A dam will be built across Kaldakvísl river, a short distance above its junction with Tungnaá river and across the outflow from the Hrauneyjafoss power plant. The dam will be 25 m high at its highest point and some 1650 m in length (spillway included). Damming Kaldakvísl river will form an intake reservoir, Sporðalda reservoir, with an estimated surface area of some 7 km2 at normal operating water level 337 m a.s.l.. The reservoir will mainly fill the channel of Kaldakvísl and also extend slightly into Þóristungur. The total volume of the reservoir will be about 50 million m3 (effective storage 26 million m3). A headrace tunnel, about 4 km long, will be constructed from the intake structure at the Sporðalda reservoir, under Búðarháls to a surge basin and the powerhouse by the Sultartangi reservoir. The powerhouse will be above ground, but built into the western side of the slope of Búðarháls. The construction of Búðarháls power plant is expected to take 3-4 years. A decision as to when construction will commence depends upon the demand for electricity.
Ruling by the Icelandic National Planning Agency on the Búðarháls Hydroelectric Project
On May 4th 2001, the Planning Agency issued a ruling on the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Búðarháls Hydroelectric Project. The conclusion of the Planning Agency was to accept the proposed project, based on the information presented in the Environmental Impact Statement, with the following condition: „Loss of vegetation as a result of Sporðöldulón reservoir shall be mitigated for by restoration of vegetated land within the Búðarháls area as it is put forward in a local plan for the project or in an area nearby decided in consultation with local authorities. The Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, the Environment Agency and relevant local authorities shall be consulted on the implementation of the measures, arrangement and evaluation of results.“
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