Work has been completed on a £5.5 million scheme to repair the dam at Chasewater reservoir.
The 200-year-old dam was drained in early 2010 after concerns were raised about the possibility of flooding.
The plug went back in last October and water levels have slowly started to rise since, with the last major milestone taking place in February when 100 tonnes of concrete were pumped into the dam to create a weir which will control the flow of water when the reservoir is full.
County Councillor Mark Winnington said: “Chasewater is one of the Midlands’ most popular beauty spots so it was absolutely vital that the safety improvements were carried out and the site is now returning to its former glory.
“We appreciate the impact that this vital work has had on people who use the reservoir for activities ranging from sailing to angling and wildlife spotting. The county council’s expert engineers pulled out all the stops to get the work done as efficiently and effectively as possible so that local people as well as visitors from far and wide can enjoy the tourist attraction as we approach the summer months.
“The team has improved the overflow to safeguard nearby residents in the event of severe flooding, which will enable us to monitor the condition of the dam much more closely in the future.The drawdown culvert – the equivalent of the plughole in a bath – was located and inspected for the first time in over 200 years.”
A mystery brick-built chamber that does not appear on any plans was also discovered inside the dam, and will now be used as part of the monitoring procedures.
The original role of the reservoir was to regulate water in the Midlands canal network – in times of drought water would be drawn from the reservoir to ensure the economically vital canals were still deep enough to navigate.
Fears had grown that the earth dam was no longer safe to withstand major floods, was leaking, and could pose a danger to nearby homes.
British Waterways is pumping water into the canal system from other sites and will continue to do this while the reservoir refills.
