{{Use Australian English|date=June 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox dam | name = Baroon Pocket Dam | name_official = | image = Sunshine Coast, Queensland - Lake Baroon 2.jpg | image_size = 250 | image_caption = Lake and shoreline, 2008 | image_alt = | location_map = Queensland | location_map_size = | location_map_caption = Location of the dam in Queensland | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{coord|26|42|12|S|152|52|5|E|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title}} | country = Australia | location = South East Queensland | purpose = Water supply | status = O | construction_began = | opening = 1989 | demolished = | cost = | operator = SEQ Water | dam_type = E | dam_height = {{convert|58|m|abbr=on}} | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_height_foundation= | dam_length = {{convert|370|m|abbr=on}} | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{convert|716|e3m3|abbr=on}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_crosses = Obi Obi Creek | spillway_count = | spillway_type = Uncontrolled | spillway_capacity = {{convert|1013|m3/s|abbr=on}} | res_name = Lake Baroon | res_capacity_total = {{convert|61000|ML|abbr=on}}<ref name="seqwater">{{cite web|url=http://www.seqwater.com.au/water-supply/dam-operations/baroon-pocket-dam|title=Baroon Pocket Dam|work=Water supply: Dams and weirs|publisher=Seqwater|date=2014|access-date=26 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912010930/http://www.seqwater.com.au/water-supply/dam-operations/baroon-pocket-dam|archive-date=12 September 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = {{convert|72|km2|abbr=on}} | res_surface = {{convert|380|ha|abbr=on}} | res_elevation = {{convert|215|m|abbr=on}} {{AHD}} | res_max_depth = {{convert|15|m|abbr=on}} | res_max_length = {{convert|3.9|km|abbr=on}} | res_max_width = {{convert|1.9|km|abbr=on}} | website = {{URL|http://www.seqwater.com.au/water-supply/dam-operations/baroon-pocket-dam|www.seqwater.com.au}} }} thumb|Aerial panorama of Lake Baroon. June 2023. thumb|Lake Baroon top down. June 2023 The '''Baroon Pocket Dam''' is a rock and earth-fill embankment dam with an ungated spillway across the Obi Obi Creek, in North Maleny, Sunshine Coast Region, in South East Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for potable water supply.<ref name="qlddams">{{cite book|title=Queensland Dams|last=Harrison|first=Rod |author2=James, Ernie|author3=Sully, Chris|author4=Classon, Bill|author5=Eckermann, Joy|year=2008|publisher=Australian Fishing Network|location={{VICcity|Bayswater}}, Victoria|isbn=978-1-86513-134-4|pages=66–67 }}</ref><ref name=ancold>{{cite web|url=http://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dams-Australia-2010-v1-for-website.xls|format=Excel (requires download)|title=Register of Large Dams in Australia|publisher=Australian National Committee on Large Dams|year=2010|access-date=23 June 2014|work=Dams information|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212120804/http://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dams-Australia-2010-v1-for-website.xls|archive-date=12 December 2013|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The impounded reservoir is called '''Lake Baroon'''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite QPN|1702|Lake Baroon|reservoir in the Sunshine Coast Region|access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref>

Just below the dam is Obi Obi Gorge, one of the few remaining places left where the Mary River cod maintains a wild population.<ref name="qlddams"/> After its initial filling, the dam reached its lowest level between December 2002 and February 2003 at 50% capacity.<ref name="abc1">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200303/s811803.htm |title=More rain could spell creek, river flooding |access-date=26 April 2008 |date=20 March 2003 |work=ABC News |location=Australia }}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2006/jun/05/scd-water-question-mark/ |title=Water question mark |author=Clark, Gordon |access-date=26 April 2008 |date=5 June 2006 |work=Sunshine Coast Daily |archive-date=19 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719051315/http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2006/jun/05/scd-water-question-mark/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== History == The name ''Baroon'' is derived from the Aboriginal name for the area, which was traditionally used as a meeting place and ceremonial ground. Explorer Ludwig Leichhardt referred to the area as "Booroon" in 1843, and Thomas Petrie later described attending a large Bunya festival there in 1845, which attended hundreds of Aboriginal people from across the region.<ref>https://www.seqwater.com.au/document/239</ref> The name was first recorded by European colonists in 1842.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite QSA Item|3410381|Queensland Place Names Act 1988 - Approval of a Place Name. - Mr W.H. Glasson (Lake Baroon)|12 September 2020}} — includes a map</ref>

A potential dam site at Baroon Pocket on Obi Obi Creek was surveyed in 1946 as a possible regional water source. However, disagreement between the Landsborough and Maroochy Shires over water infrastructure delayed development for several decades.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whittington |first=Dorothy |date=2021-08-20 |title=The precious dam that saved Coast after a 40-year struggle |url=https://www.sunshinecoastnews.com.au/2021/08/20/birth-of-baroon-pocket/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Sunshine Coast News |language=en-AU}}</ref> A joint water supply scheme was eventually approved in 1985, and construction of Baroon Pocket Dam commenced shortly after.

The dam was completed in November 1988 and reached full capacity by April 1989 following significant rainfall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lake Baroon Catchment – Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group |url=https://lbccg.org.au/lake-baroon-catchment/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> It was officially opened in 1989 and has since played a central role in supplying potable water to the Sunshine Coast region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baroon Pocket {{!}} Seqwater |url=https://www.seqwater.com.au/dams/baroon-pocket |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=www.seqwater.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=Fact sheet Baroon Pocket Dam |url=https://www.seqwater.com.au/sites/default/files/2019-09/Seqwater%20-%20Baroon%20Pocket%20Dam%20fact%20sheet.pdf |website=seqwater}}</ref>

==Location and features== Located {{convert|7|km}} north of {{QLDcity|Maleny}} in the Sunshine Coast region, the dam wall was completed in 1989 over the Obi Obi Creek, Small Creek and several unnamed watercourses.

The dam wall is {{convert|58|m}} high and {{convert|370|m}} long and holds back {{convert|61000|ML|e9impgal+e9USgal}} of water when at full capacity. The surface area of the reservoir is {{convert|380|ha}} and the catchment area is {{convert|72|km2}}. The uncontrolled un-gated spillway has a discharge capacity of {{convert|1013|m3/s}}.<ref name="seqwater"/><ref name="ancold"/>

Baroon Pocket Dam's primary use is for town water supply for Maroochy and Caloundra. An intake tower allows water to flow from the dam through a {{convert|2.5|m|ft|adj=on}} wide, {{convert|2.5|km|mi|adj=on}} long tunnel under the Blackall Range.<ref name="ws">{{cite web|url=http://www.caloundra.qld.gov.au/website/calaqua/calaqua/water_supply.asp |title=Water supply |access-date=30 April 2008 |publisher=Sunshine Coast Regional Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511184826/http://www.caloundra.qld.gov.au/website/calaqua/calaqua/water_supply.asp |archive-date=11 May 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> Water is then distributed by UnityWater for a range of purposes. The dam and catchment is managed by Seqwater.

==Recreational use and environmental management==

===Boating=== There is a single boat ramp. Camping is not permitted near the lake. There are picnic areas by the lakeside while viewing platforms and a rainforest walking track through Obi Obi Gorge, are located near the spillway.<ref name="dis">{{cite web|url=http://www.discovermaroochy.com.au/Play/Detail528.aspx |title=Discover Baroon Pocket Dam |access-date=26 April 2008 |work=DiscoverMaroochy.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080722025948/http://discovermaroochy.com.au/Play/Detail528.aspx |archive-date=22 July 2008 |df=dmy }}</ref> Fossil fuel motors are not allowed on the lake.<ref name="qlddams"/> A council permit, obtainable on site, is required to use an electric outboard motor for the use on dinghies, but not on canoes.<ref name="qlddams"/>

===Fishing=== Lake Baroon is stocked with bass, Mary River cod, golden perch and silver perch, while eel-tailed catfish and spangled perch are naturally present.<ref name="qlddams"/> A council permit is required to fish in the dam.<ref>[http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/1339.html Fishing in Queensland dams? You may need a permit.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829202115/http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/1339.html |date=29 August 2007 }}</ref>

===Environmental management=== Catchment care activities are undertaken by Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group (LBCCG) a community group predominantly funded by SeqWater ($220,000 PA in 2015). The group coordinates protection and remedial works in the catchment and addresses ways to improve water quality. Since its inception in 1992, LBCCG has developed and monitored over $3.5&nbsp;million of water quality improvement projects, mainly working with local primary producers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group – Working with our community for our waterways |url=https://lbccg.org.au/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |language=en-US |archive-date=19 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419165421/https://lbccg.org.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Walking === The rugged Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk takes at least four days to complete. It leaves from Baroon Pocket Dam and traverses {{Convert|58.8|km}} through the Blackall Range. Baroon lookout, which provides views of Obi Obi Gorge, Baroon Pocket Dam and its catchment, is {{Convert|2.2|km}} along the walk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Department of Environment and Science |date=2010-01-15 |title=Walking {{!}} Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk |url=https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/great-walks-sunshine-coast/walking |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Parks and forests {{!}} Department of Environment and Science, Queensland |publisher=Queensland Government |language=en-AU}}</ref>

==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Queensland|Water}}}} *List of dams and reservoirs in Australia *List of long-distance hiking tracks in Australia

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Lake Baroon}} * [http://www.seqwater.com.au/water-supply/dam-operations/baroon-pocket-dam Baroon Pocket Dam] at Seqwater *[http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/baroon.htm Baroon Pocket Dam Fishing Information] *[http://www.pictureaustralia.org/apps/pictureaustralia?action=PASearch&mode=subject&complete1=true&attribute1=subject&term1=Baroon+Pocket+Dam Pictures ]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} from the National Library of Australia *[https://web.archive.org/web/20091024021928/http://www.lbccg.org.au/pages/about-us-1.html?expandable=0 Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group] *[https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/tqqf2h/alma99183730418102061 Lake Baroon to Kondalilla Falls Walking Track Digitised VHS Tape], State Library of Queensland

{{WaterQueensland |state=autocollapse}}

Category:1988 establishments in Australia Category:Buildings and structures on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Category:Dams completed in 1988 Category:Dams in Queensland Category:Earth-filled dams Category:Hiking and bushwalking tracks in Queensland Category:Reservoirs in Queensland Category:Rock-filled dams