Glenlyon Dam
Dam in Queensland, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Glenlyon Dam is an earth- and rock-fill embankment dam across the Pike Creek, located roughly between Stanthorpe and Texas in south-east Queensland, near the border with New South Wales, in Australia.[1] Completed in 1976, the dam wall was built on Pike Creek, a tributary of the Dumaresq River, 5 km (3.1 mi) upstream from the confluence of the Mole River and the Severn River branching from the Dumaresq. Its impoundment is known as Lake Glenlyon,[2][3] and is also known as the Pike Creek Reservoir.
| Glenlyon Dam | |
|---|---|
The dam spillway, in 1994, during drought conditions | |
  Glenlyon Dam Location of the dam in Queensland | |
 Interactive map of Glenlyon Dam | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | South East Queensland |
| Coordinates | 28°57′54″S 151°28′13″E |
| Purpose | |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1976 |
| Built by | |
| Owner | Border Rivers Commission |
| Operator | SunWater |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment dam |
| Impounds | Pike Creek |
| Height (foundation) | 62 m (203 ft) |
| Length | 445 m (1,460 ft) |
| Elevation at crest | 423.62 m (1,389.8 ft) |
| Width (crest) | 10.6 m (35 ft) AHD |
| Dam volume | 1,450×103 m3 (51×106 cu ft) |
| Spillway type | Uncontrolled |
| Spillway length | 74.4 m (244 ft) |
| Spillway capacity | 4,400 m3/s (160,000 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates |
|
| Total capacity | 254,000 ML (206,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 1,295 km2 (500 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 1,800 ha (4,400 acres) |
| Maximum water depth | 4.3 m (14 ft) |
| Normal elevation | 407 m (1,335 ft) AHD |
Overview
The dam wall is 62 metres (203 ft) high, 445 metres (1,460 ft) long, and holds back 254,000 megalitres (206,000 acre⋅ft) of water when at full capacity.[3] The resultant reservoir, called either Lake Glenlyon or the Pike Creek Reservoir, has a surface area of 1,750 hectares (4,300 acres), that draws from a catchment area of 1,295 square kilometres (500 sq mi).[4] Managed by SunWater, the Glenlyon Dam provides water for irrigation of grain and fodder crops and for the supply of water.[5]
In December 1994, the dam reached a critically low level of 2.2% and the next year it rose to just 12% of capacity during a series of droughts in Australia.[6] The dam reached a peak of 110.78% on January 12, 2011, during the 2010–2011 Queensland floods.[7]
Recreation
Swimming, fishing, boating and water skiing are all permitted, with no restrictions on boating except near the dam wall.[8] Two boat ramps facilitate access for boating. In the upper reaches of feeder creeks, there are large areas of standing timber and submerged logs.[9]
The dam was stocked with golden perch, murray cod and silver perch while spangled perch, bony bream and eel-tailed catfish breed naturally.[9] A Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish in the dam.[10]
