Glenbawn Dam

Last updated

Glenbawn Dam
Lake Glenbawn at late sunset, April 2013.jpg
View over Glenbawn Lake, looking south towards Glenbawn Dam embankment wall, 2013
Australia New South Wales relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Location of the Glenbawn Dam in
New South Wales
CountryAustralia
Location Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Coordinates 32°5′54″S150°59′4″E / 32.09833°S 150.98444°E / -32.09833; 150.98444
PurposeEnvironmental, hydro-electric power, irrigation, water supply and conservation
StatusOperational
Construction began1948
Opening date1958
Construction cost 1,500,000
Owner(s) WaterNSW
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment dam
Impounds Hunter River
Height100 m (330 ft)
Length1,125 m (3,691 ft)
Spillways 2
Spillway type Concrete chute spillway plus fuse plugs
Spillway capacity11,115 m3/s (392,500 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesLake Glenbawn
Total capacity749,840 ML (26,480×10^6 cu ft)
Catchment area 1,300 km2 (500 sq mi)
Surface area2,614 ha (6,460 acres)
Maximum water depth85 m (279 ft)
Normal elevation276 m (906 ft) AHD
Power Station
Operator(s) AGL Energy
Commission dateJanuary 1995
Type Conventional
Turbines 1
Installed capacity 5.5 MW (7,400 hp)
Annual generation 4.4 GWh (16 TJ)
Website
Glenbawn Dam at www.waternsw.com.au

Glenbawn Dam is a major ungated earth and rock fill with clay core embankment dam with concrete chute spillway plus fuse plugs across the Hunter River upstream of Aberdeen in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, hydro-electric power, irrigation, water supply and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Glenbawn.

Contents

Glenbawn Dam was created through enabling legislation enacted through the passage of the Glenbawn Dam Act, 1946 (NSW). The Act appropriated 1,500,000 as the estimated cost of construction of the dam. [1]

Location and features

Commenced in late 1947 and completed in late 1957, the Glenbawn Dam is a major dam on the Hunter River and is the fourth largest earth-filled embankment dam in Australia by volume. The dam is located approximately 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of the town of Scone on the upper reaches of the river. The dam was built by the New South Wales Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission to supply water for irrigation and flood mitigation. [2] [3] [4]

The dam wall height is 100 metres (330 ft) and is 1,125 metres (3,691 ft) long. The maximum water depth is 85 metres (279 ft) and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 749,840 megalitres (26,480×10^6 cu ft) of water at 276 metres (906 ft) AHD. The dam has an additional reserve capacity of 120,000 megalitres (4,200×10^6 cu ft) to hold floodwaters that reduce flooding downstream. The surface area of Lake Glenbawn is 2,614 hectares (6,460 acres) and the catchment area is 1,300 square kilometres (500 sq mi). The ungated concrete chute spillway is capable of discharging 11,115 cubic metres per second (392,500 cu ft/s). [2] [3] [4] An upgrade of facilities completed in 1987 took the height of the dam wall from 78 metres (256 ft) to its current height. [2] [3] Glenbawn Dam is operated in conjunction with Glennies Creek Dam. The two dams supply water requirements along 40 kilometres (25 mi) of the Hunter River from Glenbawn to the tidal reaches near Maitland. [2]

The name Glenbawn originates after a riverside property resumed for part of the storage area. [5]

Power generation

A hydro-electric power station generates up to 5.5 megawatts (7,400 hp) of electricity from the flow of the water leaving Glenbawn Dam with an average output of 4.4 gigawatt-hours (16 TJ) per annum. The station was completed in January 1995. The facility is managed by AGL Energy. [6]

Recreation

The dam is a popular location for water skiing and fishing, both by boat and from shore. Located adjacent to the dam and the lake is a nature reserve; Lake Glenbawn State Park. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eildon Dam</span> Dam in Victorian Alps, Victoria

The Eildon Dam is a rock and earth-fill embankment dam with a controlled spillway across the Goulburn River, is located between the regional towns of Mansfield and Eildon within Lake Eildon National Park, in the Alpine region of Victoria, Australia. The dam's purpose is for the supply of potable water, irrigation, and the generation of hydroelectricity. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Eildon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wyangala Dam</span> Dam in New South Wales, Australia

Wyangala Dam is a major gated rock fill with clay core embankment and gravity dam with eight radial gates and a concrete chute spillway across the Lachlan River, located in the south-western slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, hydro-power, irrigation, water supply and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Wyangala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burrendong Dam</span> Dam in Wellington, New South Wales

Burrendong Dam is a rock-fill embankment major gated dam with a clay core across the Macquarie River upstream of Wellington in the central west region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, irrigation, water supply and hydro-electric power generation. The dam impounds Lake Burrendong and is filled by the waters from the Macquarie, and Cudgegong rivers as well as Meroo Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glennies Creek Dam</span> Dam in New South Wales

Glennies Creek Dam is a minor ungated concrete faced curved earth and rockfill embankment dam with an uncontrolled rock cut spillway across the Glennies Creek, upstream of Singleton, in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, irrigation, water supply and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Saint Clair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copeton Dam</span> Dam in New South Wales, Australia

Copeton Dam is a major clay core and rock fill embankment dam with nine radial gates and a gated concrete chute spillway across the Gwydir River upstream of Bingara in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes environmental flows, hydro-electric power generation, irrigation, and water supply. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Copeton.

Lostock Dam is a minor rockfill and clay core embankment dam with a concrete lined, flip bucket spillway across the Paterson River upstream of the village of East Gresford in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, irrigation, water supply and conservation. Mini hydro-power facilities were retrofitted in 2010. The impounded reservoir is also called Lostock Dam.

Windamere Dam is a minor ungated rock fill with clay core embankment dam with an uncontrolled unlined rock cutting spillway across the Cudgegong River at Cudgegong, upstream of Mudgee in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes hydro-power, irrigation, water supply, and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Windamere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blowering Dam</span> Dam in Snowy Mountains, New South Wales

The Blowering Dam is a major ungated rock fill with clay core embankment dam with concrete chute spillway impounding a reservoir under the same name. It is located on the Tumut River upstream of Tumut in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. Purposes for the dam include flood mitigation, hydro-power, irrigation, water supply and conservation. The dam is part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 and now run by Snowy Hydro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Googong Dam</span> Dam in Queanbeyan, New South Wales

Googong Dam is a minor ungated earth and rock fill with clay core embankment dam with concrete chute spillway plus a nearby 13 metres (43 ft) high earthfill saddle embankment across the Queanbeyan River upstream of Queanbeyan in the Capital Country region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes water supply for Canberra and Queanbeyan. The impounded reservoir is called Googong Reservoir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jindabyne Dam</span> Dam in Snowy Mountains, New South Wales

Jindabyne Dam is a major ungated rockfill embankment dam across the Snowy River in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose is to redirect water from the Snowy River to the Murray, for the generation of hydro-power and irrigation. It is one of the sixteen major dams that comprise the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 and now run by Snowy Hydro.

Cochrane Dam is a minor earthfill embankment dam with concrete spillway across Georges Creek, located in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is to supply water for hydro-power at the downstream Brown Mountain Power Station and for irrigation purposes. The impounded reservoir is called Cochrane Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tooma Dam</span> Dam in Snowy Mountains, New South Wales

Tooma Dam is a major ungated earthen embankment dam across the Tooma River in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose is for the generation of hydro-power and is one of the sixteen major dams that comprise the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 and now run by Snowy Hydro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Split Rock Dam</span> Dam in North West Slopes, New South Wales

Split Rock Dam is a minor ungated concrete faced rock fill embankment dam with concrete chute spillway across the Manilla River upstream of Manilla in the north-western slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, irrigation, water supply and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Split Rock Reservoir.

Pindari Dam is a minor concrete faced rockfill embankment dam with an ungated uncontrolled rock cut with concrete sill spillway across the Severn River located upstream of the town of Ashford, in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, hydro-power, irrigation, water supply and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Pindari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talbingo Dam</span> Dam in Snowy Mountains, New South Wales

Talbingo Dam is a major ungated rock fill with clay core embankment dam with concrete chute spillway across the Tumut River upstream of Talbingo in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. The impounded reservoir is called Talbingo Reservoir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toonumbar Dam</span> Dam in Northern Rivers, New South Wales

Toonumbar Dam is a minor ungated rock fill with clay core embankment dam with a concrete chute spillway across the Iron Pot Creek north-west of Casino in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes hydro-power, irrigation, water supply, and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Toonumbar.

Grahamstown Dam is a major off-stream earthfill Embankment dam with a controlled labyrinth spillway and baffle chute that stores water from the Williams River. The dam is located north of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose is water supply; it provides about 40 per cent of the potable water for the Hunter Region; and is its largest drinking water supply dam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oberon Dam</span> Dam in Central Tablelands, New South Wales

Oberon Dam or Fish River Dam is a major ungated concrete slab and buttress with earth embankment dam comprising a concrete ski jump chute spillway and fuse plug across the Fish River upstream of Oberon in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, industrial, and water supply. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Oberon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khancoban Dam</span> Dam in Snowy Mountains, New South Wales

Khancoban Dam is a major ungated earthfill embankment dam with a controlled spillway across the Swampy Plain River in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose is for the generation of hydro-power and is one of the sixteen major dams that comprise the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 and now run by Snowy Hydro.

Brogo Dam is a minor ungated rockfill embankment dam with an uncontrolled unlined rock cut spillway across the Brogo River upstream of Brogo in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes environmental flows, hydro-electric power generation, irrigation, and water supply. The impounded reservoir is also called Brogo Dam.

References

  1. "Glenbawn Dam Act" (PDF). AustLII database. Australasian Legal Information Institute. 1946. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Glenbawn Dam" (PDF). State Water Corporation. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF brochure) on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Register of Large Dams in Australia". The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated. 2010. Archived from the original (Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Glenbawn Dam". Water delivery: dams. State Water Corporation. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  5. "Glenbawn Dam". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales . Retrieved 15 April 2013. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  6. "Glenbawn Power Station, New South Wales". Power generation portfolio: Hydro-electric. AGL Energy Limited. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  7. "State Parks: Lake Glenbawn". Trade & Investment: Crown Lands. Government of New South Wales. 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2013.