Wappa Dam

Wappa Dam
Wappa Dam
	Wappa Dam, 2018
	Location of the Wappa Dam in Queensland
Country	Australia
Location	South East Queensland
Coordinates	26°34′12″S152°55′19″E / 26.57000°S 152.92194°E Coordinates: 26°34′12″S152°55′19″E / 26.57000°S 152.92194°E
Purpose	Potable water supply
Status	Operational
Opening date	1963
Operator(s)	SEQ Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Gravity dam
Impounds	South Maroochy River
Height	24 m (79 ft)
Length	138 m (453 ft)
Dam volume	12×103 m3 (420×103 cu ft)
Spillway type	Uncontrolled
Spillway capacity	1,420 m3/s (50,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity	4,610 ML (1,010×106 imp gal; 1,220×106 US gal)
Catchment area	69.7 km2 (26.9 sq mi)
Surface area	74 ha (180 acres)
	Website; www.seqwater.com.au

Last updated May 24, 2021

The Wappa Dam is a mass concrete gravity arch dam with earth-fill abutments and an un-gated spillway across the South Maroochy River that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for supply of potable water for the Sunshine Coast region.^[1]^[3] The impounded reservoir is also called Wappa Dam. The dam and most of the reservoir are within Kiamba with the most northerly part of the reservoir in Cooloolabin, both in the Sunshine Coast Region.^[4]

Location and features

The dam is located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north-west of Nambour.

Completed in 1963, the concrete dam structure is 24 metres (79 ft) high and 138 metres (453 ft) long. The 12-thousand-cubic-metre (420×10^³ cu ft) dam wall holds back the 4,614-megalitre (1,015×10^⁶ imp gal; 1,219×10^⁶ US gal) reservoir when at full capacity. From a catchment area of 69.7 square kilometres (26.9 sq mi) with a mean annual rainfall of approximately 1,700 millimetres (67 in) that includes much of the Maroochy River, the dam creates an unnamed reservoir with a surface area of 74 hectares (180 acres). The un–gated spillway has a discharge capacity of 1,420 cubic metres per second (50,000 cu ft/s).^[1] Initially managed by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, management of the dam was transferred to SEQ Water in July 2008 as part of a water security project in the South East Queensland region, known as the South East Queensland Water Grid.^[5] The accompanying water treatment plant is also managed by SEQ Water.

Recreational uses

Recreational use of the lake and its surrounding bushland reserve is severely limited, with prohibited recreational activities including swimming, water skiing, diving, mountain biking, horse riding, canoeing and kayaking, camping, and bushwalking. Picnic facilities are available at four locations around the dam,^[2] with access prohibited outside of daylight hours.^[3]

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download)). Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
1 2 3 4 5 "Wappa Dam". Water supply: Dams and weirs. Seqwater. 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
1 2 3 4 Harrison, Rod; James, Ernie; Sully, Chris; Classon, Bill; Eckermann, Joy (2008). Queensland Dams. Bayswater, Victoria: Australian Fishing Network. ISBN 978-1-86513-134-4.
↑ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 24 July 2020.
↑ Hurst, Daniel (7 July 2009). "Water funds slash debt". The Bayside Bulletin. Retrieved 21 April 2008.

External links

"Maroochy River: Raising Wappa Dam". Save the Mary River (PDF). GHD Report. Save The Mary River Coordinating Group Inc.

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[ancold-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download)). Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2014.

[seqwater-2] 1 2 3 4 5 "Wappa Dam". Water supply: Dams and weirs. Seqwater. 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.

[qlddams-3] 1 2 3 4 Harrison, Rod; James, Ernie; Sully, Chris; Classon, Bill; Eckermann, Joy (2008). Queensland Dams. Bayswater, Victoria: Australian Fishing Network. ISBN 978-1-86513-134-4.

[globe-4] "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 24 July 2020.

[cc-5] Hurst, Daniel (7 July 2009). "Water funds slash debt". The Bayside Bulletin. Retrieved 21 April 2008.

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