Eas Mor Reservoir

Eas Mor Reservoir Eas Mor Reservoir is a small upland impoundment on the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland. The site lies within the Highland council area near notable peaks and glens, serving local water supply, flood regulation, and recreational fishing functions. Its setting links to regional geomorphology, hydrology, and conservation networks that include protected areas and historic routes.

Geography

The reservoir occupies a corrie basin on Skye's central massif between Sgùrr Fhuaran, Blà Bheinn, The Storr, and the Cuillin Hills ranges, draining into tributaries of the River Sligachan and thence to the Atlantic Ocean. Nearby settlements and landmarks include Broadford, Skye, Portree, Dunvegan Castle, and the Trotternish Ridge, situating the reservoir within traditional Clan MacLeod and Clan MacDonald territories. Topographic factors reflect glacial sculpting associated with the last Pleistocene ice age and post-glacial isostatic rebound comparable to features in the Highland Boundary Fault region. Access routes approach from the A87 road (Scotland) and footpaths linked to the Skye Trail and local rights-of-way used historically for droving and peat cutting.

History and Construction

The reservoir was developed in the mid-20th century as part of regional infrastructure programs influenced by post-war public works and rural electrification trends seen across the United Kingdom and Scotland under administrations such as the Post-war consensus. Engineering design drew on masonry and concrete techniques refined after projects like the Loch Katrine scheme and drew consultancy expertise from firms with experience on the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board projects. Construction involved local labour drawn from communities such as Portree and Broadford, Skye, and engaged materials transported via the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry network and the Skye Bridge corridor. The reservoir's commissioning intersected with environmental legislation developments including the Water (Scotland) Act 1967 and later regulatory frameworks administered by agencies antecedent to Scottish Water.

Hydrology and Water Supply

Hydrologically, the impoundment moderates runoff from peatland and montane catchments, contributing to flows in the River Sligachan catchment that ultimately influence estuarine conditions in the Sound of Sleat and adjacent sea lochs. Its operation is coordinated within regional resource management linked to entities such as Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and historic successors of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, balancing potable supply obligations to communities like Broadford, Skye with abstraction licences under frameworks similar to the Water Resources Act 1963. Seasonal variation reflects Atlantic-driven precipitation patterns influenced by the North Atlantic Drift and synoptic systems tracked by Met Office. Sedimentation processes mirror observations from other Scottish upland reservoirs such as Loch Leven (Kinross) and affect storage capacity, requiring periodic survey using techniques developed in projects at the University of Aberdeen and University of Edinburgh.

Ecology and Wildlife

The reservoir and surrounding blanket bog and montane heath provide habitat for species protected under networks like Special Protection Area and Site of Special Scientific Interest designations found elsewhere on Skye, hosting birds such as golden eagle, merlin, red-throated diver, and upland waders comparable to populations at RSPB Loch Garten. Aquatic communities include resident and stocked populations of brown trout and migratory Atlantic salmon with life-cycle connections to the coastal severn coast—noting management parallels to fisheries regulated by Marine Scotland. Vegetation assemblages include heather dominated communities similar to those described by researchers at the James Hutton Institute and peatland forms addressed by conservation programmes from Scottish Natural Heritage (now NatureScot). Invasive species and eutrophication pressures reflect challenges also recorded at sites such as Loch Lomond and are managed in line with guidance from bodies like the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Recreation and Access

Recreational use encompasses angling, hillwalking, birdwatching, and photography, connecting to routes on the Skye Trail, ascents of Blà Bheinn and approaches to the Cuillin that attract visitors via the A87 road (Scotland) and ferry links operated historically by Caledonian MacBrayne. Visitor management considers safety guidance from organisations such as the Scottish Mountaineering Club and search-and-rescue coordination with HM Coastguard and local SFRS teams. Access is subject to Scottish access rights articulated in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, with on-ground stewardship sometimes delivered by community trusts modeled after the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust and conservation partnerships akin to work by Forestry and Land Scotland. Recreation planning references regional tourism strategies developed by VisitScotland and infrastructure funded through programmes similar to the European Regional Development Fund.

Category:Reservoirs in Scotland Category:Isle of Skye