Cod Beck Reservoir

Cod Beck Reservoir is a man-made lake situated within the North York Moors National Park and near the village of Osmotherley in the English county of North Yorkshire. The reservoir is named after Cod Beck, which is the small river that fills it.

Cod Beck Reservoir
Cod Beck Reservoir
Cod Beck Reservoir
LocationNorth Yorkshire
Coordinates54°22′55″N 1°17′12″W
Typereservoir
Primary inflowsCod Beck
Primary outflowsCod Beck
Basin countriesUnited Kingdom
Surface area10 ha (25 acres)[1]
Water volume115,000 m3 (25,000,000 imp gal; 93 acre⋅ft)

History

The building of the reservoir was started in 1948 with final completion in 1953.[2] The dam head height is listed as being 24.4 m (80 ft)[3] and an old pit at Crathorne was re-opened in 1950 to supply clay to line the dam head.[4]

The treatment works was closed down in 2006 after the deterioration of the quality of the water from the moorland and the presence of Cryptosporidium; water is now supplied to Northallerton and Thirsk, and to Osmotherley village, from Thornton Steward Reservoir.[5][6] Cod Beck Reservoir now operates as a compensation reservoir to maintain flow into the downstream reaches of Cod Beck and as such, it is still operated and maintained by the local water company.

The reservoir is surrounded by woodland and just upstream is the local beauty spot called Sheepwash. Because of its position at the north of the North York Moors, the site attracts many visitors from Darlington and Teesside.

Cod Beck Reservoir is open to the public for walking and enjoyment of the countryside but campfires, camping, illegal raves, fishing and swimming are prohibited for public safety.[7]

Ecology

Cod Beck Reservoir is recognised as being important to toads. Common Toads hibernate on the moorland and have been subject to death on the road that runs alongside the reservoir. Volunteers go out on mild wet nights in February for a two to four-week period to rescue the toads.[8] Yorkshire Water have similarly said that they will only release water in drought conditions if it is of benefit to the environment downstream to alleviate the plight of the toads.[9]

Cod Beck also supports Brown Trout, Grayling, Bullhead, Eel, Stone loach, Minnow and Lamphrey. Evidence of Otters has also been noted.[10]

Facilities
  • Picnic area
  • Car park nearby

Activities
  • Walking – a circular path around the reservoir provides a 45-minute walk
  • Private canoeing
  • The Lyke Wake Walk starts opposite the northern end of the reservoir

References
  1. "Cod Beck Reservoir". British Lakes. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  2. "Cod Beck Reservoir". BBC Domesday Reloaded. 1986. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  3. Wilkinson, George (21 November 2009). "Osmotherley". Malton Gazette & Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  4. Frost, D.V. (1998). Geology of the country around Northallerton : memoir for 1:50 000 geological sheet 42 (England and Wales) (1 ed.). London: Stationery Office. p. 80. ISBN 0-11-884535-7.
  5. "Treatment plant to be shut". Darlington and Stockton Times. 12 October 2006. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  6. "Osmotherley and Thimbley Village Design Statement" (PDF). Osmotherley Parish Council. p. 33. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  7. "New laws make entering water illegal at Yorkshire reservoirs". The Yorkshire Post. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  8. "Helping hands needed with local toad patrol". The Yorkshire Post. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  9. "Drought Plan 2013" (PDF). Yorkshire Water. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  10. Giles, Nick. "Draft report on one day visit to Cod & Broad Becks," (PDF). p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
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