The upper reaches of were flooded to create the Llandegfedd Reservoir; the creation of which was hotly contested by the families whose land was used for it; seven of them had to not only contend with compulsory purchase orders, but it is also claimed that they had difficulty in getting the compensation that was due to them for the 550 acres that was taken from them in total.
Leaving aside the loss of homes and livelihoods, many people felt that the reservoir was not a good idea and there were many objections at the public enquiry. It was pointed out that the only local source of water, the Sor Brook, was completely incapable of supplying enough water to it; it did in fact have to be pumped from the River Usk. However, as happens all too often, these objections were overruled and by 1963 everyone had moved out of the area, a number of ancient rights of way had been closed, and water was flowing into the reservoir.
The land surrounding the reservoir is now a conservation area. Sailing is a popular activity with boats available for hire and a sailing and windsurfing school open throughout the Summer months.
The reservoir is well stocked with fish so is popular with fishermen who look for bream, roach, trout, perch and, not least of all, pike. One of these cas caught in 1992 and it has been claimed that it was the heaviest one ever caught in Britain - at 46 lbs 13 ounces it would have fed a small village for a day!
It is debatable however how many of the people enjoying these facilities are aware of the awful effect that the reservoir had on the lives and livelihoods of those people who were evicted to make room for it.
In the meanwhile the brook itself is popular with ramblers; a fairly easy, albeit sometimes very muddy, morning's walk!