Along the flow of the Cismon torrent, the main affluent of the Brenta with a catchment basin almost equal to that of the Brenta itself until the point where the two meet, an important series of plants and structures have been developed for the production of hydroelectric energy.
Along its 53.2 km north – south flow the following have been constructed: the reservoir in Val Noana, which supplies the power plant of the same name, flanked by the Caoria and San Silvestro plants, supplied by the waters of the Vanoi and the Valzanca and Valsorda brooks in the Trentino area. From the basin in Val Schener the waters reach the Moline plant, and from here a series of different connections supply water to both the Senaiga and Ponte Serra basins (see file 201). Downstream from the power plants of Arsiè and Pedesalto the waters once again collect in the Corlo reservoir.
The dam built in 1954 at Corlo is about 70 m high, about 89 m at the crown and has a volume of 25,000 m3.
From the dam, a 3739 m long irrigation channel serves the Cavilla power plant in the municipality of Cismon del Grappa, passing from the right bank over to the left thanks to a 44.2 m concrete pipe (see for example the one in Castellavazzo).
Access to the machine room, equipped with two groups of Francis turbines-vertical axis alternators, is a 260 m long gallery, similar to the one in Soverzene.

From Feltre, take the SS50bis. Once you come through the tunnel, come off at the next fork for Arsiè, and at the roundabout at the bottom of the downhill stretch, take the third exit and pass under the SS50bis; go along Via dei Martiri towards Rocca di Arsiè. The busy tarmac road, popular with cyclists, runs along the banks of Corlo lake. In the area are two campsites with a lakeside beach, as well as other rest areas along the lakeshore. For Arsiè, follow the signs at the roundabout, first exit on the right.
To reach the Cavilla power plant, come off the SS47 at km 65; before Cismon del Grappa, at the fork at the establishments, turn right and head towards the centre of the village. At the crossroads with Via Giare di Sicilia, turn left, and just after that take right along Via Da Gai, the road that comes to an end at the power plant.

ACCESSIBLE: yes, outside
MUNICIPALITY: Arsiè – Cismon del Grappa
PLACE: Corlo – Case Cincio / Centrale di Cavilla
GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES: Dam X 1715019 – Y 5100204; Power plant X 1713890 – Y 5101079
PROVINCE: Belluno - Vicenza

FILE COMPILED BY: Alfarè

Along the Cismon the first large dam and major power plant in the Belluno area were constructed by the SADE company. The Pedesalto plant, completed in 1905, is an interesting example of industrial architecture, despite the damage it suffered in the 1966 flood, which caused the transformer tower to collapse. The Ponte Serra dam was built in the early years of the 20th century to serve the plant, about 15 kilometres from the point where the Cismon flows into the Brenta; the arch-shaped concrete dam has a stone face and is supported by a potent bridge structure. There is also a weir along the Senaiga torrent, an affluent of the Cismon, featuring a particular structure to deal with the overflow waters.

ENEL, Gli impianti idroelettrici tra il Piave ed il Brenta, Vittorio Veneto, 1993