The Lakkavalli dam, also known as the Bhadra reservoir, beckons tourists as the water flowing through its crest gates forms a grand spectacle.
Water level in the dam had not touched even 170 ft as against its maximum level of 186 ft by the end of monsoon season last year. But this year, it has already filled to the brim. The Bhadra river, which takes its origin in the Gangamoola of the Varaha Parvatha in the Kudremukh hill ranges, feeds the Lakkavalli dam. On account of torrential rain in the catchment area this year, the dam has reached its maximum level well before August mid-week.
The dam, which was surveyed in 1945, was commissioned in 1965. It augments the needs of electricity and irrigation.
The reservoir has a catchment area of 1,968.50 sq km and the area receives an annual of rainfall ranging from 117-513 cm. The dam has an impounding capacity of 71.5 tmcft water. In 1924, maximum of 94,500 cusecs of flood waters had been released but this year, nearly 1,20,000 cusecs was let into the river due to heavy rain.
As much as 39.2 MW power is generated through five units at a minimum cost. The dam irrigates Chikmagalur, Shimoga and Davangere districts through five canals and one pickup, having a command area of 2,60,864 acres.
The dam has filled 29 times after it was commissioned in 1965. Early filling was reported in 1967, 1968, 1970, 1975 1980, 1981, 1993, 2006, 2007, 2011 and in 2013. One can reach the dam site via Tarikere or Shankaraghatta from Shimoga enjoying the greenery of paddy and sugarcane fields all along.