Lake Eppalock

Eppalock Dam
Lake Eppalock, pictured in 2010
Location of the Eppalock Dam in Victoria
Country	Australia
Location	North central region, Victoria
Purpose	Water supply, irrigation
Status	Operational
Construction began	1960 (1960)
Opening date	1964 (1964)
Owner(s)	Goulburn–Murray Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment dam
Impounds	Campaspe River Coliban River
Height (foundation)	47 m (154 ft)
Length	400 m (1,300 ft)
Dam volume	14,170×10^3 m3 (500×10^6 cu ft)
Spillways	1
Spillway type	Controlled chute
Spillway capacity	8,040 m3/s (284,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Eppalock
Total capacity	304,651 ML (6.7014×1010 imp gal; 8.0480×1010 US gal)
Catchment area	2,124 km2 (820 sq mi)
Surface area	30.11 km2 (11.63 sq mi)
Maximum width	400 m (1,300 ft)
Maximum water depth	30 m (98 ft)
Normal elevation	193.8 metres (636 ft) AHD
Website Lake Eppalock at Goulburn–Murray Water

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, 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).

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.

Gallery

• 
  A picture of what is known to local residents as the Derrinal Pool, at 64% capacity in October 2010.

See also

• Lakes and other water bodies of Victoria

External links

• "Lake Eppalock: Recreational guide" (PDF) (PDF). Goulburn–Murray Water. February 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2014.