Deep Creek Dam (New South Wales)

Deep Creek Dam is a major ungated concrete gravity dam across the Deep Creek in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose is for the diversion of water for generation of hydro-power and is the smallest of the sixteen major dams that comprise the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 and now run by Snowy Hydro.

Deep Creek Dam
Deep Creek Dam (New South Wales) is located in New South Wales
Deep Creek Dam (New South Wales)
Location of Deep Creek Dam in
New South Wales
LocationSnowy Mountains, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates36°00′35.7″S 148°20′37.2″E / 36.009917°S 148.343667°E / -36.009917; 148.343667
StatusOperational
Opening date1961
Owner(s)Snowy Hydro
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity dam
ImpoundsDeep Creek
Height21.3 metres (70 ft)
Length54.9 metres (180 ft)
Dam volume4,080 cubic metres (144,000 cu ft)
Spillways1
Spillway typeUncontrolled
Spillway capacity312 cubic metres per second (11,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesDeep Creek Reservoir
Total capacity11 megalitres (390×10^3 cu ft)
Catchment area9.68 square kilometres (3.74 sq mi)
Surface area2 hectares (4.9 acres)

The impounded reservoir is called the Deep Creek Reservoir.

Location and features

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Completed in 1961, Deep Creek Dam is a major dam, located within the Snowy Valleys local government area. The dam was constructed based on engineering plans developed under contract by the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority.[1]

The dam wall comprising 4,000 cubic metres (140,000 cu ft) of concrete is 21 metres (69 ft) high and 55 metres (180 ft) long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 11 megalitres (390×10^3 cu ft) of water. The surface area of Deep Creek Reservoir is 2 hectares (4.9 acres) and the catchment area is 9.68 square kilometres (3.74 sq mi). The uncontrolled spillway is capable of discharging 312 cubic metres per second (11,000 cu ft/s).[1][2]

The water behind the dam is diverted into the Tooma – Tumut Tunnel through a siphon intake along with 3 other intakes on the Tunnel to Tumut Pond Reservoir, for use in the Tumut Valley Power Stations.
Below the dam wall, Deep Creek flows into the Tooma River, before emptying into the Murray River within the Murray–Darling basin.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Register of Large Dams in Australia". Dams information. The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated. 2010. Archived from the original (Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  2. ^ "Dams". Snowy Mountains Scheme. Snowy Hydro. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
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