green Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
The Green Sandpiper is a small wader of the Old World. It represents an ancient lineage of the genus Tringa; its only close living relative is the Solitary Sandpiper . They both have brown wings with little light dots and a delicate but contrasting neck and chest pattern...
s being among the more likely. Other migrants have included Osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
and Hobby
Hobby
A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
. Breeding summer visitors include Yellow Wagtail.