The Mowamba River, a
perennial river
A perennial stream is a stream that has continuous flow of surface water throughout the year in at least parts of its catchment during seasons of normal rainfall, Water Supply Paper 494. as opposed to one whose flow is intermittent. In the abse ...
of the
Snowy River
The Snowy River is a major river in south-eastern Australia. It originates on the slopes of Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest mainland peak, draining the eastern slopes of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, before flowing through the ...
catchment, is located in the
Snowy Mountains 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.
Course and features
The Mowamba River rises within The Snowy Mountains Range, part of the
Great Dividing Range, contained within the
Kosciuszko National Park, on the northeastern slopes of
Mount Terrible. The river flows generally south then northeast by east, joined by two minor
tributaries
A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainag ...
, before reaching its
confluence with the Snowy River approximately south of
Jindabyne
Jindabyne () is a town in south-east New South Wales, Australia that overlooks Lake Jindabyne near the Snowy Mountains, in Snowy Monaro Regional Council. It is a popular holiday destination year round, especially in winter. This is due to its ...
, in the Jindabyne Gorge.
[ The river descends over its course.][
]
Water management
Water from the Mowamba River is diverted to Jindabyne Dam
Jindabyne Dam is a major ungated rockfill embankment dam across the Snowy 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 ...
via the Mowamba weir and aqueduct; that is part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme
The Snowy Mountains Scheme or Snowy scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in south-east Australia. The Scheme consists of sixteen major dams; nine power stations; two pumping stations; and of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts that ...
.
On 28 August 2002, the Mowamba Weir was "turned out" allowing environmental water to over top the weir. Environmental water releases occurred until January 2006. Since January 2006, environmental water releases to the Snowy River have occurred from Jindabyne Dam as the infrastructure upgrades to the dam wall had been completed.
See also
* List of rivers of New South Wales (L–Z)
This is the second part of a list of rivers of New South Wales, Australia. With List of rivers of New South Wales (A–K) it includes all 439 rivers, as of 7 June 2008, listed by the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales in the Geographic ...
* List of rivers of Australia
* Rivers of New South Wales
This page discusses the rivers and hydrography of the state of New South Wales, Australia.
The principal topographic feature of New South Wales is the series of low highlands and plateaus called the Great Dividing Range, which extend from no ...
References
External links
Snowy Flow Response Monitoring and Modelling
{{Snowy River Shire , state=autocollapse
Rivers of New South Wales
Snowy Mountains Scheme
Snowy Mountains