| Coordinates | 26°34′12″S 152°55′19″E |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Location | South East Queensland |
| Purpose | Potable water supply[1][2] |
| Status | O |
| Opening | 1963 |
| Operator | SEQ Water |
| Dam height | 24 m (79 ft)[1] |
| Dam length | 138 m (453 ft)[1][2] |
| Dam volume | 12 e3m3[1] |
| Dam crosses | South Maroochy River |
| Spillway capacity | 1,420 m3/s (50,000 cu ft/s)[1] |
| Res capacity total | 4,610 ML[2][3] |
| Res catchment | 69.7 km2 (26.9 sq mi)[1][2] |
| Res surface | 74 ha (180 acres)[3] |
| Website | www.seqwater.com.au |
The Wappa Dam is a mass concrete gravity arch dam with earth-fill abutments and an un-gated spillway across the South Maroochy River that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for supply of potable water for the Sunshine Coast region.[1][3] The impounded reservoir is also called Wappa Dam. The dam and most of the reservoir are within Kiamba with the most northerly part of the reservoir in Cooloolabin, both in the Sunshine Coast Region.[4]
Location and features
The dam is located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north-west of .
Completed in 1963, the concrete dam structure is 24 metres (79 ft) high and 138 metres (453 ft) long. The 12 e3m3 dam wall holds back the 4,614-megalitre reservoir when at full capacity. From a catchment area of 69.7 square kilometres (26.9 sq mi) with a mean annual rainfall of approximately 1,700 millimetres (67 in) that includes much of the Maroochy River, the dam creates an unnamed reservoir with a surface area of 74 hectares (180 acres). The un–gated spillway has a discharge capacity of 1,420 cubic metres per second (50,000 cu ft/s).[1] Initially managed by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, management of the dam was transferred to SEQ Water in July 2008 as part of a water security project in the South East Queensland region, known as the South East Queensland Water Grid.[5] The accompanying water treatment plant is also managed by SEQ Water.
Recreational uses
Recreational use of the lake and its surrounding bushland reserve is severely limited, with prohibited recreational activities including swimming, water skiing, diving, mountain biking, horse riding, canoeing and kayaking, camping, and bushwalking. Picnic facilities are available at four locations around the dam,[2] with access prohibited outside of daylight hours.[3]
See also
References
- ^ "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download)). Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- ^ "Wappa Dam". Water supply: Dams and weirs. Seqwater. 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- ^ Harrison, Rod; James, Ernie; Sully, Chris; Classon, Bill; Eckermann, Joy (2008). Queensland Dams. Bayswater, Victoria: Australian Fishing Network. ISBN 978-1-86513-134-4.
- ^
- ^ Hurst, Daniel (7 July 2009). "Water funds slash debt". The Bayside Bulletin. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
External links
- "Maroochy River: Raising Wappa Dam". Save the Mary River. Save The Mary River Coordinating Group Inc.