The Nillahcootie Dam, a rock and earth-fill embankment dam with a unique Gothic arch-shaped crest spillway across the Broken River that is located near Mansfield, in the Alpine region of Victoria, Australia. The dam's purpose is for the supply of potable water and for irrigation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Nillahcootie.
| Nillahcootie Dam | |
|---|---|
  Location of the Nillahcootie Dam in Victoria | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | Victorian Alps, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 36°52′41″S 146°00′10″E / 36.87806°S 146.00278°E |
| Purpose | |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1967 |
| Operator(s) | Goulburn–Murray Water |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment dam |
| Impounds | Broken River |
| Height | 34 m (112 ft) |
| Length | 791 m (2,595 ft) |
| Spillway type | Gothic arch-shaped crest |
| Spillway capacity | 73 m3/s (2,600 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Nillahcootie |
| Total capacity | 40,400 ML (8,900×106 imp gal; 10,700×106 US gal) |
| Catchment area | 439 km2 (169 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 530 ha (1,300 acres) |
| Website Lake Nillahcootie at Goulburn–Murray Water | |
Location and features
editDesigned and constructed by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria, the dam was completed in 1967. The embankment dam wall is constructed with an earth core and rock fill, rising to a height of 34 metres (112 ft).[1] The core component materials of the wall include 298 thousand cubic metres (10.5×106 cu ft) of rock and earth. The reservoir has a capacity of 40,400 megalitres (8,887×106 imp gal; 10,673×106 US gal),[2] and can release a maximum outflow of approximately 117,000 megalitres (25,736×106 imp gal; 30,908×106 US gal) per day in normal operation.[2]
The crest of the uncontrolled spillway is 264.5 metres (868 ft) AHD and the embankment is approximately 791 metres (2,595 ft) long. When full, flood flows spill over a unique Gothic arch-shaped crest. The storage also features a secondary spillway that is operated only during severe floods. It uses the ‘fuse plug' principle, in which a section of earthen embankment within the secondary spillway (the fuse plug) has been designed so that at a predetermined flood level it will be eroded away and increase the discharge through the spillway.[2]
Recreation
editIt is a popular water-skiing destination, especially during the summer.
The name is of Indian origin and is thought to mean "Blue House".[citation needed]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Register of Large Dams in Australia". Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Archived from the original (Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ a b c "Lake Nillahcootie". Goulburn–Murray Water. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
External links
edit- "Lake Nillahcootie: Recreation Guide" (PDF) (PDF). Goulburn–Murray Water. February 2012.
- "Welcome to Lake Nillahcootie" (PDF) (PDF). Goulburn–Murray Water. April 2013.
- "Lake Nillahcootie Boating & Facilities Map" (PDF) (PDF). Goulburn–Murray Water. December 2012.
- "Lake Nillahcootie: Land and On-Water Management Plan" (PDF) (PDF). Goulburn–Murray Water. April 2011.