Deep Creek Dam is a major ungated
concrete gravity 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 ...
across the
Deep Creek in the
Snowy Mountains
The Snowy Mountains, known informally as "The Snowies", is an IBRA subregion in southern New South Wales, Australia, and is the tallest mountain range in mainland Australia, being part of the continent's Great Dividing Range cordillera system ...
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 main purpose is for the diversion of water for generation of
hydro-power and is the smallest 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.
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 called the Deep Creek Reservoir.
Location and features
Completed in 1961, Deep Creek Dam is a major dam, located within the
Snowy Valleys local government area
A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a State (administrative division), state, province, divi ...
. The dam was constructed based on engineering plans developed under contract by the
Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority.
The dam wall comprising of concrete is high and long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back of water. The surface area of Deep Creek Reservoir is and the catchment area is . The uncontrolled spillway is capable of discharging .
The water behind the dam is diverted into the Tooma – Tumut Tunnel through a siphon intake along with 3 other intakes on the Tunnel to
Tumut Pond Reservoir, for use in the
Tumut Valley Power Stations.
Below the dam wall, Deep Creek flows into the
Tooma River, before emptying into the Murray River within the
Murray–Darling basin.
See also
*
Kosciuszko National Park
The Kosciuszko National Park () is a national park and contains mainland Australia's highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko, for which it is named, and Cabramurra, the highest town in Australia. Its borders contain a mix of rugged mountains and wildern ...
*
List of dams and reservoirs in New South Wales
*
Snowy Hydro Limited
*
Snowy Mountains Scheme
*
Snowy Scheme Museum
References
External links
*
{{Riverina , state=autocollapse
Snowy Mountains Scheme
Gravity dams
Dams in New South Wales
Dams completed in 1961
Kosciuszko National Park
Murray-Darling basin