Brogo Dam is a minor ungated
rockfill embankment
Embankment may refer to:
Geology and geography
* A levee, an artificial bank raised above the immediately surrounding land to redirect or prevent flooding by a river, lake or sea
* Embankment (earthworks), a raised bank to carry a road, railwa ...
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface 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, a ...
with an uncontrolled unlined
rock cut spillway across the
Brogo River
Brogo River, a perennial stream, perennial river that is part of the Bega River (New South Wales), Bega River catchment, is located in the South Coast (New South Wales), South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia.
Course and features
Brogo ...
upstream of
Brogo
The Brogo Reserve is a nature reserve, owned (since 1995) and managed by Bush Heritage Australia, located at the north-eastern end of the Bega Valley in south-eastern New South Wales— south of Sydney and north of Bega.
Features Landscape a ...
in the
South Coast South Coast is a name often given to coastal areas to the south of a geographical region or major metropolitan area.
Geographical
Australia
*South Coast (New South Wales), the coast of New South Wales, Australia, south of Sydney
* South Coast (Q ...
region of
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. The dam's purpose includes environmental flows,
hydro-electric
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined an ...
power generation,
irrigation
Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow Crop, crops, Landscape plant, landscape plants, and Lawn, lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,00 ...
, and
water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavors or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Public water supply systems are crucial to properly functioning societies. Thes ...
. The impounded
reservoir
A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation.
Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contro ...
is also called Brogo Dam.
Location and features
Commenced in 1964 and completed in 1976, the Brogo Dam is a major dam on the Brogo River, a tributary of the
Bega River, and is located approximately northwest of
Bega. The dam was built by Citra Constructions Pty Limited on behalf of the New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation to supply water for irrigation
and
potable water
Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, ag ...
for the towns of
Quaama
Quaama is a village in the Bega Valley Shire, in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The village is located along the Princes Highway between Cobargo and Brogo, 30 km north of the town of Bega. It had a resident population ...
,
Cobargo
Cobargo is a village in the south-east area of the state of New South Wales in Australia in Bega Valley Shire. At the , Cobargo had a population of 776 people. It is 386 km south of Sydney on the Princes Highway between Narooma and Bega ...
, and
Bermagui. The dam supplies water to farmers along the Brogo and Bega rivers for stock and domestic use and irrigation on improved pastures for stock feed.
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agriculture for long-term production of milk, which is processed (either on the farm or at a dairy plant, either of which may be called a dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting or ...
is the main industry in the Bega Valley and the dam ensures a continuous and reliable supply for this activity.
The dam wall comprises of concrete-faced rock fill and is high and is long. The maximum water depth is and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back of water at
AHD. The surface area of Brogo Dam is and the catchment area is . The uncontrolled unlined rock cut spillway is capable of discharging .
Power generation
In 2002,
Delta Electricity
Delta Electricity is an electricity generation company in Australia. The company was formed by the Government of New South Wales in 1996 as part of its reform of the electricity sector in the State, which saw the breakup of the Electricity Comm ...
won the right to construct a
mini hydro
Small hydro is the development of hydroelectric power on a scale suitable for local community and industry, or to contribute to distributed generation in a regional electricity grid. Exact definitions vary, but a "small hydro" project is less t ...
power station
A power station, also referred to as a power plant and sometimes generating station or generating plant, is an industrial facility for the generation of electric power. Power stations are generally connected to an electrical grid.
Many p ...
and generate up to of
electricity
Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described ...
from the flow of the water leaving Brogo Dam.
Recreation
Brogo Dam is stocked with
Australian Bass
The Australian bass (''Macquaria novemaculeata'') is a small- to medium-sized species of primarily freshwater (but estuarine spawning) fish found in coastal rivers and streams along the east coast of Australia. A member of the genus ''Macquari ...
and
eels
Eels are ray-finned fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes (), which consists of eight suborders, 19 families, 111 genera, and about 800 species. Eels undergo considerable development from the early larval stage to the eventual adult stage ...
can also be found in the dam's waters.
Boating and canoeing on the dam's surface are permitted. The area surrounding the dam has abundant ferns and rock orchids that provide a photographer's paradise.
See also
*
Delta Electricity
Delta Electricity is an electricity generation company in Australia. The company was formed by the Government of New South Wales in 1996 as part of its reform of the electricity sector in the State, which saw the breakup of the Electricity Comm ...
*
Irrigation in Australia
Irrigation is a widespread practice required in many areas of Australia, the driest inhabited continent, to supplement low rainfall with water from other sources to assist in growing crops and pasture. Overuse or poor management of irrigation ...
*
List of dams and reservoirs in Australia
Dams and reservoirs in Australia is a link page for any dam or reservoir in Australia.
Australian Capital Territory
There are three key water storage facilities located in the Australian Capital Territory. The fourth source of water for Canbe ...
References
{{WaterNSW , state=autocollapse
South Coast (New South Wales)
Dams completed in 1976
Rock-filled dams
Hydroelectric power stations in New South Wales
Dams in New South Wales