Deep Creek Dam is a major ungated concrete gravity dam across the Deep Creek in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose is for the generation of hydro-power and is the smallest 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.

Deep Creek Dam
Location of Deep Creek Dam in New South Wales
Location	Snowy Mountains, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	36°00′35.7″S 148°20′37.2″E
Status	Operational
Opening date	1961
Owner(s)	Snowy Hydro
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Gravity dam
Impounds	Deep Creek
Height	21.3 metres (70 ft)
Length	54.9 metres (180 ft)
Dam volume	4,080 cubic metres (144,000 cu ft)
Spillways	1
Spillway type	Uncontrolled
Spillway capacity	312 cubic metres per second (11,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates	Deep Creek Reservoir
Total capacity	11 megalitres (390×10^3 cu ft)
Catchment area	9.68 square kilometres (3.74 sq mi)
Surface area	2 hectares (4.9 acres)

The impounded reservoir is called the Deep Creek Reservoir.

Location and features

Completed in 1961, Deep Creek Dam is a major dam, located within the Snowy Valleys local government area. The dam was constructed based on engineering plans developed under contract by the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority.[1]

The dam wall comprising 4,000 cubic metres (140,000 cu ft) of concrete is 21 metres (69 ft) high and 55 metres (180 ft) long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 11 megalitres (390×10^³ cu ft) of water. The surface area of Deep Creek Reservoir is 2 hectares (4.9 acres) and the catchment area is 9.68 square kilometres (3.74 sq mi). The uncontrolled spillway is capable of discharging 312 cubic metres per second (11,000 cu ft/s).[1][2]

Above the dam wall some water is diverted into the Tooma – Tumut Aqueduct Tunnel along with 4 other Intakes on the Aqueduct Tunnel for use in the 5 Tumut River Hydroelectric Power Station System.
Below the dam wall, Deep Creek flows into the Tooma River, before emptying into the Murray River within the Murray–Darling basin.

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". NSW Department of Water and Energy. ISBN 978-0-7347-5656-5.