Ladybower Dam: upgrading in a national park

Abstract

This paper describes the work undertaken at Ladybower Reservoir to upgrade the dam to meet anticipated flood and freeboard standards until the year 2050. It describes the assessment undertaken on the original dam, the design of the new works, and the measures that were taken to address the concerns regarding the impact on the environment of the construction process. The works included the raising of the dam crest by 3 m, the extension of the core using bentonite-cement and geosynthetic material, and the strengthening of the downstream shoulder with around 200 000 m3 of rockfill. A site environmental management plan was prepared to address planning concerns as the dam was in the Peak District National Park.