Glenbawn Dam

Template:Use Australian EnglishTemplate:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox dam Glenbawn Dam is a major ungated earth and rock fill with clay core embankment dam with concrete chute spillway plus fuse plugs across the Hunter River upstream of Aberdeen in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, hydro-electric power, irrigation, water supply and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Glenbawn.

Glenbawn Dam was created through enabling legislation enacted through the passage of the Template:Cite Legislation AU. The Act appropriated A£1,500,000 as the estimated cost of construction of the dam.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Location and features

Commenced in late 1947 and completed in late 1957, the Glenbawn Dam is a major dam on the Hunter River and is the fourth largest earth-filled embankment dam in Australia by volume. The dam is located approximately Template:Convert east of the town of Scone on the upper reaches of the river. The dam was built by the New South Wales Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission to supply water for irrigation and flood mitigation.<ref name=brochure>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=ancold>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=SW>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The dam wall height is Template:Convert and is Template:Convert long. The maximum water depth is Template:Convert and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back Template:Convert of water at Template:Convert AHD. The dam has an additional reserve capacity of Template:Convert to hold floodwaters that reduce flooding downstream. The surface area of Lake Glenbawn is Template:Convert and the catchment area is Template:Convert. The ungated concrete chute spillway is capable of discharging Template:Convert.<ref name=brochure /><ref name=ancold /><ref name=SW /> An upgrade of facilities completed in 1987 took the height of the dam wall from Template:Convert to its current height.<ref name=brochure /><ref name=ancold /> Glenbawn Dam is operated in conjunction with Glennies Creek Dam, and they may be upgraded to pumped-storage hydroelectricity.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The two dams supply water requirements along Template:Convert of the Hunter River from Glenbawn to the tidal reaches near Maitland.<ref name=brochure />

The name Glenbawn originates after a riverside property resumed for part of the storage area.<ref name=gnb>Template:NSW GNR</ref>

Power generation

A hydro-electric power station generates up to Template:Convert of electricity from the flow of the water leaving Glenbawn Dam with an average output of Template:Convert per annum. The station was completed in January 1995. The facility is managed by AGL Energy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Recreation

File:Lake Glenbawn aerial.jpg

Aerial view of Lake Glenbawn from the east

The dam is a popular location for water skiing and fishing, both by boat and from shore. Located adjacent to the dam and the lake is a nature reserve; Lake Glenbawn State Park.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

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