Wuruma Dam
| Wuruma Dam | |
|---|---|
  Wuruma Dam Location of the dam in Queensland | |
Interactive map of Wuruma Dam | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | Eidsvold, Wide Bay-Burnett, Queensland |
| Coordinates | 25°12′04″S 150°59′23″E / 25.201213°S 150.989678°E |
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1969 |
| Construction cost | A$5.3 million |
| Operator | Sunwater |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Nogo River |
| Height (foundation) | 44 m (144 ft) |
| Length | 343 m (1,125 ft) |
| Elevation at crest | 235.46 m (772.5 ft) AHD |
| Dam volume | 123×103 m3 (4.3×106 cu ft) |
| Spillway type | Uncontrolled |
| Spillway length | 91.44 m (300.0 ft) |
| Spillway capacity | 3,823 m3/s (135,000 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Wuruma |
| Total capacity | 194,000 ML (157,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Active capacity | 165,400 ML (134,100 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 2,349 km2 (907 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 1,639 ha (4,050 acres) |
| Maximum length | 343 m (1,125 ft) |
| Maximum water depth | 36.6 m (120 ft) |
| Normal elevation | 215 m (705 ft) AHD |
The Wuruma Dam is a gravity dam across the Nogo River in the upper Burnett River catchment in the North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia.[1] The structure also included an earth and rock-fill embankment saddle dam. Located 48 kilometres (30 mi) north-west of Eidsvold and completed in 1969 at a cost of A$5.3 million, the resultant reservoir, Lake Wuruma,[2] supplies water for irrigation and town use for Eidsvold, Mundubbera and Gayndah.
Overview
The dam wall is of mass concrete gravity construction and is 44 metres (144 ft) high and 343 metres (1,125 ft) long. The saddle dam is 12.3 metres (40 ft) high and its embankment is 182.88 metres (600.0 ft) long.[3] The reservoir has capacity of 165,400 megalitres (134,100 acre⋅ft) when full and covers 1,639 hectares (4,050 acres), that is drawn from a catchment area of 2,349 square kilometres (907 sq mi). The uncontrolled spillway comprises a concrete ogee crest that can handle 3,823 cubic metres per second (135,000 cu ft/s).[4][5]
The dam takes its name from a local Indigenous word meaning brahminy kite.[6]
After reaching a low of 0.03% in September 1970, Wuruma Dam overflowed for the first time in February 1971.[3] It recorded its highest level of 142.64% capacity (3.74 metres (12.3 ft) over the spillway) in January 2013 as a result of heavy rains from ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald.[3]
In 2008 Sunwater commenced a dam spillway capacity upgrade program that included Wuruma Dam.[7]
Recreation
A Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish in the dam.[8]
See also
References
- ↑ "Wuruma Dam – dam wall in the North Burnett Region (entry 49874)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ↑ "Lake Wuruma – reservoir in the North Burnett Region (entry 43232)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Wuruma Dam Emergency Action Plan" (PDF). Sunwater. September 2024. p. 10. Retrieved 29 March 2026 – via Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers. Queensland Government.
- ↑ "Register of Large Dams Australia-2015" (Excel. Requires download. Row 562). ANCOLD. January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ↑ "Current Water Storage Information". Sunwater. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
- ↑ "Wuruma Dam". Sunwater. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ↑ "Spillway Capacity Upgrade Program". Sunwater. Archived from the original on 13 February 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
- ↑ "Fishing in Queensland dams? You may need a permit". Department of Primary Industries. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
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