Paluma Dam

Last updated

Lake Paluma
Paluma dam A.jpg
Australia Queensland relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Lake Paluma
Location City of Townsville, Queensland
Coordinates 18°57′14″S146°08′53″E / 18.9539°S 146.148°E / -18.9539; 146.148 Coordinates: 18°57′14″S146°08′53″E / 18.9539°S 146.148°E / -18.9539; 146.148
Type reservoir
Primary inflows Swamp Creek
Primary outflows Pipeline to Crystal Creek, Swamp Creek
Basin  countriesAustralia
Water volume11,830 megalitres (15,470,000 cu yd)
Surface elevation893.2 metres (2,930 ft)

Paluma Dam is an embankment dam across Swamp Creek, situated on the western slopes of the Paluma Range, north of Townsville. [1] The reservoir formed by Paluma Dam is known as Lake Paluma. Paluma Dam is managed by Townsville City Council. [2]

The embankment is approximately 255 metres (837 ft) long and has a 60.9 metres (200 ft) long spillway. In addition to the main embankment, there are two saddle dams. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 11,830 megalitres (15,470,000 cu yd). [1] The reservoir is surrounded by the Paluma Range National Park, but does not form a part of the park. [3]

Water decanted from the dam is piped 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) to the Crystal Creek catchment, on the eastern slopes of the Paluma Range. This water supplements natural flow in Crystal Creek, which is drawn from for supply of water to the city of Townsville. Maximum outflow from the dam is 43.2 ML/day. [1]

Paluma Dam was constructed between 1957 and 1958. The original storage capacity was 10,273 ML. This was increased to 11,496 ML in 1981 and then to 11,830 ML in 2020. These increases in capacity were achieved by adding flashboards to the spillway. [2]

Paluma Dam can be accessed via Paluma Dam Road. The lake and the surrounding national park are used for recreational activities such as camping, hiking, swimming and non-motorised boating.

Related Research Articles

Stephens Creek Dam Dam in Far West, New South Wales

The Stephens Creek Dam is an earth-filled embankment dam built on a rock foundation with an uncontrolled spillway across the Stephens Creek, located in the Far West region of New South Wales, Australia. The principal purpose of the dam is to supply potable water for the town of Broken Hill. The impounded 2,000-megalitre reservoir is called Stephens Creek Reservoir.

Hinze Dam Dam in South East Queensland

The Hinze Dam is a rock and earth-fill embankment dam with an un-gated spillway across the Nerang River in the Gold Coast hinterland of South East, Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for potable water supply of the Gold Coast region. The impounded reservoir is called Advancetown Lake.

Wivenhoe Dam Dam in South East Queensland

The Wivenhoe Dam is a rock and earth-fill embankment dam with a concrete spillway across the Brisbane River in South East Queensland, Australia. The dam wall is located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) by road from the centre of Brisbane. The primary purpose of the dam is the supply of potable water for the Brisbane and Ipswich regions. In addition, the dam also provides for flood mitigation control, hydroelectricity and for recreation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Wivenhoe and the dam, the lake and a narrow strip of surrounding land forms a locality also called Lake Wivenhoe.

Googong Dam 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.

Leslie Harrison Dam Dam in South East Queensland

The Leslie Harrison Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam across the Tingalpa 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 Redland City in Brisbane. The impounded reservoir is called Tingalpa Reservoir. The dam was named after Robert Leslie Harrison, a Queensland parliamentarian who died in April 1966.

Cochrane Dam (New South Wales) Dam in South Coast, New South Wales

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.

Mangrove Creek Dam Dam in Central Coast, New South Wales

Mangrove Creek Dam, a concrete faced rockfill embankment dam, is the primary reservoir for water supply to residents of the Central Coast in New South Wales, Australia.

William Hovell Dam 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, 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

Ross River Dam Dam in Between Kelso, Queensland and Mount Stuart, southwest of Townsville, North Queensland

The Ross River Dam is a rock and earthfill-filled embankment dam across the Ross River, located between Kelso and Mount Stuart in the City of Townsville in northern Queensland, Australia. Built initially for flood control, Lake Ross, the impoundment created by the dam, serves as one of the major potable water supplies for the region.

Gosling Creek Dam Dam in Orange, New South Wales

Gosling Creek Dam is a decommissioned minor earth and rock fill with clay core embankment dam with concrete chute spillway across the Gosling Creek upstream of Orange in the central western region of New South Wales, Australia. Commissioned in 1890 to supply Orange with potable water, the dam was decommissioned after the official commissioning of the Suma Park Dam in 1962. The impounded reservoir is called Gosling Creek Reservoir and is now used for recreation purposes.

Spring Creek Dam (New South Wales) Dam in Orange, New South Wales

Spring Creek Dam is a minor embankment dam across the Spring Creek upstream of Orange in the central western region of New South Wales, Australia. The impounded reservoir is called the Spring Creek Reservoir.

Cardinia Reservoir Dam in Greater Melbourne, Victoria

Cardinia Reservoir is an Australian man-made water supply dammed 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.

Cooby Dam Dam in Darling Downs, Queensland

The Cooby Dam is a rock–fill embankment dam with an un–gated spillway across the Cooby Creek, a tributary of Condamine River, at Groomsville in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for potable water supply of the Toowoomba region. The impounded reservoir is called the Cooby Creek Reservoir.

Fairbairn Dam Dam in southwest of Emerald, Central Queensland

The Fairbairn Dam is an earth-filled embankment dam across the Nogoa River, located southwest of Emerald in Central Queensland, Australia. Constructed in 1972 for the primary purpose of irrigation, the impoundment created by the dam serves as one of the major potable water supplies for the region and assists with some flood mitigation. Lake Maraboon with an active capacity of 1,301,000 ML (2.86×1011 imp gal; 3.44×1011 US gal) was formed by damming of the Nogoa River, and, in 2008, was Queensland's second largest dam. Its capacity is approximately three times larger than Sydney Harbour. Maraboon is the Aboriginal for "where the black ducks fly".

Lake Manchester Dam Dam in South East Queensland

The Lake Manchester Dam is a concrete gravity dam with an un-gated spillway across the Cabbage Tree Creek that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for potable water supply of Brisbane. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Manchester.

Six Mile Creek Dam Dam in South East Queensland

The Six Mile Creek Dam is a rock and earth-fill embankment dam with an un-gated spillway across the Six Mile Creek that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purposes of the dam are for potable water supply of the Sunshine Coast region and for recreation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Macdonald, named in memory of former Noosa Shire Council Chairman Ian MacDonald.

Clarrie Hall Dam Dam in Northern Rivers, New South Wales, Australia

Clarrie Hall Dam is a minor ungated concrete faced rockfill embankment dam with an uncontrolled concrete-lined chute spillway across the Doon Doon Creek, located upstream of the small town of Uki, in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for water supply and it creates the artificial Lake Clarrie Hall.

Grahamstown Dam Dam in Ferodale, New South Wales

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 and within the Port Stephens Council local government area in the Lower Hunter Region of 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 the Hunter's largest drinking water supply dam.

Oberon Dam 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.

Fitzroy Falls Dam

Fitzroy Falls Dam in New South Wales, Australia, is part of the Shoalhaven Scheme, completed in 1974. It consists of four separate earth and rockfill embankments located on the Yarrunga Creek upstream of Fitzroy Falls and about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) southeast of Moss Vale. The main embankment of 760 cubic metres (27,000 cu ft) is 14 metres (46 ft) high and 1,530 metres (5,020 ft) in length. At 100% capacity, the dam wall holds back approximately 9,950 megalitres of water, creating the impounded Fitzroy Falls Reservoir, which has a surface area of 522 hectares, drawn from a catchment area of 31 square kilometres (12 sq mi). The spillway has a discharge capacity of 516 cubic metres per second (18,200 cu ft/s).

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Paluma Dam Emergency Action Plan 2021" (PDF). Townsville City Council. pp. 11–12. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  2. 1 2 Water Supply: Paluma Dam. City of Townsville. Retrieved on 15 November 2021.
  3. "Nature Conservation (Protected Areas) Regulation 1994". Queensland Legislation. p. 35. Retrieved 27 October 2021.