Guthega Dam

Guthega Dam is concrete gravity dam with an uncontrolled spillway across the Snowy River in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose is for the storage of water used in the generation of hydro-power . It is the first to be completed of the sixteen major dams of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 and now run by Snowy Hydro.

Guthega Dam
Guthega dam in winter
Guthega Dam is located in New South Wales
Guthega Dam
Location of the Guthega Dam in
New South Wales
CountryAustralia
LocationSnowy Mountains, New South Wales
Coordinates36°22′50″S 148°22′09″E
StatusOperational
Opening date1955
Owner(s)Snowy Hydro
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity dam
ImpoundsSnowy River
Height34 metres (112 ft)
Length139 metres (456 ft)
Dam volume44,100 cubic metres (1,560,000 cu ft)
Spillways1
Spillway typeUncontrolled
Spillway capacity1,416 cubic metres per second (50,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesGuthega Pondage
Total capacity1,604 megalitres (56.6×10^6 cu ft)
Catchment area91 square kilometres (35 sq mi)
Surface area19.4 hectares (48 acres)
Power Station
Operator(s)Snowy Hydro
Commission date1955
TypeConventional
Hydraulic head246.9 metres (810 ft)
Turbines2
Installed capacity60 megawatts (80,000 hp)

The impounded reservoir is called Guthega Pondage.

Location and features

Guthega dam is one of the sixteen major dams of the Snowy Mountains Scheme. It was completed in 1955 and is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) northwest of Perisher Valley, in the Kosciuszko National Park. The dam was constructed by Semler Engineering based on engineering plans developed under contract by the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority, with Albert Francis Ronalds as Chief Civil Designing Engineer.[1][2]

The dam wall, comprising 44,100 cubic metres (1,560,000 cu ft) of concrete, is 34 metres (112 ft) high and 139 metres (456 ft) long. The uncontrolled spillway is capable of discharging reservoir overflow at rates up to 1,416 cubic metres per second (50,000 cu ft/s). At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 1,604 megalitres (56.6×10^6 cu ft) of water with a surface area of 19.4 hectares (48 acres) The catchment area is 91 square kilometres (35 sq mi), including the Guthega river, Pounds creek, Farm creek and the upper reaches of the Snowy River.[1][3]

Guthega dam: upstream face
Autumn time

Power generation
See also: Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme and Guthega Power Station

Approximately 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) downstream of the dam wall and using water from Guthega Pondage, is the above ground Guthega conventional hydroelectric power station. Commenced in 1951 and completed in 1955, the power station has two Francis turbines comprising English Electric generators, with a combined generating capacity of 60 megawatts (80,000 hp) of electricity; a net generation of 172 gigawatt-hours (620 TJ) per annum; and has 246.9 metres (810 ft) rated hydraulic head. Water flows through the turbines at the rate of 28.3 cubic metres per second (1,000 cu ft/s).[4]

See also

References
  1. "Register of Large Dams in Australia". Dams information. The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated. 2010. Archived from the original (Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  2. Beverley F Ronalds, 'Ronalds, Albert Francis (Bert) (1913–1999)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed 11 May 2022
  3. "Dams". Snowy Mountains Scheme. Snowy Hydro. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  4. "Guthega Hydroelectric Power Station Australia". Global Energy Observatory. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
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