The dam is located approximately 115 kilometres (71 mi) northwest of Brisbane in the Somerset Region and 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of Ipswich.
The concrete dam structure is 50 metres (160 ft) high and 305 metres (1,001 ft) long. The 203-thousand-cubic-metre (7.2×10^6 cu ft) dam wall holds back the 904,000-megalitre (199×10^9 imp gal; 239×10^9 US gal)[2] reservoir when at full capacity. However, only 380,000 megalitres (84×10^9 imp gal; 100×10^9 US gal) is used for water supply and the remainder used for flood mitigation. From a catchment area of 1,330 square kilometres (510 sq mi) that includes much of the western slopes of the D'Aguilar National Park, the dam creates Lake Somerset at an elevation of 108 m (354 ft) above sea level, with a surface area of 4,350 hectares (10,700 acres). The gated spillway has a discharge capacity of 4,650 cubic metres per second (164,000 cu ft/s).[1] Built under the supervision of the Bureau of Industry, management of the dam was transferred to SEQ Water in July 2008 as part of a water security project in the South East Queensland region, known as the South East Queensland Water Grid.[4] A small 4 megawatts (5,400 hp) hydroelectric power station is located adjacent to the dam wall.
A water level of 90% is the optimum capacity for keeping evaporation rates to a minimum. Dam operators discharge water into the Wivenhoe Dam downstream to hold Somerset at this level when inflows are occurring.[5]
The site was first suggested for the location of a dam by Henry Somerset, the owner of Caboonbah Homestead, after the 1893 Brisbane floods caused severe damage to Brisbane River valley residents downstream.[6] A commission of enquiry recommended Stanley Gorge as the site for a dam in 1928, but it was not until 1933 that the Forgan SmithLaborGovernment adopted the reservoir's construction as a major job creation project to counter job losses caused by the Great Depression.[6]
Construction began in 1935.[6] Worker's cottages had to be built and other facilities were constructed to attract 1,000 construction workers and their families to the area.[6] By 1942 the dam was almost complete when workers were diverted to the war effort, with many being redeployed to construct the Cairncross Dockyard in Brisbane. Work on the dam recommenced in 1948.[7] Opened in 1953 when structural work was finished, it was not until 1958 that the dam was officially named after Henry Somerset and the next year before all work related to the dam, including the hydroelectricpower station was complete.[6][7]
Recreation
Camping at Lake Somerset.
There are two public access areas on Somerset Dam, Kirkleigh and The Spit. Both locations have multi-lane, concrete boat ramps with facilities for day-trippers.[8] Camping is permitted and caravans are catered for at Kirkleigh and below the dam wall at Somerset Park in the small town of Somerset Dam. During busy periods the two camping locations can be filled to capacity with room for a maximum of 2,200 campers at Kirkleigh and 800 at Somerset Park.[9] Lake Somerset Holiday Park's Kirkleigh campground also features cabin accommodation at the waterfront and direct access to the dam from a grassy spit.[10] The dam contains 30 kilometres (19 mi) of navigable waterway.[8]
Fishing
The lake is a popular fishing destination, one of the top five fishing spots in the state.[8] Fish species found in the dam include Australian bass, golden perch, silver perch, bony bream, eel-tailed catfish, spangled perch, Mary River cod, snub nosed gar, Queensland lungfish and saratoga.[8][11] A stocked impoundment permit is required to fish in the dam.[12]
^ ab. SEQ Water. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
^ abcdHarrison, Rod; James, Ernie; Sully, Chris; Classon, Bill; Eckermann, Joy (2008). Queensland Dams. Bayswater, Victoria: Australian Fishing Network. pp. 138–139. ISBN978-1-86513-134-4.
^Maeseele, Melanie (8 April 2009). "Campers stream into full dam sites". Ipswich Queensland Times. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
^"Lake Somerset Holiday Park review". 3 June 2015.
^"Lake Somerset". Sweetwater Fishing Australia. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
^"Do I need a permit to go fishing in a dam?". Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Queensland Government. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
^"Somerset Dam, Stanley River, 1955-". Engineers Australia. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
Further reading
"Nomination Document for the Somerset Dam" (PDF). Engineers Australia. January 2010. (PDF) from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Somerset.
Lake Somerset Fishing Information, Map, pictures & Water Level Gauge
somerset, this, article, about, town, queensland, mass, concrete, gravity, with, gated, spillway, across, stanley, river, queensland, australia, within, locality, somerset, region, south, east, queensland, main, purpose, supply, potable, water, brisbane, gold,. This article is about the dam For the town see Somerset Dam Queensland The Somerset Dam is a mass concrete gravity dam with a gated spillway across the Stanley River in Queensland Australia It is within the locality of Somerset Dam in the Somerset Region in South East Queensland The main purpose of the dam is the supply of potable water for the Brisbane Gold Coast and Logan City regions Additionally the dam provides for flood mitigation recreation and for the generation of hydroelectricity 1 The impounded reservoir is called Lake Somerset Somerset DamWall of Somerset DamLocation of the Somerset Dam in QueenslandCountryAustraliaLocationSouth East QueenslandCoordinates27 06 55 S 152 33 24 E 27 1154 S 152 5566 E 27 1154 152 5566 Coordinates 27 06 55 S 152 33 24 E 27 1154 S 152 5566 E 27 1154 152 5566PurposePotable water supplyFlood mitigationRecreationHydroelectricity 1 StatusOperationalConstruction began1935 1935 Opening date1959 1959 Operator s SEQ WaterDam and spillwaysType of damGravity damImpoundsStanley RiverHeight50 m 160 ft 1 Length305 m 1 001 ft 1 Width base 41 m 135 ft 2 Dam volume203 10 3 m3 7 2 10 6 cu ft 1 Spillway typeGatedSpillway capacity4 650 m3 s 164 000 cu ft s 1 ReservoirCreatesLake SomersetTotal capacity904 000 ML 199 10 9 imp gal 239 10 9 US gal 2 Active capacity380 000 ML 84 10 9 imp gal 100 10 9 US gal 1 3 Inactive capacity524 000 ML 115 10 9 imp gal 138 10 9 US gal 2 Catchment area1 330 km2 510 sq mi 1 Surface area4 350 ha 10 700 acres 1 Maximum length52 m 171 ft Maximum width7 m 23 ft Normal elevation108 m 354 ft AHD Somerset DamCommission date1959 1959 Installed capacity3 2 MW 4 300 hp Annual generation12 GWh 43 TJ Websitewww seqwater com auThe dam lake and surrounding village of Somerset are named in honour of Henry Plantagenet Somerset a local grazier and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland who represented the seat of Stanley 2 from 1904 until 1920 Contents 1 Location and features 1 1 Construction 2 Recreation 2 1 Fishing 3 Engineering heritage award 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksLocation and features Edit Camping near Lake Somerset Lake Somerset at 100 capacity Villeneuve 2015 The dam is located approximately 115 kilometres 71 mi northwest of Brisbane in the Somerset Region and 80 kilometres 50 mi north of Ipswich The concrete dam structure is 50 metres 160 ft high and 305 metres 1 001 ft long The 203 thousand cubic metre 7 2 10 6 cu ft dam wall holds back the 904 000 megalitre 199 10 9 imp gal 239 10 9 US gal 2 reservoir when at full capacity However only 380 000 megalitres 84 10 9 imp gal 100 10 9 US gal is used for water supply and the remainder used for flood mitigation From a catchment area of 1 330 square kilometres 510 sq mi that includes much of the western slopes of the D Aguilar National Park the dam creates Lake Somerset at an elevation of 108 m 354 ft above sea level with a surface area of 4 350 hectares 10 700 acres The gated spillway has a discharge capacity of 4 650 cubic metres per second 164 000 cu ft s 1 Built under the supervision of the Bureau of Industry management of the dam was transferred to SEQ Water in July 2008 as part of a water security project in the South East Queensland region known as the South East Queensland Water Grid 4 A small 4 megawatts 5 400 hp hydroelectric power station is located adjacent to the dam wall A water level of 90 is the optimum capacity for keeping evaporation rates to a minimum Dam operators discharge water into the Wivenhoe Dam downstream to hold Somerset at this level when inflows are occurring 5 The dam is home to the Somerset Dam Power Station Construction Edit The site was first suggested for the location of a dam by Henry Somerset the owner of Caboonbah Homestead after the 1893 Brisbane floods caused severe damage to Brisbane River valley residents downstream 6 A commission of enquiry recommended Stanley Gorge as the site for a dam in 1928 but it was not until 1933 that the Forgan Smith Labor Government adopted the reservoir s construction as a major job creation project to counter job losses caused by the Great Depression 6 Construction began in 1935 6 Worker s cottages had to be built and other facilities were constructed to attract 1 000 construction workers and their families to the area 6 By 1942 the dam was almost complete when workers were diverted to the war effort with many being redeployed to construct the Cairncross Dockyard in Brisbane Work on the dam recommenced in 1948 7 Opened in 1953 when structural work was finished it was not until 1958 that the dam was officially named after Henry Somerset and the next year before all work related to the dam including the hydroelectric power station was complete 6 7 Recreation Edit Camping at Lake Somerset There are two public access areas on Somerset Dam Kirkleigh and The Spit Both locations have multi lane concrete boat ramps with facilities for day trippers 8 Camping is permitted and caravans are catered for at Kirkleigh and below the dam wall at Somerset Park in the small town of Somerset Dam During busy periods the two camping locations can be filled to capacity with room for a maximum of 2 200 campers at Kirkleigh and 800 at Somerset Park 9 Lake Somerset Holiday Park s Kirkleigh campground also features cabin accommodation at the waterfront and direct access to the dam from a grassy spit 10 The dam contains 30 kilometres 19 mi of navigable waterway 8 Fishing Edit The lake is a popular fishing destination one of the top five fishing spots in the state 8 Fish species found in the dam include Australian bass golden perch silver perch bony bream eel tailed catfish spangled perch Mary River cod snub nosed gar Queensland lungfish and saratoga 8 11 A stocked impoundment permit is required to fish in the dam 12 A view of Lake SomersetEngineering heritage award EditThe dam is listed as an Engineering Heritage National Landmark by Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program 13 See also Edit Queensland portal Water portal Renewable energy portal List of dams in QueenslandReferences Edit a b c d e f g h i j Register of Large Dams in Australia Excel requires download Dams information Australian National Committee on Large Dams 2010 Retrieved 4 July 2014 a b c d e About Somerset Dam Queensland Retrieved 7 July 2014 Somerset Dam Dams and weirs SEQ Water Retrieved 7 July 2014 Hurst Daniel 7 July 2009 Water funds slash debt The Bayside Bulletin Retrieved 21 April 2008 Williams Brian 4 April 2009 Somerset Dam water released as deluge delivers supply bonus The Courier Mail Queensland Retrieved 24 April 2008 a b c d e Heritage Trails of the Great South East Environmental Protection Agency Queensland The State of Queensland 2000 pp 49 50 ISBN 0 7345 1008 X a b SEQWater Dam Construction SEQ Water Archived from the original on 10 October 2007 Retrieved 11 May 2009 a b c d Harrison Rod James Ernie Sully Chris Classon Bill Eckermann Joy 2008 Queensland Dams Bayswater Victoria Australian Fishing Network pp 138 139 ISBN 978 1 86513 134 4 Maeseele Melanie 8 April 2009 Campers stream into full dam sites Ipswich Queensland Times Retrieved 29 April 2008 Lake Somerset Holiday Park review 3 June 2015 Lake Somerset Sweetwater Fishing Australia Retrieved 7 July 2014 Do I need a permit to go fishing in a dam Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Queensland Government 5 February 2013 Retrieved 4 July 2014 Somerset Dam Stanley River 1955 Engineers Australia Retrieved 7 May 2020 Further reading Edit Nomination Document for the Somerset Dam PDF Engineers Australia January 2010 Archived PDF from the original on 3 July 2020 Retrieved 3 July 2020 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Somerset Current dam level Lake Somerset Fishing Information Map pictures amp Water Level Gauge Somerset Dam Picture Australia National Library of Australia Somerset Tourism Natural Attractions Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Somerset Dam amp oldid 1117605032, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
