Island Bend Dam

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Island Bend Dam
Island Bend Dam is located in New South Wales
Island Bend Dam
Location of the Island Bend Dam in
New South Wales
CountryAustralia
LocationSnowy Mountains, New South Wales
Coordinates36°19′10″S 148°28′13″E / 36.31944°S 148.47028°E / -36.31944; 148.47028Coordinates: 36°19′10″S 148°28′13″E / 36.31944°S 148.47028°E / -36.31944; 148.47028
StatusOperational
Opening date1965
Owner(s)Snowy Hydro
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity dam
ImpoundsSnowy River
Height49 metres (161 ft)
Length146 metres (479 ft)
Dam volume60,400 cubic metres (2,130,000 cu ft)
Spillways1
Spillway typeControlled
Spillway capacity2,832 cubic metres per second (100,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesIsland Bend Pondage
Total capacity3,084 megalitres (108.9×10^6 cu ft)
Catchment area221 square kilometres (85 sq mi)
Surface area327 hectares (810 acres)

Island Bend Dam is a major ungated concrete gravity dam with a controlled spillway across the Snowy River in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose is for the generation of hydro-power 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 and now run by Snowy Hydro.

The impounded reservoir is called the Island Bend Pondage.

Location and features[]

Completed in 1965, Island Bend Dam is a major dam, located within the Snowy Monaro Regional Council, adjacent to the locality of Island Bend. The dam was constructed by Utah Construction and Engineering Pty Limited based on engineering plans developed under contract from the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority.[1]

The dam wall comprising 60,400 cubic metres (2,130,000 cu ft) of concrete is 49 metres (161 ft) high and 146 metres (479 ft) long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 3,084 megalitres (108.9×10^6 cu ft) of water. The surface area of Island Bend Pondage is 327 hectares (810 acres) and the catchment area is 221 square kilometres (85 sq mi). The controlled spillway is capable of discharging 2,832 cubic metres per second (100,000 cu ft/s).[1][2]

Climate[]

Climate data for Island Bend, NSW (Island Bend Dam); 1,275 m AMSL; 36° 19′ 59.88″ S
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 21.9
(71.4) 		22.3
(72.1) 		19.9
(67.8) 		15.2
(59.4) 		11.4
(52.5) 		8.9
(48.0) 		5.8
(42.4) 		7.3
(45.1) 		10.8
(51.4) 		15.4
(59.7) 		17.0
(62.6) 		20.1
(68.2) 		14.7
(58.4)
Average low °C (°F) 6.2
(43.2) 		6.5
(43.7) 		4.4
(39.9) 		1.4
(34.5) 		−0.8
(30.6) 		−2.5
(27.5) 		−3.1
(26.4) 		−2.2
(28.0) 		−0.2
(31.6) 		2.9
(37.2) 		3.3
(37.9) 		6.2
(43.2) 		1.8
(35.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 61.7
(2.43) 		53.5
(2.11) 		81.2
(3.20) 		87.4
(3.44) 		105.5
(4.15) 		140.9
(5.55) 		138.2
(5.44) 		133.7
(5.26) 		134.4
(5.29) 		148.8
(5.86) 		131.8
(5.19) 		113.5
(4.47) 		1,330.6
(52.39)
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Island Bend Dam

See also[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download)). Dams information. The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated. 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  2. ^ "Dams". Snowy Mountains Scheme. Snowy Hydro. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2013.

External links[]

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