Wappa Dam

Wappa Dam
Location of the Wappa Dam in Queensland
Country Australia
Location South East Queensland
Coordinates 26°34′12″S 152°55′19″E / 26.57000°S 152.92194°E / -26.57000; 152.92194Coordinates: 26°34′12″S 152°55′19″E / 26.57000°S 152.92194°E / -26.57000; 152.92194
Purpose Potable water supply[1][2]
Status Operational
Opening date 1963 (1963)
Operator(s) SEQ Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Gravity dam
Impounds South Maroochy River
Height 24 m (79 ft)[1]
Length 138 m (453 ft)[1][2]
Dam volume 12×10^3 m3 (420×10^3 cu ft)[1]
Spillway type Uncontrolled
Spillway capacity 1,420 m3/s (50,000 cu ft/s)[1]
Reservoir
Total capacity 4,610 ML (1,010×10^6 imp gal; 1,220×10^6 US gal)[2][3]
Catchment area 69.7 km2 (26.9 sq mi)[1][2]
Surface area 74 ha (180 acres)[3]
Website
www.seqwater.com.au

The Wappa Dam is a mass concrete gravity arch dam with earth-fill abutments and an un-gated spillway across the South Maroochy River that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for supply of potable water for the Sunshine Coast region.[1][3] The impounded reservoir is also called Wappa Dam.

Location and features

Water pouring over the wall of Wappa Dam, in May 2015.

The dam is located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north-west of Nambour.

Completed in 1963, the concrete dam structure is 24 metres (79 ft) high and 138 metres (453 ft) long. The 12-thousand-cubic-metre (420×10^3 cu ft) dam wall holds back the 4,614-megalitre (1,015×10^6 imp gal; 1,219×10^6 US gal) reservoir when at full capacity. From a catchment area of 69.7 square kilometres (26.9 sq mi) with a mean annual rainfall of approximately 1,700 millimetres (67 in) that includes much of the Maroochy River, the dam creates an unnamed reservoir with a surface area of 74 hectares (180 acres). The un–gated spillway has a discharge capacity of 1,420 cubic metres per second (50,000 cu ft/s).[1] Initially managed by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, management of the dam was transferred to SEQ Water in July 2008 as part of a water security project in the South East Queensland region, known as the South East Queensland Water Grid.[4] The accompanying water treatment plant is also managed by SEQ Water.

Recreational uses

Recreational use of the lake and its surrounding bushland reserve is severely limited, with prohibited recreational activities including swimming, water skiing, diving, mountain biking, horse riding, canoeing and kayaking, camping, and bushwalking. Picnic facilities are available at four locations around the dam,[2] with access prohibited outside of daylight hours.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download)). Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Wappa Dam". Water supply: Dams and weirs. Seqwater. 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Harrison, Rod; James, Ernie; Sully, Chris; Classon, Bill; Eckermann, Joy (2008). Queensland Dams. Bayswater, Victoria: Australian Fishing Network. ISBN 978-1-86513-134-4.
  4. ↑ Hurst, Daniel (7 July 2009). "Water funds slash debt". The Bayside Bulletin. Retrieved 21 April 2008.


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