View source for Chasewater

{{Short description|Reservoir in Staffordshire, England}}
{{distinguish|Chacewater}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name          = Chasewater
| image         =  Chasewater Pier 20120105.jpg
| alt           = A large lake with a jetty and a water tower
| caption       = The reservoir in January 2013
| image_bathymetry   = 
| alt_bathymetry     = 
| caption_bathymetry = 
| location           = near [[Burntwood]], Staffordshire
|pushpin_map=Staffordshire
| coords             = {{Coord|52.664074|-1.941686|region:GB|display=title,inline}}
| type               = [[canal]] reservoir
| inflow             = Big Crane Brook, Little Crane Brook, Norton Brook, Chasetown Brook
| outflow            = via culvert to Anglesey Branch of [[Wyrley and Essington Canal]]
| catchment          = {{convert|9|km2|acre}}
| basin_countries    = England
| date-built         = 1797 (''Rebuilt after [[Dam failure|breach]], 1800'')
| date-flooded       = 
| agency             = [[Staffordshire County Council]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/News/chasewaterjoinsstaffordshirecountycouncilsfamilyofcountryparks.aspx |title=Chasewater joins Staffordshire County Council's family of country parks |publisher=Staffordshire County Council |date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110930105135/http%3A//www.staffordshire.gov.uk/News/chasewaterjoinsstaffordshirecountycouncilsfamilyofcountryparks.aspx |archive-date=30 September 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| length             = {{convert|2.04|km|miles}}
| width              = {{convert|0.61|km|miles}}
| area               = {{convert|1.08|km2|acre}}
| depth              = {{convert|3.4|m|ft}}
| max-depth          =  {{convert|11.3|m|ft}}
| volume             = 4,400,000&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup> (4.4&nbsp;billion litres)
| residence_time     = 
| shore              =  {{convert|5.6|km|miles}} 788 open miles

| elevation          = {{convert|152|m|ft}}
| frozen             = 
| islands            = 
| cities             = 
| reference          =
}}
'''Chasewater''' is a [[reservoir (water)|reservoir]] located in the parish of [[Burntwood]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadDownNav.do?a=7&b=799437&c=Burntwood&d=16&e=16&g=485193&i=1001x1003x1018&m=0&r=1&s=1248267980078&enc=1&sampleAreaId=6094749&largeMap=true|title= Area: Burntwood CP (Parish) |work=Office for National Statistics|access-date=22 July 2009}}</ref> and the [[Lichfield (district)|district of Lichfield]] in Staffordshire, England. Originally known as Norton Pool and Cannock Chase Reservoir, it was created as a canal feeder reservoir in 1797.<ref name="Waterscape">{{cite web|url=http://www.waterscape.com/canals-and-rivers/chasewater |title= Waterscape – Chasewater|publisher=[[British Waterways#Waterscape|Waterscape]]}}</ref> The reservoir was created to directly supply the [[Wyrley and Essington Canal]] and maintain levels in the {{convert|160|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Birmingham Canal Navigations|Birmingham Canal Network]]. During a period of great industrial growth in the [[Black Country]] region the maintenance of water levels in canal infrastructure was essential and Chasewater was in great demand. As canals became less essential for transport of goods during the mid-20th century, the reservoir diversified and became a popular public amenity with activities such as water-skiing, sailing, [[wakeboarding]] and cycling. Chasewater is the [[List of reservoirs in Staffordshire|third largest]] reservoir by volume in the county of Staffordshire and the largest canal feeder reservoir in the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]].

==History==
An act of Parliament, the [[Wyrley and Essington Canal Act 1794]] ([[34 Geo. 3]]. c. 25), received [[royal assent]] on 28 March 1794, entitled ''"An Act for extending the [[Wyrley and Essington Canal]]"'', this authorised a long extension, from Sneyd past [[Lichfield]] to [[Huddlesford Junction]] on the [[Coventry Canal]], together with the raising of up to £115,000 to complete construction.<ref name=priestley>[http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/sdoc.php?wpage=PNRC0702#PNRC700 Joseph Priestley, (1831), ''Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain'']</ref> As part of the act the Wyrley and Essington Canal Company were required to provide a water source to keep the new length of canal topped up.<ref name=priestley/>

A site in the Crane Brook Valley was selected to be dammed to create a reservoir which would provide water to the new stretch of canal. Excavations started in the valley floor in 1796 and were used to build earthwork dams along the eastern and western edges of the reservoir. A feeder channel to supply water to the canal was cut through from the eastern dam to the top of the locks at [[Ogley Junction|Ogley Hay]] {{convert|1.5|mi}} to the south east.

The reservoir opened on 8 May 1797, however in June 1799 the eastern dam burst releasing a flood wave downstream along the Crane Brook Valley towards [[Shenstone, Staffordshire|Shenstone]], about 4.5 miles to the south east. The cause of the burst was not clear however it was likely that no overflow system was provided and a summer storm caused the dam to overtop and erode the earth embankment.<ref name=ssw>{{Citation|url=http://www.chasewater.org.uk/pdffiles/History%20of%20Chasewater%20-%20vol%201.pdf |title=A Chronology of the History of Chasewater – Volume 1 (pre-history to 1850) |access-date=14 April 2012 |publisher=Chasewater Wildlife Group |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204070734/http://www.chasewater.org.uk/pdffiles/History%20of%20Chasewater%20-%20vol%201.pdf |archive-date=4 February 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> The flood wave caused significant damage with roads and bridges destroyed, fields flooded and livestock killed.<ref name=ssw/> The canal company paid out compensation to all who had suffered losses and set about rebuilding the dam. The dam was rebuilt thicker and wider than previously with its inner faces lined with limestone.<ref name=ssw/> In the March 1800 the dam had been rebuilt by [[Thomas Dadford]]{{sfn|Shill|2002|p=28}} and the reservoir refilled. A watch house was built by the canal company with a full-time watchman to safeguard against any similar incidents in the future.

[[Image:Chasewater Valve House.jpg|thumb|left|The Valve House on the crest of the dam, built in 1905]]
In 1840 ownership of the reservoir passed to [[Birmingham Canal Navigations]] after the company acquired the Wyrley and Essington Canal Company.<ref name=ssw/> During the mid-19th century the coal deposits beneath the reservoir and the surrounding area began to be mined on a large scale due to the [[Industrial Revolution]]. The landowner of the area, the [[Marquess of Anglesey]] planned to open pits near to the reservoir. The Anglesey Branch of the [[Wyrley and Essington Canal]] was constructed between 1848 and 1850 and made the existing feeder channel navigable. In 1849 the marquess opened the Hammerwich Colliery, located adjacent to the Anglesey Branch at the toe of the dam. After barely eight years of operation the colliery last drew coal in January 1857, as it became impossible to work due to the influx of sand and gravel caused by working too close to unconsolidated surface deposits. Many other collieries were opened at this time around the reservoir and continued to be mined into the 20th century.

[[Image:Norton Pool early 1900s.png|thumb|right|Norton Pool in the early 20th century]]

After the opening of the [[South Staffordshire Line|South Staffordshire Railway Line]] in 1849 rail infrastructure serving the collieries around the reservoir began to expand. [[John Robinson McClean]] engineered the rail line linking the South Staffordshire Line to the Hammerwich and Uxbridge Collieries as well as the Norton Branch. McClean leased pits from the Marquess of Anglesey and formed the Cannock Chase Colliery Company in 1859. In 1871 the rail line linking the Norton Branch and the Uxbridge Colliery was built. This line, now used by [[Chasewater Railway]], involved the building of a causeway across the Crane Brook valley at the western end of the reservoir. Subsidence in the 1890s led to the extension of the western embankment north to the railway causeway and Norton East Road. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the eastern dam was raised, with this a new hexagonal valve house and weir was built and the capacity of the reservoir was increased.<ref>Birmingham Canal Navigations. ''New Valve House at Cannock Chase Reservoir Drawing''. British Waterways Records, 1905.</ref> The increased capacity of the reservoir created Jeffries Swag at the western end of the reservoir.

Under the terms of an act of Parliament{{which|date=September 2024}} authoring abandonment obtained in 1954, most of the branches of the original Wyrley and Essington Canal were closed, including the branch from [[Ogley Junction|Ogley]] to [[Huddlesford Junction|Huddlesford]], which was abandoned in 1955. The closing of this section of canal reduced the demand for water from Chasewater. On 21 Oct 1957 the reservoir was purchased by [[Brownhills]] Urban District Council from the [[British Transport Commission]] for £5,600 and the reservoir was renamed Chasewater.

During the mid-20th century the majority of mines were closed around Chasewater and the area was becoming increasingly used for leisure purposes. In the early 1950s sailing dinghies were the first to arrive, subsequently speedboats joined them a little further up the shore. By the early 1960s the sailing club moved to its present position and a funfair etc. was set up on the south shore, in 1961 the pier and the castle were built along the south shore. The 1960s saw the final rail traffic passing over the causeway and the final coal barge leaving Anglesey Basin. In 1984 a Chasewater Master Plan and Development Strategy was published, which recognised the nature conservation value of Chasewater and the surrounding land. In 1994 [[Lichfield District Council]] became responsible for management of Chasewater and the site became a country park in 1998. Continued investment in the nature and leisure value at Chasewater led to the building of the £1.9&nbsp;million [[Forest of Mercia]] Innovation Centre in 2000 and the restoration of the [[Chasewater Railway]] as a heritage line. Following an inspection in 2006 it was discovered that remedial works were needed to the eastern dam. As a result of this the reservoir was drawn down {{convert|8|m|ft}} in spring 2010 for works to be complete by spring 2012. In May 2011 [[Staffordshire County Council]] took over ownership of the reservoir to ensure completion of the remedial works.

==Dam and reservoir==
[[Image:Chasewater Dam.jpg|thumb|right|The eastern embankment dam in 2012]]
Chasewater reservoir is retained by two earth [[embankment dam]]s. The main eastern dam runs north-south along the eastern side of the reservoir and is {{convert|560|m|ft}} long with a maximum height of {{convert|14|m|ft}}, a crest width of {{convert|15|m|ft}} and maximum width at its base of {{convert|70|m|ft}}.<ref name="a"/> The secondary western dam is a continuous embankment along the western side of the reservoir and is {{convert|1300|m|ft}} long with a maximum height of {{convert|4|m|ft}}.

The eastern dam was constructed between 1796 and 1797 across the Crane Brook valley damming Crane Brook; a tributary of the [[River Tame, West Midlands|River Tame]]. The dam was constructed with the [[boulder clay]] and [[alluvium]] excavated from the reservoir bed. Later additions to the dam are formed with colliery waste from mining activity in the area. The overflow level of the dam was raised in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to increase the capacity of the reservoir. The dam was raised by approximately {{convert|1.5|m|ft}}, a new bridge was built across the outflow basin above the old one, a new valve house was constructed on the raised crest and a {{convert|3|ft|m}} wave wall was built along the crest.

The western dam stretches from approximately {{convert|300|m|ft}} north of [[Brownhills West railway station|Brownhills West station]] to Norton East Road. The embankment dams the headwaters of streams which formerly flowed westwards to discharge into the [[River Penk]]. The dam was constructed between 1796 and 1797 with excavated materials from the reservoir bed, however it was extended northwards in the 1890s to counteract the settlement of the land due to mining [[subsidence]]. The extended section of the dam was formed with tipped material containing burnt clay and a core of [[Puddling (engineering)|clay puddle]]. South of the railway causeway the dam was widened when the area was landscaped using colliery waste as fill, it now does not resemble a dam although it still acts as one. The extension of the western dam allowed the overflow to be raised on the eastern dam in the late 19th century. This increased the capacity of the reservoir and created Jeffries Swag on the north side of the railway causeway.

The reservoir has a capacity of 4,400,000m<sup>3</sup> (4.4&nbsp;billion litres) and a surface area of 1.08&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (270 acres) with a maximum water depth of {{convert|11.3|m|ft}} near its eastern end. Chasewater is the [[List of reservoirs in Staffordshire|third largest reservoir in Staffordshire]] by capacity and second by surface area.

==Flora and fauna==
The Chasewater habitat supports several rare plant and animal species including:<ref>{{cite web|title=An Introduction to Chasewater & the Chasewater Wildlife Group|url=http://www.chasewater.org.uk/introduction.htm|access-date=11 September 2010|work=Chasewater Wildlife Group}}</ref> [[Luronium|floating water-plantain]] (''Luronium natans''), [[Pyrola rotundifolia|round-leaved wintergreen]] (''Pyrola rotundifolia''), the [[Carnivorous plant|carnivorous]] [[Drosera rotundifolia|round-leaved sundew]] (''Drosera rotundifolia''), [[Ophioglossum|adder's tongue]] (''Ophioglossum''), [[Asplenium adiantum-nigrum|black spleenwort]] (''Asplenium adiantum-nigrum''), [[goldeneye (duck)|goldeneye duck]] (''Bucephala'') and [[tufted duck]] (''Aythya fuligula'')

==Today==
[[Image:Chasewater February 2012.jpg|thumb|260px|right|The main body of the reservoir in February 2012]]
The surrounding area is designated as a country park. The reservoir hosts a variety of activities including [[Chasewater Watersports Centre|water skiing]], sailing, angling and bird watching. Running around Chasewater is the [[Chasewater Railway]].

The large house situated halfway along the dam wall was originally the weir master's cottage. The weir master would walk up to the hexagonal valve house, constructed to the same design as BCN tollhouses, and operate the gate valves to release water from Chasewater reservoir into the canal. The construction of the [[M6 Toll]] between the reservoir and the A5 required the construction of a new bridge over the motorway to access the southern side of the lake, where an Innovation Centre provides enhanced access to the waterfront. Selling land for motorway construction also allowed the [[Chasewater Railway]] to construct new premises and a large engine shed on the lake side.

In June 2019, a [[parkrun]] (a free, weekly timed 5&nbsp;km run/walk) event started at Chasewater, taking place every Saturday morning at 9am.

==Dam repair==
[[Image:Chasewater New Overflow.jpg|thumb|right|The new overflow arrangement built as part of repair works in 2012]]
Following an inspection in 2006 and further investigations in the years that followed, it was decided that maintenance works were needed to the eastern dam.<ref name=a>{{cite news |title=Galliford Try secures centuries old dam |first=Paul |last=Thompson |newspaper=Construction News |date=3 November 2011|page=19 }}</ref> The threats to the dam included [[internal erosion]] and overtopping of the dam during a storm event.<ref name=a/> [[Lichfield District Council]] appointed [[Galliford Try]] as principal contractor for works to start in December 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dam upgrade work project worth £3m|url=http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Dam-upgrade-work-project-worth-163-3m/article-2564782-detail/article.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505084338/http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Dam-upgrade-work-project-worth-163-3m/article-2564782-detail/article.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|date=25 August 2010|work=[[Leicester Mercury]]|access-date=11 September 2010|location=Leicester|first=Ian|last=Griffin}}</ref> In May 2011 ownership of the reservoir passed to [[Staffordshire County Council]] to ensure successful completion of the works. The county council maintained the principal contractor and appointed civil engineers, [[URS Corporation|URS]] to complete the works.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/commercial-property-birmingham/2012/05/04/nominations-announced-for-annual-ice-awards-65233-30902557//|work=Birmingham Post|title=Nominations announced for ICE Awards|access-date=4 May 2012}}</ref>

The water level in the reservoir was lowered by {{convert|8|m|ft}} from February to April in 2010, in order for the works to be carried out on the eastern dam. To reduce the risk of internal erosion filters were installed at the downstream toe of the embankment to control and monitor seepage through the dam.<ref name=a/> To meet regulations the reservoir has to be able to withstand a 1 in 10,000-year storm event. To increase the overflow capacity culverts were installed through the causeway carrying [[Chasewater Railway]], this was to increase water flows from Jeffries Swag into the main body of the reservoir. A new bridge, weir and spillway were built at the southeastern end of the reservoir.<ref name=b>{{Citation | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-17023572 | title = Concrete to help Chasewater reservoirs 200-year-old dam|date=14 February 2012| publisher =BBC News}}</ref> The drawdown culvert which runs from the reservoir bed to the canal was inspected and restored for the first time in 200 years.<ref name=b/> The £5.5&nbsp;million repairs were completed in April 2012.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2012/04/19/5-5-million-egineering-project-ends-at-chasewater-reservoir-97319-30790533/ | title = £5.5&nbsp;million engineering project ends at Chasewater reservoir|date=12 April 2012| publisher =Birmingham Mail}}</ref>

When the water was lowered, two suspected bombs were discovered on the reservoir bed, these were later determined to be [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar rounds]] dating from the [[Second World War]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Justine | last=Halifax | title=Army bomb disposal experts called out for a third time | url=http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2010/03/04/army-bomb-disposal-experts-called-out-to-chasewater-country-park-for-a-third-time-97319-25957158/ | location = Birmingham | newspaper=The Birmingham Mail | date=4 March 2010}}</ref>

{{Panorama
|image      = File:Chasewater drained panorama.jpg
|height     = 230
|alt        = 
|caption    = Panorama of Chasewater 8m below overflow level, drained for maintenance in July 2010
}}
{{Panorama
|image      = File:CW 20120709.jpg
|height     = 230
|alt        = 
|caption    = Panorama of Chasewater 4m below overflow level, during refill in July 2012
}}
{{Panorama
|image      = File:Chasewater Pano 2013.JPG
|height     = 230
|alt        = 
|caption    = Panorama of Chasewater at top water level in May 2013
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Lakes|United Kingdom|Transport}}
*[[Canals of the United Kingdom]]
*[[History of the British canal system]]
{{-}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|colwidth=20em}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last=Shill |first=Ray |title=The Birmingham Canal Navigations |year=2002 |publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd |isbn=0-75242767-9 }}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090220145158/http://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/chasewater Lichfield District Council – Chasewater Country Park]
* [http://www.chasewater.org.uk/ Chasewater Wildlife Group]
* [http://www.chasewaterrailway.co.uk/ Chasewater Railway]
* [http://www.chasewaterski.co.uk/ Chasewater Watersports Club]
*[http://www.chasesc.org.uk/ Chase Sailing Club]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfzOZavcft0/ Film showing Chasewater Dam Inlet Inspection – YouTube]

{{Birmingham Canal Navigations}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Nature reserves in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Canal reservoirs in England]]
[[Category:Reservoirs in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Walsall]]
[[Category:Birmingham Canal Navigations]]
[[Category:Brownhills]]