The Scotts Peak Dam is a
rockfill embankment 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 ...
without a
spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of water downstream from a dam or levee, typically into the riverbed of the dammed river itself. In the United Kingdom, they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways ensure th ...
across the
Huon River
The Huon River is a perennial river located in the south-west and south-east regions of Tasmania, Australia. At in length, the Huon River is the fifth-longest in the state, with its course flowing east through the fertile Huon Valley and empt ...
, located in the
South West
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each se ...
region of
Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
, Australia.
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 ...
, also formed with the
Edgar Dam and the
Serpentine Dam, is called
Lake Pedder
Lake Pedder, once a glacial outwash lake, is a man-made impoundment and diversion lake located in the southwest of Tasmania, Australia. In addition to its natural catchment from the Frankland Range, the lake is formed by the 1972 damming of the ...
which flooded
Lake Edgar, a naturally forming
fault scarp
A fault scarp is a small step or offset on the ground surface where one side of a fault has moved vertically with respect to the other. It is the topographic expression of faulting attributed to the displacement of the land surface by movement a ...
pond. The dam was constructed in 1973 by the
Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS) as part of the Gordon River Power Development Scheme for the purpose of generating
hydro-electric power
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 ...
via the
conventional Gordon Power Station. Water from Lake Pedder is diverted to
Lake Gordon
Lake Gordon is a man-made reservoir created by the Gordon Dam, located on the upper reaches of the Gordon River in the south-west region of Tasmania, Australia.
Features
The reservoir was formed in the early 1970s as a result of the dam const ...
(formed by the
Gordon Dam
The Gordon Dam, also known as the Gordon River Dam, is a major gated double curvature concrete arch dam with a controlled spillway across the Gordon River, located in South West Tasmania, Australia. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Gordon. ...
) via the McPartlan Pass Canal.
Location and features
The Scotts Peak Dam, together with the Edgar Dam and the Serpentine Dam, are three major dams that form the headwaters for the Gordon River Power Development Scheme. The dam is located near Lake Pedder's most easterly point in the upper reaches of the Huon River where the river descends from the Marsden Range and descends into what is now known as the Huon Basin. Also at the southern end of the Lake Pedder, the Scotts Peak Dam impounds the upper reaches of the Huon River. At the northwestern end of the lake is impounded by the Serpentine Dam across the
Serpentine River. The water in Lake Pedder provides around 40% of the water used in the Gordon Power Station. The water flows to Lake Gordon via McPartlan Canal.
[ Water from Lake Gordon then exits through the Gordon Dam.
Built on a foundation of rock and soil, the Scotts Peak Dam wall was constructed with of rockfill and faced with asphalt. The dam wall is high and long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back of water. The surface area of Lake Pedder is and the catchment area is . The dam wall does not have a spillway.]Engineers Australia
Engineers Australia (EA) is an Australian professional body and not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to advance the science and practice of engineering for the benefit of the community. Engineers Australia is Australia's recognized org ...
.
Controversy
The construction of Scotts Peak Dam was controversial as it was built to flood Lake Pedder and extend the reservoir for the Gordon Dam
The Gordon Dam, also known as the Gordon River Dam, is a major gated double curvature concrete arch dam with a controlled spillway across the Gordon River, located in South West Tasmania, Australia. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Gordon. ...
. A small greens movement was formed it response, which mobilised in the 1980s to stop the proposed Franklin River Dam.
Problems
In the 2008 edition of ''Ticklebelly Tales'' engineers associated with the dam acknowledge that there were issues leaks as soon as it was built.
Climate
This site is frequently lashed by severe weather; cloud cover is likewise extreme.
See also
* List of dams in Tasmania
References
{{GordonPowerDevelopment
South West Tasmania
Hydro Tasmania dams
Lake Pedder
Dams completed in 1973
Rock-filled dams
Embankment dams
Gordon River power development scheme
Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers