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Lake Quarto was formed following the landslide of the hill called Montalto in 1812. The natural landslide caused the death of 18 people, submerging a vast agricultural area. The damming of the river by the landslide led—according to contemporary accounts—to a period of drought lasting almost a month along the valley. The lake took its name from the homonymous locality in the municipality of Sarsina; it has an L-shape, with its extremities corresponding to the inflow of the two main watercourses entering it: the Savio River (in the short segment) and the Para stream (in the long segment).
The characteristic composition of the rocks, particularly marls, found especially in the basin of the Savio River, caused their progressive sedimentation on the lake bottom.
In 1925, when the lake basin was almost completely silted up, the "Società Elettrica Alto Savio" (SIDAS) considered exploiting the lake’s water resources for electricity production. In 1922, a dam and a hydroelectric power plant were built.[1] Upon completion of the dam, the artificial lake, at its maximum impoundment level, had a water surface area of 0.87 km² and a water volume of 4.50 million m³.
Currently, the artificial lake, at its maximum impoundment level, has a water surface area of 0.11 km² and a water volume of 0.35 million m³. The shores of the basin show rocky outcrops only in the area closest to the dam, while the rest is covered by an abundant proliferation of common reed (Phragmites australis), which occupies 70% of the total area.
The waters are used in the downstream Enel Quarto power plant, which produces approximately 13 million kWh annually, equivalent to the needs of about 5,000 households.[1]
Plants and animals
Flora
Lake Quarto is one of the most significant natural environments in the Savio Valley. The vegetation on the lake’s shores is very rich with wonderful plants.
Near the waters, vast hydrophilous forests rise, consisting of black alder, white and black poplar, and various species of willows. Along the shores, extensive reedbeds, cattail beds dominated by Typha latifolia, and rush beds spread out, along with oaks and very tall poplars, pines, and various shrubs: junipers and brooms. Around the lake, there is also a patch of cypresses.
There are good numbers of starlings, woodcocks, and snipe, which feed on worms and insects; the gull is a bird that comes from the sea and is very docile, we can call it the king of the lake. Wild ducks usually pass through here twice a year: in autumn and in March.
Various fish species live in the lake’s waters:
Tench: Lives in deep waters and is very common; it mainly eats earthworms.
Catfish. It is very voracious and large. It feeds exclusively on smaller fish.
Italian Nase. A fish that lives half a meter deep, very common in our lake.
Carp. The carp is of three types: Mirror Carp, Queen Carp, “Bagiggio.”
Barbel (Cyprinus barbus). Lives in whirlpools and especially in areas where the water is shallow.
Pike. Called by us the shark of freshwater because it is very voracious and large.
Eel (Murena). Lives in the muddy bottom of our lake.
Chub. Fish present in small quantities but very large.
The beautiful black pine forest overlooking the lake, which grew on the slopes still showing the vast landslide movement, is the best example of a forest rebuilt through human reforestation efforts.
