Dams and hydroelectric power plants

Water is the main element of Valle del Chiese

Water is wealthThe Chiese River, from which the valley takes its name, begins where the river emerges from the perennial glaciers of Adamello and, together with its tributaries, follows the course carved over millions of years until it flows into Lake Idro, shaping the lives of the inhabitants of the villages that have developed along its banks.

They have feared and suffered from its floods and inundations, but they have also learned to live with the river and from the river: they have channelled its water for irrigation, harnessed it for transporting timber, used it for artisanal activities and transformed it into a precious source of energy, making it, still today, the true and indispensable wealth of the entire area.

Hydroelectric exploitationStarting in the 1950s, the waters of the Chiese River were harnessed for the production of electricity. It was during this period, in fact, that the large-scale hydroelectric development of the Alps also involved all the waters of the Chiese basin, radically transforming the river courses themselves and having a profound impact on the environment, the economy, and the customs and traditions of entire populations.

Artificial reservoirsThis process of radical and irreversible development has left numerous traces throughout the area. The most impressive examples are undoubtedly the three large artificial reservoirs built in Val di Daone at different elevations, each with its own clearly defined characteristics: Ponte Morandin Dam, near the village of Daone, has a capacity of 300,000 m³; Malga Boazzo Dam, with its hydroelectric power station: it is located in the heart of Val di Daone, at an elevation of 1,224 metres, and has a capacity of 11,800,000 m³; Malga Bissina Dam: this is the most spectacular dam, built at the entrance to Val di Fumo, at an elevation of 1,778 metres, and capable of holding up to 360,000,000 m³ of water.

Hydroelectric Power Stations and Dams

PONTE MORANDIN DAM

The Ponte Murandin Dam was built by Società Idroelettrica Alto Chiese (Edison Group), based on a design by Claudio Marcello, with the collaboration of Giuseppe Candiani and Francesco Contessini, and with Prof. Giorgio Dal Piaz serving as geological consultant. Construction work began in February 1955 and was completed in July 1956.

The structure supplies the Cimego Power Station. It is a conventional gravity dam made of concrete, with a slightly curved plan layout, and has a total volume of 9,000 m³.

The reservoir has a total volume of 0.330 Mm³, which is gradually decreasing significantly due to the large quantity of debris that accumulates on the bottom of the reservoir with each flood.

MALGA BOAZZO DAM

The Malga Boazzo Power Station, together with its hydroelectric generation plant, is located in the heart of Val di Daone, at an elevation of 1,224 metres, and has a capacity of 11,800,000 m³.

MALGA BISSINA DAM

The Malga Bissina Dam is the most spectacular dam, built at the entrance to Val di Fumo, at an elevation of 1,778 metres and capable of holding up to 360,000,000 m³ of water.

In addition to the water of the Chiese River, water from the Danerba, Copidello, Rondon, Predon, Manoccolo, Rossola, Gellino, Larga, Campo, Saviore, Signorine and Re di Castello streams is also channelled into the reservoir and used.

STORO POWER STATION

CIMEGO POWER STATION

With a total capacity of 229 MW, the Cimego Power Station is the most powerful power station in the Alto Chiese hydroelectric system.