Cut-off Trench Dam

Category: Civil Architecture > Dam

District: Beja > Odemira > Santa Clara-a-Velha

Location

The Corte Brique Dam is located in the village of Santa Clara-a-Velha, within the municipality of Odemira, in the district of Beja. Its setting is characterized by its insertion in the Corte Brique Stream, within a broader plain environment. The area surrounding the dam, which shares its name, offers an open and tranquil scenery, inviting a calm observation of the Alentejo landscape.

The Engineering Work and Its Purpose

Completed and in operation since 1993, the Corte Brique Dam is an embankment structure, designed to support irrigation in the region. It rises to a height of approximately 28 meters above its foundation and extends for about 117 meters at its crest. Its conception, which began in 1986, resulted in a robust and functional construction that integrates into Odemira's rural environment.

The Reservoir and the Natural Environment

The reservoir created by the Corte Brique Dam forms a significant body of water, covering an area of approximately 0.178 square kilometers when at its maximum capacity. With a total storage capacity of 1.636 million cubic meters, this body of water transforms the local landscape, creating a habitat for wildlife and offering a visual point of interest for those traversing the area. The volume of water contained within gives the location a serene atmosphere, contrasting with the surrounding terrain.

An Echo from the Past: The Moinho do Pé da Serra

In the vicinity of the dam's base, there are remnants of an old water mill, known as the Moinho do Pé da Serra. This mill is a testament to the economic and cultural activity that once marked the Corte Brique Stream. Its strategic upstream location allowed it to operate year-round, harnessing the force of the flow. Although now in ruins, its vestiges are still clearly visible, inviting imagination about the daily life and labor of past times, and how water shaped local life before the dam's construction.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt