Concerns over reservoir water levels

Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has raised concerns over the levels of water in Lake Vyrnwy after receiving complaints from local farmers.

The Mid Wales AM has previously written to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and raised the issue again with the Welsh Government on the floor of the National Assembly for Wales, this week.

Mr George raised specific concerns which have been raised by the farming community and residents regarding the recent high river levels within the Severn and Vyrnwy catchments and the overflowing of the dams during heavy rainfall after prolonged periods of dry weather.

Mr George said: “The farming community and residents in close proximity of the Clywedog and Vyrnwy reservoirs have raised concerns about the overflow from the dams and have called for Natural Resources Wales to implement additional flood mitigation measures.

“I have raised concerns previously with both NRW and the Welsh Government and this was followed by a commissioned study back in 2015 to assess flood drawdown in Clywedog and Vyrnwy.

“Given the high river levels over the past week, I’ve asked both NRW and the Welsh Government to provide an explanation of why water tips over the top of the dams so quickly, following prolonged dry weather in the area.”

He was advised at the Senedd to write to the Environment Minister.