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| July 2025 - BDS Newsletter |
29th July 2025 |
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In this issue:
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The next Supervising Engineers Forum will be held at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham on Thursday, 18th September 2025. The registration is now open, registration closes on 29th August 2025. Additional information, including the topics covered, can be found here. | | |
Camps Reservoir, owned by Scottish Water, is undergoing spillway enhancements following a Section 47 Inspection and detailed hydraulic studies. This technical site visit will provide insights into the dam's history, current construction progress—including the installation of a new reinforced concrete spillway lining—and the collaboration between Scottish Water and George Leslie Ltd. The event includes a presentation and a guided walkover of the ongoing works.
Attendance is limited to 20 British Dam Society members and will be allocated on a first-come basis. Please register via the MS Form Registration Link or email mairi.shaw@mottmac.com with the subject line ‘Camps – BDS Visit’.
For more information, follow the link. | | |
The BDS Prize Competition for young professionals is open to BDS members under 35 years of age. The next competition will take place on 17th November 2025 at the Institution of Civil Engineers, where the following prizes will be contested.
- First Prize - £500,
- Second Prize - £250,
- Third Prize - £100
The submitted paper (2,500 words) will be on a topic of dam engineering relating to the author's experience in reservoir research, design, construction, operation, maintenance or supervision. Participants must be able to demonstrate that they have undertaken a significant role, relative to their level of experience, in the project or topic. There must be only one author per paper.
To Enter the Competition:
Candidates must submit a 250-word synopsis of their proposed paper together with their brief biographical details to the BDS Secretary by email (bds@ice.org.uk) by Friday, 10th September 2025.
The authors of synopses assessed as being relevant to the competition will be invited to submit their completed papers by Friday, 10th October 2025.
Further details are available on the flyer. | | |
Your chance to have your photograph published in the BDS Journal - Dams and Reservoirs, and featured on the BDS website, PLUS prize money for winning entries:
1st Prize £200; 2nd Prize £100; 3rd Prize £50
The BDS Photography Competition is open to members of the BDS, ICE, Engineering Students and all staff of Corporate BDS members. Photographers are entitled to submit two photographs relating to Dams and Reservoirs.
Entrants should clearly state the name of the dam, its location, and the date the photograph was taken.
High-resolution, electronic images (JPEG format) should be uploaded to www.britishdams.org
- Competition opening Date: Tuesday, 15th July 2025
- Closing Date for Entries: Friday, 7th November 2025
More information can be found on the flyer. | | |
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) formed the Panel Engineers’ Committee (PEC) to serve as a unified voice for engineers appointed to the various panels under the Reservoirs Act. The purposes of the PEC are to provide proactive advice on the best ways to protect the public from the risk of flooding due to dam failure, and to offer feedback, comments, and advice on the implementation of the recommendations from the Independent Reservoir Safety Review Report (the Balmforth Report), published in March 2021, in England and Wales.
For more information and updates on the activities of the Panel Engineers’ Committee, please refer to the following link. | | |
The Reservoir Safety Reform Programme has recently made research reports from the hazard classification development project available on Defra Science Search. The first link below provides access to the various reports covering the development of a proposal for hazard classification for reservoir safety in England and Wales. The second report link provides evidence and costs for on-site emergency flood plans for reservoirs in England.
FD2739 - Developing a new hazard classification for Reservoir Safety in England and Wales - FD2739
FD2742 - Evidence on costs and benefits of on-site emergency flood plans for reservoirs - FD2742 | | |
The Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland, is seeking views on proposals for a grant scheme to support reservoir managers with the initial supervision and inspection requirements of the Reservoirs Act (NI) 2015. Details of the proposals and how to submit your views can be found here. | | |
The Earthworks Conference 2025 is being held at the University of Birmingham between the 15th and 18th September 2025. Registration is now open, and more information can be found here. | | |
The 2025 Competition is now open for entries until 15 August for a chance to win £1000! The competition celebrates the power of photography in conveying the wonder of science happening all around us and photographs can be submitted in the categories of: Astronomy, Behaviour, Earth Science and Climatology, Ecology and Environmental Science, and Microimaging.
The competition is free to enter and open to anyone studying or working in science at graduate level or above. Category winners will receive a one-year membership to the Royal Photographic Society and the overall winner will receive a grand prize of £1,000. Find out more here.
Bluesky link
Flyer | | |
On 2nd November 2025, the village of Dolgarrog will mark the 100th anniversary of the 1925 dam disaster. The commemorative event will include a formal remembrance service to remember those lost during the incident; A guided historical tour featuring immersive storytelling and insight into the events of 1925; a specially commissioned music and light performance; creative exhibitions and interactive community activities. All activities will take place in the heart of the village. This landmark centenary reflects on Dolgarrog’s legacy of resilience and its significant influence on UK dam safety, while celebrating the strength, spirit and creativity of the community and looking ahead to a united and inspiring future.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for those who wish to support and be part of this historic event.
For further information, please refer to the flyer or contact clerk@dolgarrogcommunitycouncil.org and jackieley@dolgarrogcommunitycouncil.org | | |
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