Fairbairn Dam
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Fairbairn Dam
| name_official =
| image =
| image_size = 280
| image_caption =
| image_alt =
| location_map = Australia Queensland
| location_map_size = 280
| location_map_caption = Location of the dam wall in Queensland
| location_map_alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|23|39|00|S|148|03|56|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = Australia
| location = southwest of {{QLDcity|Emerald}}, Central Queensland
| purpose = Irrigation, water supply, flood mitigation
| status = O
| construction_began = 1968
| opening = {{end date|1972|12||df=y}}
| demolished =
| cost =
| owner =
| operator = SunWater
| dam_type = E
| dam_crosses = Nogoa River
| dam_height = {{convert|46|m|abbr=on}}
| dam_height_foundation=
| dam_height_thalweg =
| dam_length = {{convert|823|m|abbr=on}}
| dam_elevation_crest =
| dam_width_crest =
| dam_width_base =
| dam_volume = {{convert|5249|e3m3|abbr=on}}
| spillway_count =
| spillway_type = Uncontrolled
| spillway_capacity = {{convert|15580|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| res_name = Lake Maraboon
| res_capacity_total = {{convert|2289129|ML|impgal USgal|abbr=on}}
| res_capacity_active = {{convert|1301000|ML|impgal USgal|abbr=on}}
| res_capacity_inactive=
| res_catchment = {{convert|16320|km2|abbr=on}}
| res_surface = {{convert|15000|ha|abbr=on}}
| res_max_length =
| res_max_width =
| res_max_depth = {{convert|31.7|m|abbr=on}}
| res_elevation = {{convert|204|m|abbr=on}} {{AHD}}
| res_tidal_range =
| plant_name =
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}}
The Fairbairn Dam is an earth-filled embankment dam across the Nogoa River, located southwest of {{QLDcity|Emerald}} in Central Queensland, Australia. Constructed in 1972 for the primary purpose of irrigation, the impoundment created by the dam serves as one of the major potable water supplies for the region and assists with some flood mitigation.
Lake Maraboon with an active capacity of {{convert|1301000|ML|impgal USgal|abbr=on}} was formed by damming of the Nogoa River, and, in 2008, was Queensland's second largest dam.{{cite press release |url=http://www.sunwater.com.au/about-sunwater/media-room/latest-news/latest-news/2008/fairbairn-dam-performed-well-during-emeralds-major-flood-event |title=Fairbairn Dam performed well during Emerald's major flood event |publisher=SunWater |date=4 February 2008 |access-date=21 November 2015 |archive-date=22 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122182039/http://www.sunwater.com.au/about-sunwater/media-room/latest-news/latest-news/2008/fairbairn-dam-performed-well-during-emeralds-major-flood-event |url-status=dead }} Its capacity is approximately three times larger than Sydney Harbour. Maraboon is the Aboriginal for "where the black ducks fly".{{Cite web|url=http://www.sunwater.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/14695/Fairbairn-Dam-visitor-info.pdf|title=Fairbairn Dam visitor info|website=SunWater|access-date=2 February 2017|archive-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311003922/http://www.sunwater.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/14695/Fairbairn-Dam-visitor-info.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Location and features
Commenced in 1968, the dam was engineered by Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority and completed in December 1972 for the purposes of irrigation and water storage. Storage of water commenced in January 1972 and the dam filled and overflowed for the first time two years later. The dam wall consists of a {{convert|5249|e3m3}} earthfill embankment {{convert|823|m}} in length and {{convert|46|m}} high. The reservoir has a catchment area of {{convert|16320|km2}} with an uncontrolled concrete spillway capable of discharging {{convert|15580|m3/s}}. The reservoir has an active capacity of {{convert|1301000|ML|impgal USgal|abbr=on}} of water;{{cite web|url=http://www.sunwater.com.au/water_store.htm|title=Fairbairn Dam|work=Current Water Storage Information|publisher=SunWater|access-date=18 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528155009/http://www.sunwater.com.au/water_store.htm|archive-date=28 May 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dams-Australia-2010-v1-for-website.xls|format=Excel (requires download)|title=Register of Large Dams in Australia|publisher=Australian National Committee on Large Dams|year=2010|access-date=15 October 2015|work=Dams information|archive-date=12 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212120804/http://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dams-Australia-2010-v1-for-website.xls|url-status=dead}} When the dam spills over it flows into the Nogoa River.
About 300 irrigators are supplied with water for cotton, citrus and other horticulture operations.{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20766249-3102,00.html |title=Fairbairn dry for irrigators |author=Thompson, Tuck |access-date=15 May 2009 |date=16 November 2006 |work=The Courier Mail |publisher=Queensland Newspapers }} The dam is relatively shallow with large areas of standing timber. There are no boating restrictions and one concrete boat ramp.
Water from the Fairbairn Dam is released down the Nogoa River to the Selma Weir for supply to the town of Emerald. Supplies are diverted by pipelines to the towns of Blackwater, Bluff, Tieri, Dysart and Middlemount. Water from the dam also supplies coal mining developments on the Bowen Basin.{{cite web |url=http://www.sunwater.com.au/schemes/nogoa-mackenzie |title=Nogoa Mackenzie |work=Storage Schemes |publisher=SunWater |access-date=21 November 2015 }}
The dam and reservoir are operated by SunWater.
A 50th birthday celebration for the dam is being held on Saturday 21 May 2022 sponsored by Sunwater and the Central Highlands Regional Council.{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-05-18 |title=Open day marks Fairbairn Dam's 50-year milestone |url=https://www.sunwater.com.au/2022/05/18/open-day-marks-fairbairn-dams-50-year-milestone/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Sunwater |language=en-AU}}
Water storage levels
In July 2003, cotton farmers who were reliant on the dam for irrigation had their water allocation cut by 75%.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200307/s892287.htm |title=Cotton downturn to hit central highlands' economy |access-date=2009-05-15 |date=2003-07-01 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In November 2006, the dam had reached its lowest level ever—just 14% of total capacity. Over that summer low inflows and high evaporation rates had dropped levels to 12%.
On 18 January 2008 water in the reservoir overflowed the dam spillway{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/photos/2008/01/23/2144288.htm|title=Fairbairn Dam continues to spill|work=ABC News|date=23 January 2008|access-date=21 November 2015|author=Belonogoff, Annisa|format=photo |location=Australia}} for the first time in 17 years, due to heavy local rain.{{cite news |title=Drought-stricken Fairbairn Dam overflows|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/19/2142199.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122114107/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/19/2142199.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 January 2008 |access-date=20 January 2008 |date=19 January 2008}} Within 48 hours, the water level was about {{convert|3.5|m}} over the spillway level, or 156% of active capacity. The water level peaked at about {{convert|4.5|m}} on 22 January 2008. Downstream 2,700 residents had to be evacuated due to flooding.{{cite web |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/flood-victims-hung-out-to-dry/2008/05/03/1209235217203.html |title=Flood victims 'hung out to dry' by insurers |access-date=15 May 2009 |date=3 May 2008 |work=Brisbane Times }} Seven days earlier, the lake was operating at 29% of full capacity.{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ60005.html#Mackenzie|title=Latest River Heights for Nogoa River at Fairbairn Dam|work=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|publisher=Australian Government }}
On 30 December 2010 during the 2010–11 Queensland floods, the Fairbairn Dam reached a peak of {{convert|2289129|ML|impgal USgal|abbr=on}}, or 176% of active capacity, with a reservoir elevation of {{convert|209.81|m}} {{AHD}}. Water was recorded at {{convert|5.58|m}} above the spillway.{{cite press release |url=http://www.sunwater.com.au/about-sunwater/media-room/latest-news/latest-news/2010/new-record-for-fairbairn-dam |title=New record for Fairbairn Dam |publisher=SunWater |date=31 December 2010 |access-date=21 November 2015 |archive-date=22 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122173253/http://www.sunwater.com.au/about-sunwater/media-room/latest-news/latest-news/2010/new-record-for-fairbairn-dam |url-status=dead }}
Dam capacities in Australia are frequently compared with the capacity of Sydney Harbour which holds approximately {{Convert|500000|Ml|impgal USgal|abbr=}}.{{Cite web|url=http://media.bom.gov.au/social/blog/39/when-dam-size-matters/|title=When dam size matters|date=25 October 2012|website=Bureau of Meteorology|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821135602/http://media.bom.gov.au/social/blog/39/when-dam-size-matters/|archive-date=21 August 2019|url-status=live|access-date=21 August 2019}} This would make the dam approximately 3 times the storage of Sydney Harbour in normal conditions and 4 times in extreme flood.
On 29 December 2019 the Fairbairn Dam was at 9.6% capacity,{{cite web |title=Sunwater Fairbairn Dam Water Level |url=https://storagelevels.sunwater.com.au/win/reports/win_storages.htm |website=Storage Levels Sunwater |access-date=28 December 2019}} the previous record low capacity was in December 2006 at 11.8%.{{cite web |title=Fairbairn Dam water allocations impacted by record low level |url=https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/5951628/fairbairn-dam-at-record-low-level/ |website=Queensland Country Life |date=13 March 2019 |access-date=28 December 2019}} In December 2019 the Central Highlands Regional Council made the decision to stay on level 1 water restrictions whilst they were undertaking a review of their trigger levels for water restrictions.{{cite news |title=Why water restrictions arent tighter in Emerald |url=https://www.cqnews.com.au/news/why-water-restrictions-arent-tighter-in-emerald/3900122/ |publisher=CQ News}} A record low of 7.39% was reached in 2020.{{cite news |last=Heagney |first=Pat |date=5 November 2022 |title=Fairbairn Dam reaches highest level in five years as farmers, locals rejoice |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-05/fairbairn-dam-fills-at-highest-level-in-five-years/101611832 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=12 November 2022}}
In late 2022, the dam reached 40% of capacity, allowing farmers to access full water allocations.
Fishing
The lake has been stocked with barramundi, Mary River cod, southern saratoga, bass and silver perch.{{cite book |title=Queensland Dams |last=Harrison |first=Rod |author2=Ernie James|author3=Chris Sully|author4=Bill Classon|author5=Joy Eckermann |year=2008 |publisher=Australian Fishing Network |location=Bayswater, Victoria |isbn=978-1-86513-134-4 |pages=102–103 }} Eel-tailed catfish, spangled perch, red claw crayfish, sooty grunter and golden perch Georgia fish are additionally present. On the lake fishing is banned within {{convert|200|m}} of the dam wall, while below the ban extends for {{convert|400|m}}.
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Queensland|Engineering}}}}