{{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|Western]] [[Tasmania]] | purpose = P | status = O | construction_began = {{Start date|1978}} | opening = {{Start date|1982}} | demolished = | cost = | builder = [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro-Electric Commission (TAS)]] | designed_by = | owner = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | operator = | dam_type = H | dam_crosses = [[Murchison River (Tasmania)|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 = [[Spillway#Types|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 (Tasmania)|Murchison River]], located near {{TAScity|Tullah}}, within the northern part of the [[West Coast Range]], in the [[Western Tasmania|western]] region of [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1982 by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro-Electric Commission (TAS)]], the resultant [[Reservoir#Hydroelectricity|reservoir]], '''Lake Murchison''', was created for the purposes of generation of [[hydroelectricity]] as part of the [[Pieman River Power Development|Pieman Power Development]]. In addition to impounding the Murchison River, the dam's reservoir is also fed by the George Creek, the [[Anthony River (Tasmania)|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 [[drainage basin|catchment area]] of {{convert|750|km2}}. The [[Spillway#Types|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=[[Microsoft Excel|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 Tasmania|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 (Tasmania)|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, Tasmania|Mount Murchison]].
==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Australia|Water|Renewable energy}}}} * [[List of reservoirs and dams in Australia#Tasmania|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]] [[Category:Reservoirs in Tasmania|Murchison]] [[Category:Pieman River Power Development]]
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