Site Records

Deanie Power Station - Adits

Monar dam considerably enlarged Loch Monar; to prevent the enlarged loch from overflowing over a saddle 'around the corner' from Monar dam, it was necessary to construct a small cut-off dam: Loichel dam.

Loichel dam is a simple gravity dam, 680ft long and 65ft high. There is no spillway or water control gear; all this is provided at Monar dam.

Another one from the archives; Loichel dam just after completion.

A short distance upstream from Loichel dam, on the right bank, is the gatehouse controlling the Monar end of the tunnel from the Uisge Misgeach intake system, described on another page. Water normally flows into Loch Monar from this system, but at times of exceptional drought, the flow can be reversed, and water taken from Loch Monar 'backwards' along the tunnel, to provide the legally-required compensation flow at the Uisge Misgeach.

All this is visible here is the gatehouse structure; the tunnel outlet is submerged on the bed of the loch:

Words and images © 2003 Michael J. Ross