Winterburn Reservoir

Winterburn Reservoir
A lake in the distance surround by grass fields
Looking south across Winterburn Reservoir
North Yorkshire relief map show the location of the reservoir
North Yorkshire relief map show the location of the reservoir
Winterburn Reservoir
LocationNorth Yorkshire
Coordinates54°2′27″N 2°5′4″W / 54.04083°N 2.08444°W / 54.04083; -2.08444
TypeReservoir
Primary inflowsBordley Beck[1]
Primary outflowsEshton Beck, Winterburn Beck
Basin countriesUnited Kingdom

Winterburn Reservoir is located near the village of Winterburn in Malhamdale, North Yorkshire, England. It was constructed between 1885 and 1893 by Leeds civil engineers Henry Rofe and Edward Filliter to help maintain levels on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.[2] The cost of construction was estimated at £45,000.[3] Its capacity is 281,504,000 imperial gallons (1.27974×109 L; 338,072,000 US gal) and covers an area of 39.17 acres (15.85 ha)

In order to maintain the water levels of Winterburn and Eshton Beck, there is a compensation scheme. Around 1.1×106 imperial gallons; 1.3×106 US gallons (5×106 L) of water are discharged per day. The amount of compensation water is measured in the gauge house below the reservoir and further downstream at Holme Bridge lock, Gargrave.

In order to maintain the aquatic life in the reservoir, this is monitored daily, and in times of drought the water discharged into Winterburn Beck is reduced.

  1. ^ Landmark Visitors Guides; Hanks, M. (2000). Yorkshire Dales and Moors: Youth Hosteller's Walking Guide. Hunter Publishing Landmark Visitors Guides. Landmark. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-901522-41-9. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Out of Oblivion: A landscape through time". Archived from the original on 9 July 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2006.
  3. ^ "Waterways Chronology from 1881". Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2009.