Glenlyon Dam
| Glenlyon Dam | |
|---|---|
The dam spillway, in 1994, during drought conditions | |
Glenlyon Dam Location of the dam in Queensland | |
Interactive map of Glenlyon Dam | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | South East Queensland |
| Coordinates | 28°57′54″S 151°28′13″E / 28.964974°S 151.470143°E |
| Purpose | |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1976 |
| Built by | |
| Owner | Border Rivers Commission |
| Operator | SunWater |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment dam |
| Impounds | Pike Creek |
| Height (foundation) | 62 m (203 ft) |
| Length | 445 m (1,460 ft) |
| Elevation at crest | 423.62 m (1,389.8 ft) |
| Width (crest) | 10.6 m (35 ft) AHD |
| Dam volume | 1,450×103 m3 (51×106 cu ft) |
| Spillway type | Uncontrolled |
| Spillway length | 74.4 m (244 ft) |
| Spillway capacity | 4,400 m3/s (160,000 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates |
|
| Total capacity | 254,000 ML (206,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 1,295 km2 (500 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 1,800 ha (4,400 acres) |
| Maximum water depth | 4.3 m (14 ft) |
| Normal elevation | 407 m (1,335 ft) AHD |
The Glenlyon Dam is an earth- and rock-fill embankment dam across the Pike Creek, located roughly between Stanthorpe and Texas in south-east Queensland, near the border with New South Wales, in Australia.[1] Completed in 1976, the dam wall was built on Pike Creek, a tributary of the Dumaresq River, 5 km (3.1 mi) upstream from the confluence of the Mole River and the Severn River branching from the Dumaresq. Its impoundment is known as Lake Glenlyon,[2][3] and is also known as the Pike Creek Reservoir.
Overview
The dam wall is 62 metres (203 ft) high, 445 metres (1,460 ft) long, and holds back 254,000 megalitres (206,000 acre⋅ft) of water when at full capacity.[3] The resultant reservoir, called either Lake Glenlyon or the Pike Creek Reservoir, has a surface area of 1,750 hectares (4,300 acres), that draws from a catchment area of 1,295 square kilometres (500 sq mi).[4] Managed by SunWater, the Glenlyon Dam provides water for irrigation of grain and fodder crops and for the supply of water.[5]
In December 1994, the dam reached a critically low level of 2.2% and the next year it rose to just 12% of capacity during a series of droughts in Australia.[6] The dam reached a peak of 110.78% on January 12, 2011, during the 2010–2011 Queensland floods.[7]
Recreation
Swimming, fishing, boating and water skiing are all permitted, with no restrictions on boating except near the dam wall.[8] Two boat ramps facilitate access for boating. In the upper reaches of feeder creeks, there are large areas of standing timber and submerged logs.[9]
The dam was stocked with golden perch, murray cod and silver perch while spangled perch, bony bream and eel-tailed catfish breed naturally.[9] A Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish in the dam.[10]
See also
References
- ^ "Glenlyon Dam – dam wall in Southern Downs Regional (entry 43057)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "Lake Glenlyon – lake in Southern Downs Regional (entry 14000)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Glenlyon Dam". Sunwater. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "Register of Large Dams Australia-2015" (Excel. Requires download. Row 203). ANCOLD. January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "Glenlyon Dam: Emergency Action Plan" (PDF). SunWater. Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteering. Queensland Government. September 2025. pp. 11–12. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ Collie, Gordon (26 August 1995). "Worst drought of century cripples farmers". The Courier-Mail.
- ^ "Glenlyon Dam". SunWater. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ "Glenlyon Dam ( Pike Creek Reservoir ) - Stanthorpe,. Qld". Sweetwater Fishing Australia. Retrieved 13 November 2006.
- ^ a b Harrison, Rod; Ernie James; Chris Sully; Bill Classon; Joy Eckermann (2008). Queensland Dams. Bayswater, Victoria: Australian Fishing Network. pp. 104–105. ISBN 978-1-86513-134-4.
- ^ "Fishing in Queensland dams? You may need a permit". Department of Primary Industries. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007.