Welsh Potosi - Esgair Ffriath Surface Water Management

The Welsh Potosi project forms part of a wider programme delivered by the Wales Metal Mine Programme (WMMP), with the objective of reducing river pollution and restoring river health affected by historic metal mining. The Welsh Potosi Project comprises two mine sites - Esgair Hir and Esgair Ffriath.

The works described here are located on the Esgair Ffriath mine site. Esgair Ffriath is located approximately 8.7km east of Tal-y-Bont, Ceredigion.

To address the impacts of legacy mining at Esgair Ffriath, it is proposed to construct scour protection measures, modify site drainage, and erect new fencing. The primary driver for the proposed works is to keep clean water clean and reduce the mobilisation of metal-rich sediment from the former Esgair Ffriath dressing floor into the receiving watercourses of the Nant Du and Afon Lluestgota, thereby reducing impacts on the Nant-y-Moch Reservoir and ultimately the River Rheidol.

The site is in an area of sensitive ecology and heritage and so measures to protect this will be incorporated into this scope and the accompany Environmental Action Plan (EAP). The site is designated as the Mwyngloddfeydd Esgair Hir ac Esgair Ffraith Mine Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Regionally Important Geodiversity Sites (RIGS).

This SSSI is designated for its assemblage of lichens associated with metal-rich habitats (metallophyte lichens); an exceptionally rich assemblage of ferns and related plants (pteridophytes); and the rare metallophyte liverwort Copperwort. The site is of archaeological significance and contains numerous heritage features associated with historic mining activity, including the former dressing floor, engine pits, shafts and adits.