Geehi Dam

Geehi Dam
Wall and spillway.
Location of Geehi Dam in New South Wales
Country	Australia
Location	Snowy Mountains, New South Wales
Coordinates	36°18′16.8″S 148°18′55.8″E / 36.304667°S 148.315500°E / -36.304667; 148.315500Coordinates: 36°18′16.8″S 148°18′55.8″E / 36.304667°S 148.315500°E / -36.304667; 148.315500
Status	Operational
Opening date	1966
Owner(s)	Snowy Hydro
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment dam
Impounds	Geehi River
Height	91 metres (299 ft)
Length	265 metres (869 ft)
Dam volume	1.421 million cubic metres (50.2×10^6 cu ft)
Spillways	1
Spillway type	Uncontrolled bell-mouth spillway
Spillway capacity	1,534 cubic metres per second (54,200 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates	Geehi Reservoir
Total capacity	21,093 megalitres (744.9×10^6 cu ft)
Catchment area	149 square kilometres (58 sq mi)
Surface area	700 hectares (1,700 acres)
Power Station
Operator(s)	Snowy Hydro
Commission date	1967
Type	Conventional
Hydraulic head	460.2 metres (1,510 ft)
Turbines	10
Installed capacity	950 megawatts (1,270,000 hp)

Geehi Dam is a major ungated rockfill embankment dam across the Geehi River in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. The reservoir impounded by the dam is known as Geehi Reservoir.

History[]

The structure was completed by Thiess Brothers in 1966,^[1] and is one of the sixteen major dams that comprise the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 that is now run by Snowy Hydro.

Location and features[]

The dam is located within what is now the Snowy Valleys local government area. It was constructed by Thiess Bros based on engineering plans developed under contract by the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority.^[2]

The dam wall, comprising 1,421,000 cubic metres (50,200,000 cu ft) of rockfill with an earth core, is 91 metres (299 ft) high and 265 metres (869 ft) long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 21,093 megalitres (744.9×10^⁶ cu ft) of water. The surface area of Geehi Reservoir is 700 hectares (1,700 acres) and the catchment area is 149 square kilometres (58 sq mi). The uncontrolled bell-mouth spillway has a diameter of 32 metres (105 ft) and is capable of discharging up to 1,534 cubic metres per second (54,200 cu ft/s).^[2][3]

Power generation[]

Water from Geehi Reservoir and Island Bend Pondage is carried via the Snowy-Geehi tunnel to the Murray 1 power station, which is rated for a hydraulic head of 460.2 metres (1,510 ft) and has a total generating capacity of 950 megawatts (1,270,000 hp) (a net generation of 1,413 gigawatt-hours (5,090 TJ) per annum).^[4]

See also[]

• Kosciuszko National Park
• List of dams and reservoirs in New South Wales
• Snowy Hydro Limited
• Snowy Mountains Scheme
• Snowy Scheme Museum

References[]

External links[]

• Bevitt, R.; Erskine, W.; Gillespie, G.; Harriss, J.; Lake, P.; Miners, B.; Varley, I. (May 2009). "Expert panel environmental flow assessment of various rivers affected by the Snowy Mountains Scheme" (PDF). NSW Department of Water and Energy. ISBN 978-0-7347-5656-5.