Spring Creek Dam (New South Wales)

Spring Creek Dam is a minor embankment dam across the Spring Creek upstream of Orange in the central western region of New South Wales, Australia. The impounded reservoir is called the Spring Creek Reservoir.

Spring Creek Dam
Spring Creek Reservoir at very low level, 2008.
Location of Spring Creek Dam in New South Wales
Country	Australia
Location	Orange, New South Wales
Coordinates	33°19′54″S 149°07′04″E
Purpose	Water supply
Status	Operational
Construction began	December 1929 (1929-12)
Opening date	1931 (1931)
Owner(s)	Orange City Council
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment dam
Impounds	Spring Creek
Height	17 metres (56 ft)
Length	268 metres (879 ft)
Spillways	1
Spillway capacity	310 cubic metres per second (11,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates	Spring Creek Reservoir
Total capacity	4,680 megalitres (165×10^6 cu ft)
Catchment area	63 square kilometres (24 sq mi)
Surface area	11 hectares (27 acres)
Maximum length	2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi)
Maximum width	350 metres (1,150 ft)

Location and features

Commenced in December 1929 and completed in 1931, the Spring Creek Dam is a minor dam on the Spring Creek, located approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south-east of the city of Orange;^[1] constructed by NSW Department of Public Works on behalf of the Orange City Council as the main water supply for Orange. Additional dams for water supply were completed in 1918 at Meadow Creek Dam and the Gosling Creek Dam in 1890. Since the construction of Suma Park Dam, completed in 1962, Spring Creek Dam has served as the secondary water supply for the city.^[1]

The embankment dam wall is 17 metres (56 ft) high and is 268 metres (879 ft) long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 4,680 megalitres (165×10^⁶ cu ft) of water. The surface area of Spring Creek Reservoir is 11 hectares (27 acres) and the catchment area is 63 square kilometres (24 sq mi). The spillway is capable of discharging 310 cubic metres per second (11,000 cu ft/s).^[2][3]

Recently Orange City Council has strengthened the dam wall. Kinross Wolaroi School also uses the dam for the sport of rowing.

See also

• New South Wales portal

• List of dams and reservoirs in New South Wales

Gallery

• 
  A sign at the entrance to the Spring Creek Reservoir, off Lone Pine Avenue.

References

1. Orange City Library; Orange District Historical Society (20 October 2010). "Our most precious resource". Central Western Daily. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
2. "Spring Creek Dam". Orange water security. City of Orange. 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
3. "Register of Large Dams in Australia". Dams information. The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated. 2010. Archived from the original (Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.

External links

• "Macquarie-Bogan River catchment" (map). Office of Environment and Heritage. Government of New South Wales.
• General Manager (3 December 2007), Plan of Management for Spring Creek Reservoir, Orange City Council, archived from the original (.PDF) on 15 September 2009, retrieved 24 September 2009