Toonumbar Dam

Last updated

Toonumbar Dam
Toonumbar Dam viewed from Bells Bay Camping Area. Image contributed by Ayesha Joy Clifford..JPG
Toonumbar Dam viewed from Bells Bay Camping Area
Australia New South Wales relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Location of the Toonumbar Dam
in New South Wales
CountryAustralia
Location Northern Rivers, New South Wales
Coordinates 28°37′16″S152°47′29″E / 28.62111°S 152.79139°E / -28.62111; 152.79139 Coordinates: 28°37′16″S152°47′29″E / 28.62111°S 152.79139°E / -28.62111; 152.79139
Purpose Hydro-power, irrigation, water supply and conservation
StatusOperational
Construction began1969
Opening date1971
Owner(s)State Water Corporation
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment dam
ImpoundsIron Pot Creek
Height44 metres (144 ft)
Length229 metres (751 ft)
Dam volume361 cubic metres (12,700 cu ft)
Spillways 1
Spillway type Concrete chute
Spillway capacity1,700 cubic metres per second (60,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesLake Toonumbar
Total capacity1,100 megalitres (39×10^6 cu ft)
Catchment area 98 square kilometres (38 sq mi)
Surface area320 hectares (790 acres)
Maximum water depth34 metres (112 ft)
Normal elevation129.6 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.

Embankment dam large artificial dam

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.

Dam A barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface or underground streams

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, New South Wales Town in New South Wales, Australia

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.

Contents

Location and features

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."

Recreation

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.

Fishing

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.

See also

Related Research Articles

Glenbawn Dam dam in Hunter region, New South Wales

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 region 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.

Glennies Creek Dam 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.

Lostock Dam dam in Hunter, New South Wales

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 dam in Central Tablelands, New South Wales

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 in the Mid-Western Region Council, New South Wales, Australia. It is upstream of Mudgee in the Central Tablelands region. The dam's purpose includes hydro-power, irrigation, water supply, and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Windamere.

Blowering Dam 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.

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.

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.

Tooma Dam dam in Snowy Mountains, New South Wales

Tooma Dam is a major ungated concrete 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.

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.

Split Rock Dam 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 dam in North West Slopes, New South Wales

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.

Talbingo Dam 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 dam's main purpose is for the generation of hydro-power and is the largest of 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. The impounded reservoir is called Talbingo Reservoir.

Chaffey Dam dam in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia

Chaffey Dam is a minor ungated rock fill with clay core embankment dam with an uncontrolled morning glory spillway across the Peel River, located upstream of the city of Tamworth, in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, irrigation, water supply, and water conservation.

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.

Carcoar Dam dam in Carcoar, New South Wales, Australia

Carcoar Dam is a minor ungated concrete double parabolic arch dam with an uncontrolled overflow spillway across the Belubula River upstream of Carcoar in the central west region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes irrigation, water supply, and water conservation.

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.

Rydal Dam dam in Central Tablelands, New South Wales

Rydal Dam is a minor ungated homogeneous earthfill embankment dam with a fuse plug uncontrolled open channel spillway across an off stream storage, located near Rydal in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose is to provide water storage for Delta power stations at Wallerawang and Mount Piper. The impounded reservoir is also called the Rydal Dam.

Tumut Two Dam dam in Snowy Mountains, New South Wales

Tumut Two Dam or Tumut Two is a major ungated concrete gravity dam across the upper reaches of the Tumut 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.

Island Bend Dam dam in Snowy Mountains, New South Wales

Island Bend Dam is a major ungated concrete gravity dam with a controlled spillway across the Snowy 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 dam in South Coast, New South Wales

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. 1 2 "Toonumbar Dam" (PDF brochure). State Water Corporation. 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download)). Dams information. The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated. 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Toonumbar Dam". Water delivery: dams. State Water Corporation. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  4. "Toonumbar Dam". Fishing information. Sweetwater Fisging. Retrieved 22 April 2013.