Moogerah Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moogerah Dam |
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The Moogerah Dam wall, in 2011
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 Location of the Moogerah Dam
in Queensland |
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| Country | Australia |
| Location | South East Queensland |
| Coordinates | 28°1′48″S 152°32′56″E / 28.03000°S 152.54889°E |
| Purpose | |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1959 |
| Opening date | 1961 |
| Operator(s) | SEQ Water |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Arch dam |
| Impounds | Reynolds Creek |
| Height | 38 m (125 ft) |
| Length | 219 m (719 ft) |
| Dam volume | 23×103 m3 (810×103 cu ft) |
| Spillway type | Uncontrolled |
| Spillway capacity | 740 m3/s (26,000 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Moogerah |
| Total capacity | 83,700 ML (1.84×1010 imp gal; 2.21×1010 US gal) |
| Catchment area | 228 km2 (88 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 827 ha (2,040 acres) |
| Normal elevation | 154.91 m (508.2 ft) AHD |
The Moogerah Dam is a large concrete dam in Queensland, Australia. It's built across Reynolds Creek. This dam helps supply water for two main reasons. First, it provides water for farms in the Warrill Valley. Second, it gives clean drinking water to people. The big lake created by the dam is called Lake Moogerah.
The name "Moogerah" comes from an Aboriginal word, Moojirah. It means "home of the thunderstorm."
Contents
Where is Moogerah Dam?
The dam is located in the Fassifern Valley. This is about 60 kilometres (37 miles) southwest of Ipswich. The closest town is Aratula, about 11 kilometres (7 miles) away. The main town nearby is Boonah.
Reynolds Creek is the main stream that flows into Lake Moogerah. This creek is a branch of the Bremer River.
Building the Dam
Work on Moogerah Dam started in 1959. It was finished in 1961. The dam is 38 metres (125 feet) high and 219 metres (719 feet) long. It helps manage water for the Warrill Valley. The dam wall also gives access to Mount Edwards. This mountain is in Moogerah Peaks National Park.
The dam wall holds back a huge amount of water. When full, it can hold about 83,765 megalitres of water. This water comes from a large area of 228 square kilometres (88 square miles). This area includes parts of the Main Range. Lake Moogerah covers a surface area of 827 hectares (2,040 acres).
The dam has an uncontrolled spillway. This means there are no gates to control the water flow. Water flows over it when the dam is full. This spillway can release 740 cubic metres (26,000 cubic feet) of water per second.
Water Supply and Use
Moogerah Dam provides drinking water to the towns of Boonah and Ipswich. It also supplies water for farming. Many small crop farms in the Fassifern Valley use this water. The dam's management was moved to Seqwater in 2008. This was part of a big project to secure water for South East Queensland.
The dam's water levels can change a lot. During a drought in 1995, the dam was almost empty. It only had 1% of its total water capacity. But in December 2010, heavy rains filled the dam. Water flowed over the spillway for the first time since 1991.
Fun Activities at Lake Moogerah
Lake Moogerah is a popular spot for outdoor activities. There are many places to stay and things to do.
- Camping and Accommodation:
- Moogerah Lakeside Bush Retreat offers camping, bunkhouses, and cottages. You can go fishing, hire boats, or rent kayaks here.
- Camp Moogerah has cabins for schools and youth groups.
- School Camps Queensland and Camp Laurence also offer group accommodation. They have educational and adventure activities.
- Brisbane Grammar School has a private campsite for school camps. They use the lake for kayaking.
- The Scenic Rim Regional Council runs a caravan park. It has powered and unpowered sites, cabins, and a kiosk.
- Parks and Picnics:
- Haig Park has barbecues and picnic areas. You can also access the dam wall from here.
- There's another picnic area and playground below the dam wall. It's on the banks of Reynolds Creek.
- A designated swimming area opened at A G Muller Park in 2014.
- Hiking and Water Sports:
- You can hike on Mount Edwards. It has several walking trails.
- Lake Moogerah is very popular for waterskiing. It hosts jetski and waterskiing events all year.
- Fishing:
- If you want to fish in the dam, you need a special permit. You can get this permit from the manager at Lake Moogerah Caravan Park.
Events at the Dam
The Moogerah Passion Play is a special outdoor theatre show. It takes place on the shores of Lake Moogerah every Easter. Up to 80 people act in this play.
