| Wyangala Dam | |
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Wyangala Dam and Lake Wyangala, 2003, during a period of sustained drought. |
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| Country | Australia |
| Location | New South Wales |
| Coordinates | |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1929 |
| Opening date | 1935 |
| Owner(s) | State Water Corporation |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Lachlan River |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Wyangala |
| Inactive capacity | 1,220,000 ML |
| Catchment area | 8,300 km² |
Wyangala Dam is a large water storage facility located in the southwest slopes area of New South Wales, Australia. The dam is situated below the junction of the Lachlan River and Abercrombie River. It was the second water storage project to be constructed by the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission of N.S.W. The dam is used for irrigation purposes, flood mitigation and town water supply. It is the only dam on the Lachlan River system, which feeds the Murrumbidgee River, which in turn feeds the Murray River.
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The small settlement of Wyangala is located downriver of and adjacent to the dam. The name came about as a station called Wyangala was located in the area. The original village is under the water level and can only be seen when the dam is close to being dry. The next largest nearby town is Darbys Falls. The nearest large town is Cowra, approximately 20 kilometres northwest of the dam.
Wyangala Dam has a catchment area of 8,300 km² and maximum storage capacity of 1,220,000 ML.[1]
The original dam wall was constructed between 1929 and 1935, and was one of the last dams in New South Wales which utilised a railway or tramway system for construction purposes.[2] The current earth and rock wall was constructed between 1961 and 1971 due to fears that the original dam wall was beginning to lift away from its base and as a result, it was feared that it would not be able to withstand a major flood. The original dam wall can be seen when the water level is around 30% An update of the present dam wall has commenced in 2010. The work means the road across the dam wall will have to permanently close.[3]
Water entitlements were down to just 10% of normal availability in 2008. Some inflows to the dam later in the year allowed restrictions for high security licence holders to be relaxed.[4] In late 2009, drought had reduced the water storage level to 4.5%.[5]
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