Glenbawn Dam


Glenbawn Dam is a major ungated earth and rock fill with clay core embankment dam with concrete chute spillway plus fuse plugs across the Hunter River upstream of Aberdeen in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, hydro-electric power, irrigation, water supply and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Glenbawn.
Glenbawn Dam was created through enabling legislation enacted through the passage of the. The Act appropriated A£ as the estimated cost of construction of the dam.

Location and features

Commenced in late 1947 and completed in late 1957, the Glenbawn Dam is a major dam on the Hunter River and is the fourth largest earth-filled embankment dam in Australia by volume. The dam is located approximately east of the town of Scone on the upper reaches of the river. The dam was built by the New South Wales Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission to supply water for irrigation and flood mitigation.
The dam wall height is and is long. The maximum water depth is and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back of water at AHD. The dam has an additional reserve capacity of to hold floodwaters that reduce flooding downstream. The surface area of Lake Glenbawn is and the catchment area is. The ungated concrete chute spillway is capable of discharging. An upgrade of facilities completed in 1987 took the height of the dam wall from to its current height. Glenbawn Dam is operated in conjunction with Glennies Creek Dam. The two dams supply water requirements along of the Hunter River from Glenbawn to the tidal reaches near Maitland.
The name Glenbawn originates after a riverside property resumed for part of the storage area.

Power generation

A hydro-electric power station generates up to of electricity from the flow of the water leaving Glenbawn Dam with an average output of per annum. The station was completed in January 1995. The facility is managed by AGL Energy.

Recreation

The dam is a popular location for water skiing and fishing, both by boat and from shore. Located adjacent to the dam and the lake is a nature reserve; Lake Glenbawn State Park.