Toddbrook: After the Incident. Issue 4 (17th December 2020) - Bennett, Natalie
Abstract : On 1st August 2019, Toddbrook reservoir became, overnight, the most photographed UK reservoir for the last decade. After a series of sequential flood events led to localised failure of a section of the 1970s concrete auxiliary spillway, which passes spill flows over the face of the dam, residents were evacuated from the downstream town of Whaley Bridge due to fears of dam collapse. A multi-agency response was launched, with experts working around the clock to drop the reservoir level and allow residents to return home. The news crews have now moved on and the reservoir sits nearly empty, in wait of a new spillway. Modelling and design work has continued behind the scenes to allow a detailed understanding of the response of the reservoir basin to a range of storm events. A comprehensive water level control plan has been developed, and associated temporary works installed on site, to allow the reservoir to be safely managed in its transitory state. This paper details the 'make safe' works installed after the incident, and the ongoing design work to bring the reservoir back into operation and ensure its future resilience.