Surikamigawa Dam

Surikamigawa Dam
Southern side of the Surikamigawa Dam
Official name	摺上川ダム (Surikamigawa Damu)
Location	Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
Coordinates
Status	Operational
Opening date	2006 (2006)
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment dam
Impounds	Surikamigawa River
Height	105.0 m (344.5 ft)
Length	718.6 m (2,358 ft)
Dam volume	8.3×10^6 m3 (290×10^6 cu ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Moniwa (茂庭っ湖, Moniwakko)
Total capacity	153×10^6 m3 (5.4×10^9 cu ft)
Active capacity	148×10^6 m3 (5.2×10^9 cu ft)
Catchment area	160.0 km2 (61.8 sq mi)
Surface area	4.6 km2 (1.8 sq mi)
Max. water depth	308.5 m (1,012 ft)
Power station
Operator(s)	Tohoku Electric Power
Website Surikamigawa Dam Official Site

Surikamigawa Dam (摺上川ダム) is a rock-fill dam built on the Surikami River (part of the Abukuma River system) in the Moniwa area of Iizaka, Fukushima, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. It was opened in 2006 and is administered by the Tohoku Regional Bureau Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

A multipurpose dam, it was built to provide water to the nearby cities of Nihonmatsu, Fukushima and surrounding areas. It also works in conjunction with Shichikashuku Dam and Miharu Dam to control flooding on the Abukuma River. There are also hydroelectric power facilities operated by Tohoku Electric Power.

The name of the artificial lake the dam forms was chosen from over a thousand ballots cast by the public, with Lake Moniwa (茂庭っ湖, Moniwakko) ultimately being chosen.

File:20080210MoniwakKo.jpg

Lake Moniwa in winter.

History

In 1966 Fukushima City released the results of a study on predicted future water demand, recommending the building of a dam on the upper portion of the Surikami River. A preliminary survey was carried out in 1973, and a site was chosen. In the following years various geological surveys and public meetings were held.

In 1982 the Surikamigawa Dam Research Office (摺上川ダム調査事務所, Surikamigawa Damu Chōsa Jimusho) was formed and began development of plans for the construction of the dam.

Residents whose land was located in the area planned to be flooded were moved beginning in April 1991. In October of the following year, construction to divert the Surikami River began, and in December 1994 construction on the dam itself commenced. Filling of the embankment was completed in July 2002.

A test fill of the reservoir began on February 19, 2004 and was completed in June of the following year. The dam was fully completed on September 25, 2005.