Murray Two Dam is a major ungated

concrete arch An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side. A viaduct ( ...

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 ...

with a controlled spillway across Khancoban Bank, a diverted flow of the Snowy and Geehi rivers 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. 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 Murray Two Pondage.

History

The structure was completed by Thiess in 1968, and is one of the sixteen major dams that comprise 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 ...

, a vast

hydroelectricity 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 ...

and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 that is now run by

Snowy Hydro Snowy Hydro Limited is an electricity generation and retailing company in Australia that owns, manages, and maintains the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme which consists of nine hydro-electric power stations and sixteen large dams connecte ...

Location and features

Murray Two Dam is a major dam, located within the Snowy Valleys local government area, approximately southeast of the town of

Khancoban Khancoban () is a small town in Snowy Valleys Council, New South Wales, Australia. The town is located from the state capital, Sydney and from the state border with Victoria, in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains, near the upper reaches of t ...

. The dam was constructed by a consortium including Thiess and Dillingham Corporation based on engineering plans developed under contract from the

Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority Snowy Hydro Limited is an electricity generation and retailing company in Australia that owns, manages, and maintains the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme which consists of nine hydro-electric power stations and sixteen large dams connecte ...

. The arch dam wall comprises of concrete and is high and long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back of water. The surface area of Murray Two Pondage is and the catchment area is . The controlled spillway is capable of discharging .

Power generation

Located immediately upstream of the Murray Two Pondage is the Murray 1 Power Station, a conventional hydroelectric

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 ...

. Murray 1 draws the supply of its water under pressure from an Haupt-tunnel, with a

diameter In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints lie on the circle. It can also be defined as the longest chord of the circle. Both definitions are also valid fo ...

of , that is fully lined along its length; completed in 1966. Meanwhile, located immediately downstream is the Murray 2 Power Station, a conventional hydroelectric power station. Water from the power plant is discharged into the reservoir, before passing over the spillway of

Khancoban Dam Khancoban Dam is a major ungated earthfill dam, earthfill embankment dam, embankment dam with a Spillway#Types, controlled spillway across the Swampy Plain River in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose i ...

, and down the Swampy Plain River.

References

External links

* {{WaterNSW Snowy Mountains Scheme Arch dams Dams in New South Wales Dams completed in 1968 Kosciuszko National Park Murray-Darling basin Snowy Valleys Council 1968 establishments in Australia