Jindabyne Dam is a major ungated
rockfill embankment dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aqua ...
across the
Snowy River in the
Snowy Mountains of
New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. The dam's main purpose is to redirect water from the Snowy River to the Murray, for the generation of
hydro-power and irrigation. It is one of the sixteen major dams that comprise the
Snowy Mountains Scheme
The Snowy Mountains Scheme, also known as the Snowy Hydro or the Snowy scheme, is a hydroelectricity and irrigation in Australia, irrigation complex in south-east Australia. Near the border of New South Wales and Victoria (Australia), Victoria, ...
, a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 and now run by
Snowy Hydro.
Location and features
Completed in 1967, Jindabyne Dam is a major dam, located approximately south south-east of the relocated town of
Jindabyne. The dam was constructed by a consortium of Utah-Brown and Sudamericana based on engineering plans developed under contract by the
Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority.
Construction of the dam flooded the settlement of Old Jindabyne that accommodated approximately 300 people.
Parts of Old Jindabyne can be seen when the levels of Lake Jindabyne are low. The settlement of East Jindabyne is located above what was Old Jindabyne.
The dam wall comprising of rockfill is high and long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back of water. The surface area of Lake Jindabyne is and the catchment area is . The spillway is capable of discharging .
Work to modify the dam spillway commenced in 1994 and was ongoing as at July 2009.
The dam has a 1.1MW hydro power generator that can be used during environmental releases into the Snowy River.
Gallery
Jindabyne.jpg, Jindabyne, as viewed from across Lake Jindabyne.
MK3043 Lake Jindabyne.jpg, Lake Jindabyne 2004
See also
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Kosciuszko National Park
The Kosciuszko National Park ( ) is a national park and contains mainland Australia's highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko, for which it is named, and Cabramurra, New South Wales, Cabramurra, the highest town in Australia. Its borders contain a mix o ...
*
List of dams and reservoirs in New South Wales
*
Snowy Scheme Museum
References
External links
*
{{Snowy River Shire , state=autocollapse
Snowy Mountains Scheme
Jindabyne
Rock-filled dams
Embankment dams
Dams completed in 1967
1967 establishments in Australia