Maroondah Dam

Last updated

Maroondah Dam
Maroondah Dam at capacity, October 2011.jpg
Maroondah Dam at capacity, October 2011
Australia Victoria relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location of the Maroondah Dam in Victoria
CountryAustralia
Locationnear Healesville Victoria
Coordinates 37°38′07″S145°34′04″E / 37.63528°S 145.56778°E / -37.63528; 145.56778
PurposePotable water supply
StatusOperational
Construction beganOctober 1920
Opening date1927
Operator(s) Melbourne Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Cyclopean concrete gravity dam
Impounds Watts River
Height41 m (135 ft)
Length291 m (955 ft)
Dam volume132,000 m3 (4.7 million cu ft)
Spillway type Uncontrolled concrete ogee-shaped overflow weir with rock channel chute
Spillway capacity465 m3/s (16,400 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesMaroondah Reservoir
Total capacity22,179 ML (783.2 million cu ft)
Catchment area 10,400 ha (26,000 acres)
Surface area200 ha (490 acres)
Website
Maroondah Reservoir at Melbourne Water
[1]

The Maroondah Dam is a rock-foundation concrete gravity dam with an uncontrolled rock-chute spillway across the Watts River, located in the Central region of the Australian state of Victoria. The storage created by the dam is called Maroondah Reservoir. The principal purpose of the dam and its reservoir is to supply potable water for Greater Metropolitan Melbourne. [2]

Contents

Location and features

Maroondah Reservoir from above. Shot on 4 April 2022. Maroondah Reservoir from above.jpg
Maroondah Reservoir from above. Shot on 4 April 2022.

Constructed in the 1920s by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works, it is now operated by Melbourne Water. [3] Like most of Melbourne's water harvesting reservoirs, the entire catchment is eucalypt forest completely closed to human activity, as is the reservoir itself. Immediately below the concrete dam, the Maroondah Reservoir Park [4] features a large garden landscaped in an "English style", featuring many exotic plants very different from the surrounding native vegetation. A walking track leads across the dam, over the spillway, and up to a lookout from which much of the reservoir can be viewed.

History

Following the Yan Yean and Toorourrong schemes, the Maroondah Dam scheme was the third water supply source for Melbourne. The Maroondah Aqueduct was built in 1886–1881 to supply water to the Preston Reservoir from a diversion weir on the Watts River. The level of the aqueduct was determined by the site of the proposed Maroondah Reservoir, preparatory work for which was undertaken in 1915–1919. Construction commenced in October 1920 and was completed in 1927. During that period, the capacity of the Maroondah Aqueduct was increased. [3]

In 1986, the reservoir spillway was widened to increase its flow capacity to that of a 1-in-10,000-year flood and, in 1989, the stability of the concrete dam was enhanced using ground anchors. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dartmouth Dam</span> Dam in Victoria

Dartmouth Dam is a large rock-fill embankment dam with an uncontrolled chute spillway across the Mitta Mitta, Gibbo and Dart rivers, the Morass Creek and a number of small tributaries. The dam is located near Mount Bogong in the north-east of the Australian state of Victoria. The dam's purpose includes irrigation, the generation of hydro-electric power, water supply and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Dartmouth Reservoir, sometimes called Lake Dartmouth. The Dartmouth Power Station, a hydro-electric power station that generates power to the national grid, is located near the dam wall.

<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">Lake Eppalock</span> Dam in North central region, Victoria

Lake Eppalock is an Australian reservoir in North Central Victoria about 130 kilometres (81 mi) northwest of Melbourne. It was formed by the construction of a major earth and rockfill embankment dam, known as Eppalock Dam, with a controlled chute spillway across the Campaspe and the Coliban rivers. The lake is situated between the regional population centres of Bendigo and Heathcote and serves as a major water storage facility for both places, as well as the Campaspe irrigation district. The lake also serves as a popular sports and recreational facility.

<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">Upper Nepean Scheme</span>

The Upper Nepean Scheme is a series of dams and weirs in the catchments of the Cataract, Cordeaux, Avon and Nepean rivers of New South Wales, Australia. The scheme includes four dams and two weirs, and a gravity-fed canal system that feeds into a large storage reservoir to provide water to the Macarthur and Illawarra regions, the Wollondilly Shire, and metropolitan Sydney. The four dams and associated infrastructure are individually listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maroon Dam</span> Dam in South East Queensland

The Maroon Dam is a rock and earth-fill embankment dam with an un-gated spillway across the Burnett Creek that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for irrigation of the Scenic Rim Regional Council region. The impounded reservoir is also called Maroon Dam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burdekin Falls Dam</span> Dam in North Queensland

The Burdekin Falls Dam, also known as the Burdekin Dam, is a concrete gravity dam with an uncontrolled spillway across the Burdekin River, located south west of Ayr, and Home Hill in the Shire of Burdekin, North Queensland, Australia. Built for the purpose of irrigation, the reservoir is called Lake Dalrymple. Burdekin Falls Dam is managed by SunWater. Water from the reservoir is also used to replenish downstream aquifers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prospect Reservoir</span> Dam in Western Sydney, New South Wales

The Prospect Reservoir is a heritage-listed 50,200-megalitre potable water supply and storage reservoir created by the Prospect Dam, across the Prospect Creek located in the Western Sydney suburb of Prospect, in New South Wales, Australia. The eastern bounds of the reservoir are a recreational area and the western periphery are within the bounds of Western Sydney Parklands. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Nerang Dam</span> Dam in South East Queensland

The Little Nerang Dam is a concrete gravity dam with an un-gated spillway across the Little Nerang Creek that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for potable water supply of the Gold Coast region. The impounded reservoir is also called Little Nerang Dam. The dam was closed to the public in 2013 due to safety concerns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Hovell Dam</span> Dam in Hume, Victoria

The William Hovell Dam is a rock and earth-fill embankment dam with a flip bucket chute spillway across the King River, operated by Pacific Blue and located in the Hume region of Victoria, Australia. The purposes of the dam are for irrigation and the generation of hydroelectricity. The impounded reservoir is called Lake William Hovell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Yarra Reservoir</span> Reservoir in Victoria

The Upper Yarra Reservoir is located east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, beyond Warburton within the locality of Reefton. Water from Upper Yarra Reservoir supplies towns in the upper Yarra Valley, and Silvan Reservoir, which transfers water to most parts of Melbourne.

The Nillahcootie Dam, a rock and earth-fill embankment dam with a unique Gothic arch-shaped crest spillway across the Broken River that is located near Mansfield, in the Alpine region of Victoria, Australia. The dam's purpose is for the supply of potable water and for irrigation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Nillahcootie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staines Reservoirs</span> Storage reservoirs in the United Kingdom

The Staines Reservoirs are two large pumped storage reservoirs sitting to the east of the King George VI Reservoir near Heathrow airport in Surrey within the Colne Valley regional park. The village of Stanwell is mainly to the north east, and the town of Staines is to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardinia Reservoir</span> Dam in Greater Melbourne, Victoria

Cardinia Reservoir is an Australian man-made water supply saddle dam reservoir. The 287,000 ML water store is located in Emerald–Clematis–Dewhurst in south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria. Construction started in May 1970 and was completed in 1973 at a cost of more than A$11.4 million. The dam that creates the impoundment is called the Cardinia Dam.

<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.

The O'Shannassy Reservoir is an Australian man-made water supply dammed reservoir. The 3.123 GL water store across the O'Shannassy River is located near the locality of McMahons Creek, approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) east of Melbourne, Victoria. The dam that creates the impoundment is called the O'Shannassy Dam.

The Watts River is a perennial river of the Port Phillip and Western Port catchment, located in the Healesville area, in the Central region of the Australian state of Victoria.

William Davidson (1844–1920), was an Australian civil engineer who headed the Melbourne Water Supply department, and was responsible for important improvements to Melbourne's water supply system during sustained periods of drought.

Water management in Victoria deals with the management of water resources in and by the Australian State of Victoria.

References

  1. 1 2 "Register of Large Dams in Australia". Dams information. The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated. 2010. Archived from the original (Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  2. "Maroondah Reservoir". Supply water: Water storage reservoirs. Melbourne Water . Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  3. 1 2 Ritchie, E. G. (October 1934). "Melbourne's Water Supply Undertaking" (PDF). Journal of Institution of Engineers Australia. 6: 379–382. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011.
  4. "Maroondah Reservoir Park: Park Notes" (PDF). Parks Victoria . Government of Victoria. August 2004. Retrieved 27 November 2011.