Bill Gunn Dam

Bill Gunn Dam

View from Cunninghams Crest Lookout
Location of the Bill Gunn Dam
in Queensland
Country Australia
Location South East Queensland
Coordinates 27°37′40″S 152°22′37″E / 27.62778°S 152.37694°E / -27.62778; 152.37694Coordinates: 27°37′40″S 152°22′37″E / 27.62778°S 152.37694°E / -27.62778; 152.37694
Purpose Irrigation
Status Operational
Opening date 1987
Operator(s) SEQ Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment dam
Impounds Off-stream
Height 18 m (59 ft)
Length 1,160 m (3,810 ft)
Dam volume 722×10^3 m3 (25.5×10^6 cu ft)
Spillway type Uncontrolled
Spillway capacity 5 m3/s (180 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates Lake Dyer
Total capacity 6,940 ML (1,530×10^6 imp gal; 1,830×10^6 US gal)[1]
Catchment area 3 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Surface area 100 ha (250 acres)
Maximum length 1,100 m (3,600 ft)
Maximum width 600 m (2,000 ft)
Maximum water depth 10.7 m (35 ft)
Normal elevation 110 m (360 ft) AHD 
Website
www.seqwater.com.au

The Bill Gunn Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam with an un-gated spillway located off-stream in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for irrigation of the Lockyer Valley.[2][3] The resultant reservoir is called Lake Dyer.

Location and features

Located 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) west of the town of Laidley, the dam was developed to increase the capacity of the existing Lake Dyer, a natural lake adjacent to Laidley Creek, a tributary of Lockyer Creek. The dam was named after the Queensland politician Bill Gunn and is managed by SEQ Water.[2]

The 1,170 m (3,840 ft) long earthfill structure has a maximum height of 12 m (39 ft) and an overflow spillway which diverts excess water into Laidley Creek. The dam has a storage capacity of 6,950 megalitres (1,530×10^6 imp gal; 1,840×10^6 US gal) and a maximum surface area of 108 hectares (270 acres).

Water from the dam is used for irrigation, in the densely cropped Lockyer Valley.[2] Bill Gunn Dam suffers from high drawdowns and summer evaporation which together with phosphate fertilizer creates significant blue green algae problems.[2] In November 2005, during drought conditions in the area, the dam's water level declined to just 1%.[4]

Recreation

A boating permit is not required, however a maximum of eight boats are allowed at on the lake at once.[2] A single concrete boat ramp and some facilities for visitors, including campers, are available at a lakeside caravan park which is managed by the local council.

The dam is stocked with silver perch and golden perch, while bony bream, spangled perch and eel-tailed catfish breed naturally.[2] A Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish in the dam.[5] The poor water quality means that fish caught in the dam may, at times of an algae outbreak, be a health hazard if eaten.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bill Gunn Dam". Water supply: Dams and weirs. Seqwater. 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Harrison, Rod; James, Ernie; Sully, Chris; Classon, Bill; Eckermann, Joy (2008). Queensland Dams. Bayswater, Victoria: Australian Fishing Network. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-86513-134-4.
  3. ↑ "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download)). Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  4. ↑ Rebecca Dull (2005-11-29). "Falls make small impact on dam levels". Ipswich Queensland Times. APN News & Media. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  5. ↑ Fishing in Queensland dams? You may need a permit. Archived 29 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
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