The council turned the venue into the centrepiece of Ulley Country Park, with the water hosting sailing and fishing.

Over 150 species of flowering plants have been recorded in the park, creating an abundance of both insects and butterflies.

[6] On 25 June 2007, cracks in the reservoir walls were found after heavy rains and flooding in the area, causing concerns that the reservoir might burst, prompting the evacuation of the three nearest villages Whiston, Treeton and Catcliffe.

[8] Fire crews used seventeen high volume pumps to remove four million litres of water per hour from the reservoir.

[10] It was feared that, if the reservoir's dam was breached, the sudden flow of water could bring down high voltage power lines, and flood the nearby M1 and a crucial regional electricity substation, which supplies the power to the whole of Sheffield.