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Lake Eppalock

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Eppalock Dam
Lake Eppalock, pictured in 2010
Lake Eppalock is located in Victoria
Lake Eppalock
Location of the Eppalock Dam in Victoria
CountryAustralia
LocationNorth central region, Victoria
PurposeWater supply, irrigation
StatusOperational
Construction began1960 (1960)
Opening date1964 (1964)
Owner(s)Goulburn–Murray Water
Dam and spillways
Type of damEmbankment dam
Impounds
Height (foundation)47 m (154 ft)
Length400 m (1,300 ft)
Dam volume14,170×10^3 m3 (500×10^6 cu ft)
Spillways1
Spillway typeControlled chute
Spillway capacity8,040 m3/s (284,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesLake Eppalock
Total capacity304,651 ML (6.7014×1010 imp gal; 8.0480×1010 US gal)
Catchment area2,124 km2 (820 sq mi)
Surface area30.11 km2 (11.63 sq mi)
Maximum width400 m (1,300 ft)
Maximum water depth30 m (98 ft)
Normal elevation193.8 metres (636 ft) AHD
Website
Lake Eppalock at Goulburn–Murray Water
[1][2][3]

The Eppalock Dam is a major earth and rockfill embankment dam with a controlled chute spillway across the Campaspe and the Coliban rivers, about 130 kilometres (81 mi) northwest of Melbourne in the North central region of the Australian state of Victoria. The impounded reservoir, officially called Lake Eppalock,[2][4] is situated on the between the city of Bendigo and the town of Heathcote and serves as a major water storage facility for both places.

Location and features

The dam was built by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria. The dam wall height is 45 metres (148 ft) and the main embankment is 1,041 metres (3,415 ft) long. At 100% capacity the dam wall was designed to hold back 304,651 megalitres (6.7014×1010 imp gal; 8.0480×1010 US gal) of water. The surface area of Lake Eppalock is 323 hectares (800 acres) and the catchment area is 2,124 square kilometres (820 sq mi). The controlled spillway is capable of discharging 8,040 cubic metres per second (284,000 cu ft/s).[1][2]

In the past the lake was a major attraction for those engaging in watersports such as skiing, with a number of tourist parks and accommodation facilities around the lake. Water levels had been low for approximately eight years (between 2002–2010) and had restricted the amount of recreational activities that were possible on the lake, until rainfall in the latter half of 2010 caused the lake to reach 100 percent of its capacity. Activities including high-speed boating, water skiing, sailing, canoeing and fishing are all permissible on the lake. The longest boat ramp is functional to 13 percent capacity, however a speed restriction of 5 knots is placed on the lake when the level falls below 16 percent or 180 metres (590 ft) AHD.

Camping is permitted only in caravan parks and/or on private land surrounding the lake with a permit from the land owner.

Created in 1961, it remains the only water storage on the Campaspe River system. The reservoir rose from 8 percent in June 2010, to full capacity by November. The lake overflowed its spillway for the first time since 1996, on 28 November 2010, after significant rainfall over the preceding 48 hours. The lake was full in August 2000 then ran dry over two years, to 2002. It remained below 15 percent for 8 years due to drought. The lake filled in August 2010 and as of October 2011 was at 100 percent.

Lake Eppalock is administered by Goulburn–Murray Water.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download)). Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Lake Eppalock". Water Resources. Goulburn–Murray Water. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  3. ^ "Lake Eppalock (VIC)". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.
  4. ^ "A slide show history of Coliban Water". Coliban Water.