The Middle River Dam is a gravity dam across the Middle River, located on the north of Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Completed in 1968, its resultant reservoir, the Middle River Reservoir, provides potable water for the island community.
| Middle River Dam | |
|---|---|
  Middle River Dam Location of the dam in South Australia | |
| Location | Kangaroo Island, South Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°43′08″S 137°05′46″E / 35.719°S 137.096°E |
| Purpose | Water supply |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1968 |
| Owner | Government of South Australia |
| Operator | SA Water |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Middle River |
| Height (foundation) | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Length | 152 m (499 ft) |
| Dam volume | 7×103 m3 (250×103 cu ft) |
| Spillway type | Uncontrolled |
| Spillway capacity | 245 m3/s (8,700 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Middle River Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 540 ML (440 acre⋅ft) |
| Active capacity | 470 ML (380 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 101 km2 (39 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 12.7 ha (31 acres) |
Overview
editConstruction of Middle River Dam was started in response to a doubling of the population on Kangaroo Island following World War II.[1] The reservoir supplies water to Kingscote, Brownlow KI and Parndana.[2]
The concrete dam wall is 20 metres (66 ft) high and 152 metres (499 ft) long. When full, the reservoir has capacity of 470 megalitres (380 acre⋅ft) and covers 12.7 hectares (31 acres), drawn from a catchment area of approximately 101 square kilometres (39 sq mi).[3][2][4]
See also
edit
References
edit- ↑ "Middle River Reservoir". South Australian Water Corporation. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- 1 2 SA Water's Long Term Plan for Kangaroo Island (Including the Middle River and Penneshaw Water Supply Systems) (PDF). South Australian Water Corporation. 2009. p. 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ↑ "Register of Large Dams Australia-2015" (Excel. Requires download. Row 348). ANCOLD. January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ↑ "Search result for "Middle River Dam (Dam)" (Record no. SA0044610) with the following layers selected - "Suburbs and Localities" and " Place names (gazetteer)"". Property Location Browser. Government of South Australia. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.