Lake Julius was formed following the construction of Julius Dam in 1976 for irrigation and town water storage. The dam wall is located just below the junction of the Leichhardt River and Paroo Creek some 70 kilometres (43 mi) North East of Mount Isa. With a catchment area of 4,845 square kilometres it has a full supply capacity of 107,500 megalitres (3,800×10^6 cu ft), a surface area of 1,255 hectares (3,100 acres) with an average depth of 8.9 metres (29 ft).

Lake Julius (Julius Dam)
Lake Julius (Julius Dam) is located in Queensland
Lake Julius (Julius Dam)
Lake Julius (Julius Dam)
Location70 km (43 mi) North East of Mount Isa, Queensland
Coordinates20°07′53″S 139°43′23″E / 20.1315°S 139.723°E / -20.1315; 139.723
Lake typereservoir
Primary inflowsLeichhardt River, Paroo Creek
Primary outflowsLeichhardt River
Catchment area4,845 km2 (1,871 sq mi)
Basin countriesAustralia
Surface area1,255 ha (3,100 acres)
Average depth8.9 m (29 ft)
Max. depth25.2 m (83 ft)
Water volume107,500 ML (3,800×10^6 cu ft)[1]
Surface elevation223.54 m (733.4 ft)
References[1]

The dam is unique in Queensland and is a concrete multiple arch and buttress type structure, with the spillway discharging over the tops of the arches. The spillway crest is 18.3 metres (60 ft) above bed level. The arch barrels, founded on a triangular arch base, are constructed in independent arch rings and are hinged at buttress springing lines. The spillway is a precast superstructure and the dissipation slab at ground level is post tensioned to the foundation rock.

The dam has a total storage capacity of 107,500 megalitres (3,800×10^6 cu ft), and has a full supply level of 223.54m AHD.

After recording its lowest level of 0% in September 2002, the dam filled to a maximum of 169.73% of capacity on January 15, 2004, after record breaking rainfall upstream at Mt Isa.[2]

SunWater is undertaking a dam spillway capacity upgrade program.[3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Sunwater Current Water Storage Information
  2. ^ "Julius Dam". Sunwater. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  3. ^ Spillway Capacity Upgrade Program Archived 2008-02-13 at the Wayback Machine