Toonumbar Dam | |
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Toonumbar Dam viewed from Bells Bay Camping Area | |
Location of the Toonumbar Dam in New South Wales | |
Country | Australia |
Location | Northern Rivers, New South Wales |
Coordinates | 28°37′16″S152°47′29″E / 28.62111°S 152.79139°E Coordinates: 28°37′16″S152°47′29″E / 28.62111°S 152.79139°E |
Purpose | Hydro-power, irrigation, water supply and conservation |
Status | Operational |
Construction began | 1969 |
Opening date | 1971 |
Owner(s) | State Water Corporation |
Dam and spillways | |
Type of dam | Embankment dam |
Impounds | Iron Pot Creek |
Height | 44 metres (144 ft) |
Length | 229 metres (751 ft) |
Dam volume | 361 cubic metres (12,700 cu ft) |
Spillways | 1 |
Spillway type | Concrete chute |
Spillway capacity | 1,700 cubic metres per second (60,000 cu ft/s) |
Reservoir | |
Creates | Lake Toonumbar |
Total capacity | 1,100 megalitres (39×10 6 cu ft) |
Catchment area | 98 square kilometres (38 sq mi) |
Surface area | 320 hectares (790 acres) |
Maximum water depth | 34 metres (112 ft) |
Normal elevation | 129.6 metres (425 ft) AHD |
Power Station | |
Type | Conventional |
Installed capacity | 0.1 megawatts (130 hp) |
Website Toonumbar Dam at www.statewater.com.au |
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.
An embankment dam is a large artificial dam. It is typically created by the placement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay, or rock. It has a semi-pervious waterproof natural covering for its surface and a dense, impervious core. This makes such a dam impervious to surface or seepage erosion. Such a dam is composed of fragmented independent material particles. The friction and interaction of particles binds the particles together into a stable mass rather than by the use of a cementing substance.
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aquaculture, and navigability. Hydropower is often used in conjunction with dams to generate electricity. A dam can also be used to collect water or for storage of water which can be evenly distributed between locations. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. The earliest known dam is the Jawa Dam in Jordan, dating to 3,000 BC.
Casino is a town in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, Australia, with a population of 10,914 people at the 2016 census. It lies on the banks of the Richmond River and is situated at the junction of the Bruxner Highway and the Summerland Way.
Commenced in 1969 and completed in 1971, the Toonumbar Dam is a minor ungated dam, located approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of Kyogle and 55 kilometres (34 mi) north-west of Casino. The dam was built by Citra Australia Limited on behalf of the New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation to conserve water, control flows, reduce flood risk and provide a reliable water supply in the region. [1] [2] [3]
The dam wall constructed with 361 cubic metres (12,700 cu ft) of rock fill with clay core is 44 metres (144 ft) high and 483 metres (1,585 ft) long. The maximum water depth is 34 metres (112 ft) and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 11,100 megalitres (390×10 6 cu ft) of water at 129.6 metres (425 ft) AHD. The surface area of Lake Toonumbar is 320 hectares (790 acres) and the catchment area is 9,800 square kilometres (3,800 sq mi). The uncontrolled concrete chute spillway is capable of discharging 1,700 cubic metres per second (60,000 cu ft/s). [1] [2] [3]
The Australian Height Datum is a vertical datum in Australia. According to Geoscience Australia, "In 1971 the mean sea level for 1966-1968 was assigned the value of 0.000m on the Australian Height Datum at thirty tide gauges around the coast of the Australian continent. The resulting datum surface, with minor modifications in two metropolitan areas, has been termed the Australian Height Datum (AHD) and was adopted by the National Mapping Council as the datum to which all vertical control for mapping is to be referred."
The reservoir, Lake Toonumbar, provides a location for freshwater sports fishing for the species Australian Bass. Boat access is available at Bells Bay and near the dam wall, combustion engine powered craft are permitted to use the dam as long as the 8 knot speed limit is kept to.
Lake Toonumbar has been stocked regularly with Australian Bass and Eastern Cod (totally protected in NSW) fingerlings. It is also known as one of the best bass fisheries on the North Coast. [4] A NSW Fishing Licence is required to fish in the dam.
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