Post by Thomas Cameron on Mar 19, 2010 21:04:49 GMT -6
I've been searching for a good description and exact location of the falls that used to be located between Loch Lochy's foot and the River Lochy's old junction with the River Spean. The Caledonian Canal took up that portion of the River Lochy and the falls disappeared, circa 1812, during construction. I had thought that the canal commission reports from that era might have descriptions of the work--indicating the scope of the changes and perhaps a description of the pre-construction river---but so far no luck on Google Books.
Based on the fact that salt-water salmon used to return up the River Lochy and navigate the old falls, on their way to Loch Lochy, they must have been gradual and lengthy. Since Loch Lochy was raised over ten feet when the canal was built, the elevation change must not have been that significant back in the day, meaning a gradual, easy falls. That there was also a ford across the river at that location also backs that theory somewhat. I've learned that when they built the Mucomir cut to feed the River Lochy (post-canal) that there was a 15 foot drop down into the River Spean, which the salmon could not navigate. Decades later they built a man-made route, a gradual system over hundreds of feet long that the salmon were able to ascend. Perhaps an approximation of the old falls, at least in theory...
Any ideas folks?
Based on the fact that salt-water salmon used to return up the River Lochy and navigate the old falls, on their way to Loch Lochy, they must have been gradual and lengthy. Since Loch Lochy was raised over ten feet when the canal was built, the elevation change must not have been that significant back in the day, meaning a gradual, easy falls. That there was also a ford across the river at that location also backs that theory somewhat. I've learned that when they built the Mucomir cut to feed the River Lochy (post-canal) that there was a 15 foot drop down into the River Spean, which the salmon could not navigate. Decades later they built a man-made route, a gradual system over hundreds of feet long that the salmon were able to ascend. Perhaps an approximation of the old falls, at least in theory...
Any ideas folks?