Water levels Nidderdale
- Thread starter Goydenman
- Start date
november 03rd 2011
scar top reservoir { 15:00 hours }
reservoir level - spilling over the spill way
wind : 15 mph blowing down valley - gusts 25mph
waves : 0.5m ~ 0.7m chop blowing over the spilway
blown spray was proppelled 10 ~ 15 m over the spillway
after a club trip i elected to drive home via the " scenic route " to recce the nidderdale caves , with the intent of organising an indepandant trip
saddly i ommitted to pack hiking boots or details of access - so i didnt recce the cave entrances i had in GPS - as all required crossing farm land
i did oberve manchester hole inlet from the road using binocklars - and it looked " grim "
but the scar top dam conditions were hellacious
pics :
scar top reservoir { 15:00 hours }
reservoir level - spilling over the spill way
wind : 15 mph blowing down valley - gusts 25mph
waves : 0.5m ~ 0.7m chop blowing over the spilway
blown spray was proppelled 10 ~ 15 m over the spillway
after a club trip i elected to drive home via the " scenic route " to recce the nidderdale caves , with the intent of organising an indepandant trip
saddly i ommitted to pack hiking boots or details of access - so i didnt recce the cave entrances i had in GPS - as all required crossing farm land
i did oberve manchester hole inlet from the road using binocklars - and it looked " grim "
but the scar top dam conditions were hellacious
pics :
Goydenman
Well-known member
Oh well we had a long season this year before it started to flow over the dam. We are still ok in Guscott till it flows past Goyden so we are digging onwards 
. What do you mean by the Manchester inlet looked 'grim'? It can only take a small amount of water then it flows past onto Goyden
. What do you mean by the Manchester inlet looked 'grim'? It can only take a small amount of water then it flows past onto Goyden@ Goydenman : appologies - having re-examined the map and my grps data - i assumed facts and made crap up - as i never ledt the saftey of the road [ parking at the southern portal of goyden tunnel ] i spooted a " likley hole " - tht on reflection was not the entrance to manchester hole
i have never caved at nidderdale - and was not about to start walking across farm land - so with only a gps in binoculars - i got it wrong
i have never caved at nidderdale - and was not about to start walking across farm land - so with only a gps in binoculars - i got it wrong
@ jasonc - as my previous reply to Goydenman indicates - i am not very knowledgable on the nidderdale systems
but the reservoir is full to the spillway - and any wind will exacerbate water frow
for nxt snday - i would reccomend a good " plan B"
PS - I DID MEAN DECEMBER 3RD
but the reservoir is full to the spillway - and any wind will exacerbate water frow
for nxt snday - i would reccomend a good " plan B"
PS - I DID MEAN DECEMBER 3RD
JasonC
Well-known member
No worries - you've probably seen this: http://ukcaving.com/wiki/index.php/Manchester_Hole - if not, it's a useful checklist.
What I'm not sure about is how much of Goyden/New Goyden is safely accessible in 'intermediate' conditions. Eg, I guess it wouldn't need too much extra water to close the Eternal Optimist link, but presumably most of Goyden is ok in all but the wettest conditions (though the famous tree in the roof shows that it fills completely sometimes)
What I'm not sure about is how much of Goyden/New Goyden is safely accessible in 'intermediate' conditions. Eg, I guess it wouldn't need too much extra water to close the Eternal Optimist link, but presumably most of Goyden is ok in all but the wettest conditions (though the famous tree in the roof shows that it fills completely sometimes
)
Goydenman
Well-known member
JasonC said:No worries - you've probably seen this: http://ukcaving.com/wiki/index.php/Manchester_Hole - if not, it's a useful checklist.
What I'm not sure about is how much of Goyden/New Goyden is safely accessible in 'intermediate' conditions. Eg, I guess it wouldn't need too much extra water to close the Eternal Optimist link, but presumably most of Goyden is ok in all but the wettest conditions (though the famous tree in the roof shows that it fills completely sometimes
If water is flowing over the dam:
Manchester Hole - beyond the grovel (by fossil passage) through to the duck and section beyond to sump 1 can and does flood to the roof. It can be very fast and unpredictable. We have blocked the new flood entrance by Goyden main entrance best we can because this was a key contributing factor to the very fast flooding and subsequent death Nov 2005 but it can NOT BE GUARANTEED the water will not find another way around this or remove it.
Goyden pot - once the water is flowing over the dam or indeed close to (within 2m) then waves stirred up by a westerly wind (anything approaching a west ie w/nw/sw) can and does flood the system very fast. Therefore do not enter if the dam is full or near full and a westerly wind is forecast. If there is no wind or a light wind not westerly but it is overflowing the dam then ask yourself is it safe to enter the entrance with the amount of water flowing into it. If it is only a small amount and you can enter safely and you decide to make a trip it is recommended you keep close to the river main passage and watch the level. Any rise and exit via Church pot. Going away from the river risks a change in wind speed/direction and surges of water flowing over the dam with a high risk of fast flooding in the system.
New Goyden pot - with the dam overflowing and westerly winds forecast do not enter. If the dam is overflowing and no wind/light non westerly then note the stream level at the bottom of the second pitch. If high conditions prussik back out. If not too high/fast to proceed a short trip keeping with the river and monitoring the level is ok but not advisable to go away from the river for even a short period of time into say Dry Wath series or Hardy Pools. A quick view of the main river passage and out via the main entrance or climbing out of Thrope.
I hope this helps Jason. The dam is overflowing at present and the weather forecast so far is giving a westerly wind all week so not looking good for any trip this Sunday
Better safe than sorry the cave will still be there another week eh.
Goydenman
Well-known member
December 9th.
Trip up into the dale after a huge flood, see separate report for updates to changes noticed.
Water is flowing over the dam. River flowing past Manchester and Goyden in flood. Wateer was not flowing past Goyden but had been the day before.
Flood debris showed water had been flowing very close to Manchester Main entrance. It had filled Goydebn and flowed past. The flood has almost reached the metal gate near to Limley Mine and flowed along the Nidderdale Way path there - that's high
The floods has push open the lid on Thrope pot
Trip up into the dale after a huge flood, see separate report for updates to changes noticed.
Water is flowing over the dam. River flowing past Manchester and Goyden in flood. Wateer was not flowing past Goyden but had been the day before.
Flood debris showed water had been flowing very close to Manchester Main entrance. It had filled Goydebn and flowed past. The flood has almost reached the metal gate near to Limley Mine and flowed along the Nidderdale Way path there - that's high
The floods has push open the lid on Thrope pot
Goydenman
Well-known member
Most days at present water generally making it past Manchester Hole and flowing into Goyden but typically not enough to prevent trips -having said that - Reservoir is full so any rain and/OR westerly winds and instant big floods. At least we have Guscott if wet and Caravan trail dig if caves flooded out.
