{{short description|Dam and reservoir in Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}} {{Infobox dam | name = Murchison Dam | name_official = | image = | image_size = | image_caption = | image_alt = | location_map = Tasmania | location_map_size = 240 | location_map_caption = Location of the dam in Tasmania | location_map_alt = | mapframe = yes<!-- "yes" to show an interactive map --> | coordinates = {{coord|-41.782169|145.646031|type:landmark_region:AU-TAS|display=it|format=dms}} | country = Australia | location = Western Tasmania | purpose = P | status = O | construction_began = {{Start date|1978}} | opening = {{Start date|1982}} | demolished = | cost = | builder = Hydro-Electric Commission (TAS) | designed_by = | owner = Hydro Tasmania | operator = | dam_type = H | dam_crosses = Murchison River | dam_height_foundation = {{cvt|93|m}} | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|217|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|910|e3m3}} | spillway_count = 1 | spillway_type = Uncontrolled | spillway_length = {{cvt|160|m}} | spillway_capacity = {{cvt|1910|m3/s}} | spillway_volumetric_flow_rate = | spillway_type2 = | spillway_length2 = | spillway_capacity2 = | spillway_volumetric_flow_rate2 = | spillway_type3 = | spillway_length3 = | spillway_capacity3 = | spillway_volumetric_flow_rate3 = | res_name = Lake Murchison | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|96910|ML|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive = | res_catchment = {{cvt|750|km2}} | res_surface = {{cvt|408|ha}} | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = {{cvt|222|m}} | res_tidal_range = | lower_dam_type = | lower_dam_crosses = | lower_dam_height_foundation = | lower_dam_height_thalweg = | lower_dam_length = | lower_dam_elevation_crest = | lower_dam_width_crest = | lower_dam_width_base = | lower_dam_volume = | lower_spillway_count = | lower_spillway_type = | lower_spillway_length = | lower_spillway_capacity = | lower_spillway_volumetric_flow_rate = | lower_spillway_type2 = | lower_spillway_length2 = | lower_spillway_capacity2 = | lower_spillway_volumetric_flow_rate2 = | lower_spillway_type3 = | lower_spillway_length3 = | lower_spillway_capacity3 = | lower_spillway_volumetric_flow_rate3 = | lower_res_name = | lower_res_capacity_total = | lower_res_capacity_active = | lower_res_capacity_inactive = | lower_res_catchment = | lower_res_surface = | lower_res_max_length = | lower_res_max_width = | lower_res_max_depth = | lower_res_elevation = | lower_res_tidal_range = | plant_name = | plant_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|..|..|type:landmark|display=inline}}--> | plant_operator = | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | plant_type = | plant_hydraulic_head = | plant_turbines = | plant_pumpgenerators = | plant_pumps = | plant_capacity = | plant_capacity_factor = | plant_efficiency = | plant_storage_hours = | plant_annual_gen = | plant_annual_gen_year = | website = | extra = <ref name=ANCOLD/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://maps.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=168398&cmd=sp |title=Map of Lake Murchison, TAS |work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia |date=n.d. |accessdate=21 June 2015}}</ref> }} The '''Murchison Dam''' is a concrete-faced rock-filled embankment dam across the Murchison River, located near {{TAScity|Tullah}}, within the northern part of the West Coast Range, in the western region of Tasmania, Australia. Completed in 1982 by the Hydro-Electric Commission (TAS), the resultant reservoir, '''Lake Murchison''', was created for the purposes of generation of hydroelectricity as part of the Pieman Power Development. In addition to impounding the Murchison River, the dam's reservoir is also fed by the George Creek, the Anthony River, and discharge from the Tribute Power Station.
The dam is owned and operated by Hydro Tasmania.
==Location and features== The concrete-faced rock-filled dam wall is {{convert|93|m}} high and {{convert|217|m}} long. When full, the reservoir has capacity of {{convert|96910|ML|acre.ft|lk=on}} and covers {{convert|408|to|450|ha|acre}}, drawn from a catchment area of {{convert|750|km2}}. The uncontrolled spillway has a flow capacity of {{convert|1910|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=Excel. Requires download. Row 370}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/our-energy-system/our-power-stations/west-coast |title=West Coast power stations {{!}} Pieman power scheme |work=Hydro Tasmania |date=2026 |access-date=2026-04-21 }}</ref> The spillway is {{convert|13|m}} wide at the base, {{convert|10|m}} high, {{convert|160|m}} long, and is cut into dolerite bedrock.<ref name=WP>{{cite web |url=https://www.waterpowermagazine.com/analysis/upgrading-murchison-dam/ |title=Upgrading Murchison Dam |work=International Water Power and Dam Construction |date=2024-09-05 |access-date=2026-04-21 }}</ref>
Water from Lake Murchison is diverted to Lake Mackintosh and the Mackintosh Power Station by the {{convert|2|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} Sophia Tunnel,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Tourism%2Band%2BRecreation/Pieman%2BCatchment/ |title=The Pieman Catchment |work=Hydro Tasmania |date= |access-date=2026-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041204133432/http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Tourism+and+Recreation/Pieman+Catchment/ |archive-date=2004-12-04 }}</ref> as part of the Pieman power development that was completed in 1987.<ref>{{Cite map |publisher=Hydro-Electric Commission and the Dept. of Lands and Surveys (Tasmania) |title=Project Pieman: Murchison |sheet=51 |section=C |publication-date=1970 |via=Trove. National Library of Australia |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/21152789 |access-date=9 June 2015 }}</ref> Upstream of the Murchison Dam is the White Spur Lake and dam, Henty Dam and its reservoir, Lake Newton and dam, Lake Plimsoll and Anthony Dam, and the Tribute Power Station. Downstream from the Murchison Dam is Lake Mackintosh, Tullabardine Dam, Mackintosh Dam, Mackintosh Power Station, Lake Rosebery, Bastyan Dam, Bastyan Power Station, Lake Pieman, Reece Dam and the Reece Power Station.
Hydro Tasmania completed an {{AUD|31–million}} upgrade of the dam wall and spillway to improve flood capacity. The crest wall was raised by {{convert|3|m}}, completed in 2020; and the spillway's right chute wall was raised between {{convert|2|to|5|m}}, completed in 2025. Given the remote location of the dam wall, access to the facility proved challenging.<ref name=WP/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/articles/energy-industry/31-million-upgrade-west-coasts-murchison-dam |title=$31 million upgrade for West Coast's Murchison Dam |work=Hydro Tasmania |date=2025-05-23 |access-date=2026-04-21 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://hazellbros.com.au/project/murchison-dam-spillway-upgrade/ |title={{Title case|MURCHISON DAM SPILLWAY UPGRADE}} |work=Hazel Brothers |date=2025 |access-date=2026-04-21 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Giudici, Oliver |url=https://ancold.org.au/news-from-tasmania-murchison-dam-spillway-upgrade/ |title=News from Tasmania – Murchison Dam Spillway Upgrade |work=ANCOLD |date=2024-03-20 |access-date=2026-04-21 }}</ref>
==Etymology== The name of the dam is derived from the Murchison River and the adjacent Mount Murchison.
==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Australia|Water|Renewable energy}}}} * List of reservoirs and dams in Tasmania * List of power stations in Tasmania
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite map |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/images/default-source/clean-energy-page/our-schemes/pieman/pieman-catchment.png?sfvrsn=ded71628_4 |title=Pieman catchment |publisher=Hydro Tasmania |date=2018 }}{{dead-link|date=April 2026}} * {{cite image |author=Stephenson, David |author-link=David Stephenson (photographer) |url=https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/92.1985/ |title=Murchison River and debris before flooding of Lake Murchison, Tasmania |date=1982 |via=Art Gallery of New South Wales |access-date=2026-04-21 |format=3 gelatin silver photographs }}
{{Dams in Tasmania|state=collapsed}} {{Western Tasmania|state=autocollapse}} {{Energy in Tasmania}}
Category:1982 establishments in Australia Category:Concrete-face rock-fill dams Category:Dams completed in 1982 Category:Hydro Tasmania dams Murchison Category:Pieman River Power Development
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