geo.wikisort.org - Reservoir

The Bill Gunn Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam with an un-gated spillway located off-stream in Laidley Heights in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for irrigation of the Lockyer Valley.[2][3] The resultant reservoir is called Lake Dyer.

Bill Gunn Dam
View from Cunninghams Crest Lookout
Location of the Bill Gunn Dam in Queensland
Country	Australia
Location	South East Queensland
Coordinates	27°37′40″S 152°22′37″E
Purpose	Irrigation
Status	Operational
Opening date	1987
Operator(s)	SEQ Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment dam
Impounds	Off-stream
Height	18 m (59 ft)
Length	1,160 m (3,810 ft)
Dam volume	722×10^3 m3 (25.5×10^6 cu ft)
Spillway type	Uncontrolled
Spillway capacity	5 m3/s (180 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Dyer
Total capacity	6,940 ML (1,530×10^6 imp gal; 1,830×10^6 US gal)[1]
Catchment area	3 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Surface area	100 ha (250 acres)
Maximum length	1,100 m (3,600 ft)
Maximum width	600 m (2,000 ft)
Maximum water depth	10.7 m (35 ft)
Normal elevation	110 m (360 ft) AHD
Website www.seqwater.com.au

Location and features

Located 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) west of the town of Laidley, the dam was developed to increase the capacity of the existing Lake Dyer, a natural lake adjacent to Laidley Creek, a tributary of Lockyer Creek. The dam was named after the Queensland politician Bill Gunn and is managed by SEQ Water.[2]

The 1,170 m (3,840 ft) long earthfill structure has a maximum height of 12 m (39 ft) and an overflow spillway which diverts excess water into Laidley Creek. The dam has a storage capacity of 6,950 megalitres (1,530×10^⁶ imp gal; 1,840×10^⁶ US gal) and a maximum surface area of 108 hectares (270 acres).

Water from the dam is used for irrigation, in the densely cropped Lockyer Valley.[2] Bill Gunn Dam suffers from high drawdowns and summer evaporation which together with phosphate fertilizer creates significant blue green algae problems.[2] In November 2005, during drought conditions in the area, the dam's water level declined to just 1%.[4]

Recreation

A boating permit is not required, however a maximum of eight boats are allowed on the lake at once.[2] A single concrete boat ramp and some facilities for visitors, including campers, are available at a lakeside caravan park which is managed by the local council.

The dam is stocked with silver perch and golden perch, while bony bream, spangled perch and eel-tailed catfish breed naturally.[2] A Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish in the dam.[5] The poor water quality means that fish caught in the dam may, at times of an algae outbreak, be a health hazard if eaten.[2]

See also

• List of dams in Queensland

References

External links

• Sweetwater Fishing, Lake Dyer/Bill Gunn Dam

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