Baroon Pocket Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baroon Pocket Dam |
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Lake and shoreline, 2008
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 Location of the Baroon Pocket Dam
in Queensland |
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| Country | Australia |
| Location | South East Queensland |
| Coordinates | 26°42′12″S 152°52′5″E / 26.70333°S 152.86806°E |
| Purpose | Water supply |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1989 |
| Operator(s) | SEQ Water |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment dam |
| Impounds | Obi Obi Creek |
| Height | 58 m (190 ft) |
| Length | 370 m (1,210 ft) |
| Dam volume | 716×103 m3 (25.3×106 cu ft) |
| Spillway type | Uncontrolled |
| Spillway capacity | 1,013 m3/s (35,800 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Baroon |
| Total capacity | 61,000 ML (2,200×106 cu ft) |
| Catchment area | 72 km2 (28 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 380 ha (940 acres) |
| Maximum length | 3.9 km (2.4 mi) |
| Maximum width | 1.9 km (1.2 mi) |
| Maximum water depth | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Normal elevation | 215 m (705 ft) AHD |
The Baroon Pocket Dam is a large structure in Queensland, Australia. It is built across the Obi Obi Creek. This dam helps supply clean drinking water to homes in South East Queensland. The big lake formed by the dam is called Lake Baroon.
Right below the dam is the Obi Obi Gorge. This area is special because it's one of the few places where the Mary River cod fish still live in the wild.
Contents
History of Baroon Pocket Dam
The name Baroon comes from the Aboriginal people of the area. It was a traditional meeting and fighting ground. People first wrote down this name in 1842. The dam itself was finished in 1989.
Where is Baroon Pocket Dam?
The dam is about 7 kilometres north of Maleny. It's in the beautiful Sunshine Coast region. The dam wall was built over Obi Obi Creek and other smaller waterways.
The dam wall is 58 metres high, which is like a 19-story building! It is also 370 metres long. When full, the dam holds a huge amount of water, about 61,000 million litres. The lake's surface covers an area of 380 hectares. This is about the size of 700 football fields!
The main job of Baroon Pocket Dam is to provide water for towns like Maroochy and Caloundra. Water flows from the dam through a long tunnel. This tunnel is 2.5 metres wide and 2.5 kilometres long. It goes under the Blackall Range. After that, a company called UnityWater sends the water to homes and businesses. Seqwater manages the dam and the area around it.
Fun Activities at Lake Baroon
Lake Baroon is a great place for outdoor activities. It's important to protect the environment here.
Boating on the Lake
There is one place where you can launch a boat. You can't camp right next to the lake. There are nice picnic areas by the water. You can also find viewing platforms and a rainforest walking track near the spillway.
To keep the lake clean, boats with petrol or diesel motors are not allowed. You can use electric motors on dinghies, but you need a permit from the local council. Canoes do not need a permit.
Fishing in Lake Baroon
Lake Baroon is a popular spot for fishing. The lake has been stocked with fish like bass, Mary River cod, golden perch, and silver perch. You can also find eel-tailed catfish and spangled perch naturally living there. If you want to fish, you will need a permit from the council.
Protecting the Environment
A group called the Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group (LBCCG) works to protect the area. They get most of their money from SeqWater. This group helps improve water quality in the dam. They work with local farmers to do projects that keep the water clean. Since 1992, they have completed many projects to help the environment.
