Chapfensee

Chapfensee
The north dam in a view to the northwest, taken from the east wall
Location: Seeztal Drain: Schmelzibach Larger places nearby: Mels
Canton of St. Gallen , Switzerland
Coordinates	747 695  /  212611 coordinates: 47 ° 2 '53 "  N , 9 ° 22' 57"  O ; CH1903:  747 695  /  212611
Data on the structure
Lock type:	Gravity dam
Height above foundation level :	20 + 10 m
Height of the structure crown:	1033  m above sea level M.
Crown length:	125 + 143 m
Power plant output:	4.4 MW
Operator:	Political community of Mels
Data on the reservoir
Altitude (at congestion destination )	1029  m above sea level M.
Water surface	11.2 km²
Reservoir length	800 m
Reservoir width	150 m
Maximum depth	25 m
Total storage space :	450,000 m³

The Chapfensee-Plons power plant is a reservoir near Mels in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland on the Chapfen plateau . When the lake is full, the lake level is 1029  m above sea level. M. The water comes from a catchment area of ​​17.6 square kilometers, including from the Cholschlagerbach flowing west .

The buildings consist of a northern wall about 20 meters high at the original outflow of the Chapfen area into the Schmelzibach, and an eastern wall that is a little longer but only 10 meters high.

The power plant was built in 1947/1948 and put into operation in 1948, using a drop height of 550 meters down to Plons. The plant operates around 5600 hours a year and produces around 20 million kilowatt hours during this time.

In November 2015 the electorate approved a technically necessary renovation. After 70 years of operation, deficiencies in the pressure pipeline, some of which are supported on supports in two forest areas, have to be remedied. At the same time as the renovation, additional small power plants will be built, for example the feed line of the Cholschlagerbach will be turbined directly at Chapfensee.

The lake and the surrounding wetlands almost as far as Vermol are under nature protection.

Chapfensee without water on October 17, 2017.

On September 29, 2017, all of the water was drained from the lake so that pressure pipes and the dam could be rehabilitated. The lake remained empty until spring 2018.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Mels is investing 26 million in its power plant , SRF Regional, November 15, 2015
2. ↑ Renovation and expansion of the Chapfensee-Plons power plant , referendum on November 15, 2015
3. ↑ Info 2017 / 2. In: Mels.ch. Politische Gemeinde Mels, July 1, 2017, accessed October 18, 2017 .