{{Short description|Dam and power station in Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox dam | name = Lake Echo Dam | name_official = | image = | image_size = 240 | image_caption = | image_alt = | location_map = Australia Tasmania | location_map_size = 240 | location_map_caption = Location of the dam in [[Tasmania]] | location_map_alt = | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{coord|-42.216759|146.639543|region:AU-TAS_type:landmark|display=inline,title|format=dms}} | country = Australia | location = [[Central Highlands (Tasmania)|Central Highlands]], [[Tasmania]] | purpose = P | status = O | construction_began = | opening = {{start date|1956}} | demolished = | cost = | owner = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | operator = | dam_type = H | dam_crosses = Dee River; Harrys Creek | dam_height = {{cvt|19|m}} | dam_height_foundation= | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|305|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|160|e3m3}} | spillway_count = 1 | spillway_type = [[Spillway#Types|Controlled]] | spillway_capacity = {{cvt|92|m3/s}} | res_name = Lake Echo | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|725490|ML|acre-ft}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = {{cvt|100|km2}} | res_surface = {{cvt|4069|ha}} | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = {{cvt|840|m}} {{AHD}} | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = Lake Echo Power Station | plant_coordinates = {{coord|42|15|00|S|146|36|36|E|type:landmark}} | plant_operator = Hydro Tasmania | plant_commission = {{start date|1956}} | plant_decommission = | plant_type = C | plant_hydraulic_head = {{cvt|168|m}} | plant_turbines = 1 x {{cvt|32|MW}}<br />[[English Electric]] [[Francis turbine|Francis-type]] | plant_capacity = {{cvt|32|MW}} | plant_capacity_factor= 0.9 | plant_annual_gen = {{cvt|84|GWh}} | website = {{URL|hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/derwent-0/lake-echo-power-station|hydro.com.au}} | extra = <ref name=ANCOLD/> }}
The '''Lake Echo Dam''' is an earth-filled [[embankment dam]] across the Dee River, part of the [[River Derwent (Tasmania)|Upper River Derwent]] catchment, located in the [[Central Highlands (Tasmania)|Central Highlands]] region of [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1956, the resultant [[reservoir]], Lake Echo, was established for the purpose of generating [[hydro-electricity|hydro-electric power]] via the '''Lake Echo Power Station''', a [[Hydroelectricity#Conventional (dams)|conventional]] hydroelectric [[power station]]
The dam, its reservoir, and the power station are owned and operated by [[Hydro Tasmania]].
== Dam and reservoir overview == The [[earth-filled dam]] wall is {{convert|19|m}} high and {{convert|305|m}} long. When full, Lake Echo has capacity of {{convert|725490|ML|acre.ft|lk=on}} and covers {{convert|4069|ha}}, drawn from a [[drainage basin|catchment area]] of {{convert|100|km2}}. The single [[spillway#Types|controlled spillway]] is capable of discharging {{convert|92|m3/s}}.<ref name=ANCOLD>{{cite web |title=Register of Large Dams Australia-2015 |date=January 2022 |access-date=2026-03-05 |url=https://ancold.org.au/information-resources/dams-information/ |work=[[ANCOLD]] |format=[[Microsoft Excel|Excel]]. Requires download. Row 273}}</ref>
Lake Echo is one of the main headwater storages for the Dee Lagoon, Bradys, Binney, Tungatinah Lagoon and the Lower River Derwent catchments, releasing water to a further seven stations downstream.<ref name=hydro/> Much of the lake is surrounded by steep-sided [[eucalyptus|eucalypt]] bushland. Access to the rocky shoreline is dependent on the draw-down of water for use in the power station. The lake is stocked with [[brown trout]] and [[rainbow trout]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/fisheries/waters-a-z/lake-echo/ |title=Lake Echo |work=Inland Fisheries Service |publisher=[[Tasmanian Government]] |date=n.d. |access-date=2026-04-27 }}</ref>
== Hydroelectric power station == Part of the [[River Derwent (Tasmania)|Derwent]] scheme that comprises eleven hydroelectric power stations, the Lake Echo Power Station is the first station on the Dee River section of the scheme. The power station is located aboveground on the shores of the Dee Lagoon formed below Lake Echo on the Dee River. Water is diverted from Lake Echo by a single {{convert|2.5|km|adj=on}}-long flume and {{convert|700|m|adj=on}}-long canal. It then descends {{convert|168|m}} through a single steel [[penstock]] to the station with a surge tower located midway along the penstock.<ref name=hydrotech/><ref name=hydro>{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/derwent-0/lake-echo-power-station |title=Derwent: Lake Echo Power Station |work=Energy |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |accessdate=5 July 2015 |archive-date=6 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706215712/http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/derwent-0/lake-echo-power-station |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The power station was commissioned in 1956 by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS)]] and the station has one [[English Electric]] [[Francis turbine|Francis-type]] [[Water turbine|turbine]], with a generating capacity of {{convert|32|MW}}. The station building houses a single alternator and the turbine has a fully embedded spiral casing and water flow is controlled via a straight flow main inlet valve and a relief valve designed to prevent spiral casing overpressure. The station output, estimated to be {{convert|84|GWh|TJ|lk=on}} annually,<ref name=ANCOLD/> is fed to [[TasNetworks]]' transmission grid via an 11 k[[voltage|V]]/110 kV three-phase English Electric generator transformer to the outdoor switchyard.<ref name=hydrotech>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/lake-echo-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=8fcc9b28_2 |title=Lake Echo Power Station: Technical fact sheet |work=Derwent Catchment |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |accessdate=18 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617200118/https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/lake-echo-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=8fcc9b28_2 |archive-date=17 June 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>
An upgrade of facilities at the station was completed in 2022 that included remote monitoring systems.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/articles/media-releases/lake-echo-powers-following-major-overhaul |title=Lake Echo powers up following major overhaul |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=2022-12-02 |access-date=2026-04-27 }}</ref>
== See also == {{stack|{{Portal|Renewable energy|Australia|Water}}}} * [[List of power stations in Tasmania]] * {{section link|List of reservoirs and dams in Australia|Tasmania}} * {{section link|List of lakes of Australia|Tasmania}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |title=Lower Derwent |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Energy/Tasmanian+Hydro+Electric+Schemes/Catchment+Areas/Derwent+Catchment/The+Tributaries+-+the+Nive+and+Dee.htm |date= |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060919104834/http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Energy/Tasmanian+Hydro+Electric+Schemes/Catchment+Areas/Derwent+Catchment/The+Tributaries+-+the+Nive+and+Dee.htm |archive-date=2006-09-19 }}
{{Dams in Tasmania}} {{EnergyTasmania}} {{CentralHighlandsTasmania |state=autocollapse}}
[[Category:1956 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Central Highlands (Tasmania)]] [[Category:Dams completed in 1956]] [[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1956]] [[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Tasmania]] [[Category:Hydro Tasmania dams]]
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