Wimbleball Lake
Encyclopedia
Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor
in Somerset
, England, is a water supply reservoir
constructed in the 1970s and completed in 1979.
The 161 feet (49 m) high dam
is of concrete buttress
construction and impounds the River Haddeo
to provide a water storage capacity of some 21,000 megalitres over an area of 374 acres (1.5 km²). Aggregate for the dam came from a quarry at Bampton
and sand from Uffculme
. These were combined to give a pinkish tinge to blend in with the local geology.
The tributary valleys include the River Pulham, which passes the village of Brompton Regis
and continues to Hartford where it joins the Haddeo.
At times of low flow in the River Exe
, water is released into the river for abstraction
downstream at Tiverton and Exeter
. The effects of this regulation of the water flow from the lake have been studied by comparing the regulated River Haddeo and the neighbouring (unregulated) River Pulham. It showed that the main thermal effects of impoundment and regulation have been to raise mean water temperature, eliminate freezing conditions, depress summer maximum values, delay the annual cycle and reduce diurnal fluctuation.
In 2001 - 2002 South West Water
commissioned a detailed assessment of fish population, physical habitat, flow and water quality data within the River Haddeo, since it has been subject to regulated releases from Wimbleball Reservoir, to identify potential bottlenecks restricting the development of juvenile salmon
populations.
Managed by the charity South West Lakes Trust, the lake offers a popular location for walking
, camping
, birdwatching
, angling
, sailing
, windsurfing
, canoeing
, rowing
and kayaking
. In December 2005 the trust was successful in obtaining funding for a £1 million project to provide a new rowing store, conversion of barn space into showers and changing areas, new sports equipment, an accessible bird hide, and interpretation, improved access, and signage around the site. In 2006 a new £1 million activity centre opened.
Wimbleball Sailing Club provides training, cruising and racing for its members, it is a non profit family sailing club operating every Sunday throughout the year and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday during the summer. The club is also home to a Sailability group providing sailing for the disabled.
The southern end of the lake is overlooked by the tower of Old Church of St James, Upton
.
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England, is a water supply 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...
constructed in the 1970s and completed in 1979.
The 161 feet (49 m) high dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
is of concrete buttress
Buttress dam
A buttress dam or hollow dam is a dam with a solid, water-tight upstream side that is supported at intervals on the downstream side by a series of buttresses or supports. The dam wall may be flat or curved. Most buttress dams are made of reinforced concrete and are heavy, pushing the dam into the...
construction and impounds the River Haddeo
River Haddeo
The River Haddeo on Exmoor in Somerset, England flows from the Wimbleball Lake to the River Exe.The valley of the river consists of three tributary valleys extending down from the surrounding farmland to merge with the River Haddeo in the south...
to provide a water storage capacity of some 21,000 megalitres over an area of 374 acres (1.5 km²). Aggregate for the dam came from a quarry at Bampton
Bampton, Devon
Bampton is a small town in Devon, England close to the south-eastern corner of Exmoor and on the River Batherm, a tributary of the River Exe. It is about 10 km north of Tiverton.-History:...
and sand from Uffculme
Uffculme
Uffculme is a village located in the Mid Devon district, of Devon, England.-History:Situated in the Blackdown Hills on the B3440, close to the M5 motorway, near Cullompton Uffculme is on the upper reaches of the River Culm. Historically, it was a parish in Bampton Hundred, under the Peculiar...
. These were combined to give a pinkish tinge to blend in with the local geology.
The tributary valleys include the River Pulham, which passes the village of Brompton Regis
Brompton Regis
Brompton Regis is a village and civil parish in the West Somerset district of Somerset, England about north-east of Dulverton. It is situated on the River Haddeo in the Brendon Hills within the Exmoor National Park, close to Wimbleball Lake, a water supply reservoir constructed in the 1970s and...
and continues to Hartford where it joins the Haddeo.
At times of low flow in the River Exe
River Exe
The River Exe in England rises near the village of Simonsbath, on Exmoor in Somerset, near the Bristol Channel coast, but flows more or less directly due south, so that most of its length lies in Devon. It reaches the sea at a substantial ria, the Exe Estuary, on the south coast of Devon...
, water is released into the river for abstraction
Water abstraction
Water abstraction, water extraction, or groundwater abstraction is the process of taking water from any source, either temporarily or permanently. Most water is used for irrigation or treatment to produce drinking water....
downstream at Tiverton and Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
. The effects of this regulation of the water flow from the lake have been studied by comparing the regulated River Haddeo and the neighbouring (unregulated) River Pulham. It showed that the main thermal effects of impoundment and regulation have been to raise mean water temperature, eliminate freezing conditions, depress summer maximum values, delay the annual cycle and reduce diurnal fluctuation.
In 2001 - 2002 South West Water
South West Water
South West Water provides drinking water and waste water services throughout Cornwall and Devon and in small areas of Dorset and Somerset. South West Water came into being in 1989 with the privatisation of the water industry...
commissioned a detailed assessment of fish population, physical habitat, flow and water quality data within the River Haddeo, since it has been subject to regulated releases from Wimbleball Reservoir, to identify potential bottlenecks restricting the development of juvenile salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
populations.
Managed by the charity South West Lakes Trust, the lake offers a popular location for walking
Walking
Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
, camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
, angling
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
, 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...
, 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...
, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
and kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
. In December 2005 the trust was successful in obtaining funding for a £1 million project to provide a new rowing store, conversion of barn space into showers and changing areas, new sports equipment, an accessible bird hide, and interpretation, improved access, and signage around the site. In 2006 a new £1 million activity centre opened.
Wimbleball Sailing Club provides training, cruising and racing for its members, it is a non profit family sailing club operating every Sunday throughout the year and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday during the summer. The club is also home to a Sailability group providing sailing for the disabled.
The southern end of the lake is overlooked by the tower of Old Church of St James, Upton
Old Church of St James, Upton
The Old St James's Church is a former church in the village of Upton, Somerset, England, of which only the tower remains, overlooking Wimbleball Lake. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building, and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust...
.