Carcoar Dam

Carcoar Dam

Carcoar Dam, 2007
The location of the Carcoar Dam
in New South Wales
Location Carcoar, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates 33°37′00″S 149°10′45″E / 33.61667°S 149.17917°E / -33.61667; 149.17917Coordinates: 33°37′00″S 149°10′45″E / 33.61667°S 149.17917°E / -33.61667; 149.17917
Purpose Irrigation, water supply, and water conservation
Status Operational
Construction began 1969
Opening date 1970
Owner(s) State Water Corporation
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Arch dam
Impounds Belubula River
Height 52 metres (171 ft)
Length 187 metres (614 ft)
Dam volume 61 cubic metres (2,200 cu ft)
Spillways 1
Spillway type Uncontrolled overflow spillway
Spillway capacity 1,218 cubic metres per second (43,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity 36,400 megalitres (1,290×10^6 cu ft)
Catchment area 230 square kilometres (89 sq mi)
Surface area 385 hectares (950 acres)
Max. water depth 41 metres (135 ft)
Normal elevation 720 metres (2,360 ft) AHD
Website
Carcoar Dam at www.statewater.com.au

Carcoar Dam is a minor ungated concrete double parabolic arch dam with an uncontrolled overflow spillway across the Belubula River upstream of Carcoar in the central west region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes irrigation, water supply, and water conservation.

Location and features

Commenced in 1969 and completed in 1970, Carcoar Dam is a minor dam on the Belubula River, a tributary of the Lachlan River, within the Lachlan Valley, approximately 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of the village of Carcoar and south of the town of Blayney. Water from the dam is released directly into the Belubula River which is used by irrigators downstream of the dam, and for stock and domestic requirements along the Belubula River.[1]

The dam wall height is 57 metres (187 ft) and is 187 metres (614 ft) long. The maximum water depth is 41 metres (135 ft) and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 36,400 megalitres (1,290×10^6 cu ft) of water at 720 metres (2,360 ft) AHD. The surface area of the dam is 385 hectares (950 acres) and the catchment area is 230 square kilometres (89 sq mi). The dam uses a free-flowing spillway which is capable of discharging 1,218 cubic metres per second (43,000 cu ft/s).[2][3]

The dam is unusual in that its wall is not only curved from side-to-side but also from top to bottom.[4]

The dam is popular for water skiing, swimming, fishing windsurfing and sailing. Camping, picnic and barbecue facilities are available. Murray Cod, Golden Perch, Silver Perch and Rainbow Trout are all stocked fish in Carcoar Dam with Redfin present.[5]

Carcoar wetland

In the early 1990s, the NSW Government assisted to establish wetlands at Carcoar Dam in an effort to control blue-green algae which had made the dam unusable for recreation and made the water discharged from the dam unusable, even for domestic animals.[6] The purpose of the wetland was to act as a nutrient sink which could capture nutrients prior to them entering the reservoir.[7]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. Green, D.; Petrovic, J.; Moss, P.; Burrell, M. (2011). Water resources and management overview: Lachlan catchment (PDF). NSW Office of Water (Sydney: Government of New South Wales). ISBN 978-1-74263-185-1. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  2. "Carcoar Dam". Water delivery: Dams. State Water Corporation. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  3. "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download)). Dams information. The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated. 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  4. "Carcoar Dam" (PDF brochure). State Water Corporation. 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  5. "Carcoar Dam". Blayney Shire Council. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  6. Cruickshank, Adrian; Causley, Ian (20 April 1993). "Carcoar Dam Wetland Experiment" (transcript). Hansard. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  7. "Water quality: Algal information: Prevention and control". Office of Water, Department of Primary Industries. Government of New South Wales. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2013.

External links

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