geo.wikisort.org - Reservoir

The Borumba Dam is a rock-fill embankment dam with an un-gated spillway located across the Yabba Creek in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia. The main purposes of the dam are for irrigation and potable water supply.[2][3] The resultant impounded reservoir is called Lake Borumba.[1]

Borumba Dam
A panorama of Lake Borumba
Location of the Borumba Dam in Queensland
Country	Australia
Location	Wide Bay–Burnett, Queensland
Coordinates	26°30′43″S 152°34′44″E
Purpose	Irrigation and potable water supply
Status	Operational
Opening date	1963 (1963); upgraded in 1997 (1997) and 2009 (2009)
Operator(s)	SEQ Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment dam
Impounds	Yabba Creek
Height	43 m (141 ft)
Length	343 m (1,125 ft)
Dam volume	402×10^3 m3 (14.2×10^6 cu ft)
Spillway type	Uncontrolled
Spillway capacity	3,140 m3/s (111,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Borumba
Total capacity	45,952 ML (1,622.8×10^6 cu ft)[1]
Catchment area	465 km2 (180 sq mi)
Surface area	480 ha (1,200 acres)
Website www.seqwater.com.au

Location and features

Constructed in 1964, Borumba Dam is a popular destination for recreational fishers. The dam wall is located about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south west of Imbil.

The dam wall is 43 metres (141 ft) high and 343 metres (1,125 ft) long and holds back 45,952 megalitres (1,622.8×10^⁶ cu ft) of water when at full capacity. The surface area of the reservoir is 480 hectares (1,200 acres) and the catchment area is 465 square kilometres (180 sq mi). The uncontrolled un-gated spillway has a discharge capacity of 3,140 cubic metres per second (111,000 cu ft/s).[1][3] The dam is managed by Seqwater. The dam wall was raised by 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) and completed in 1997. In 1980 Ern Grant B.Sc. M.Sc. of Ern Grants Guide to Fishes fame was instrumental in setting up a Freshwater Fish Hatchery at Borumba. The Hatchery is no longer in operation. The Borumba Hatchery used to boast display tanks displaying large Saratoga and Golden Perch and it was quite a tourist attraction.[4] During 2008 and 2009 the dam wall was raised by another 1.6 metres (5 ft 3 in).[5] The second upgrade was intended to allow better management of extreme rainfall events.[6]

According to a local councillor the spillway developed a crack after an earthquake on 1 December 1991.[7]

In August 2021 the Queensland Government announced $22m in funding for analysis of a proposed pumped hydro-electric project, utilising a new dam built above Borumba Dam.[8]

Recreation

A range of recreation activities are permitted at Borumba Dam including boating (powered and non-powered), canoeing and kayaking, water skiing and jet skiing, fishing, camping, and walking. Picnic and barbeque facilities are available.

Naturally occurring blue-green algae blooms sometimes mean Seqwater closes access to the dam's water for public safety purposes.[9]

See also

• List of dams in Queensland
• Stuart Gatehouse, whose remains were found in the lake

References

External links

• Borumba Dam Fishing Information, Map, pictures & Water Level Gauge
• Pictures- National Library of Australia

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