Lake Eppalock
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Lake Eppalock
| name_official =
| image = Lake Eppalock Victoria.JPG
| image_size = 280px
| image_caption = Lake Eppalock pictured in 2010
| image_alt =
| location_map = Victoria
| location_map_size = 280px
| location_map_caption = Location of Lake Eppalock in Victoria
| location_map_alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|36|51|55.5|S|144|31|19.5|E|type:landmark_region:AU-VIC|display=inline,title}}
| country = Australia
| location = Eppalock, Victoria, Australia
| purpose = Water supply, irrigation
| status = O
| construction_began = {{start date|1960|||df=y}}
| opening = {{start date|1964|||df=y}}
| demolished =
| cost =
| owner = Goulburn–Murray Water
| dam_type = E
| dam_crosses = {{plainlist|
| dam_length = {{convert|400|m||abbr=on}}
| dam_height_foundation= {{convert|47|m||abbr=on}}
| dam_height_thalweg =
| dam_elevation_crest =
| dam_width_crest =
| dam_width_base =
| dam_volume = {{convert|14170|e3m3||abbr=on}}
| spillway_count = 3
| spillway_type = Controlled chute
| spillway_capacity = {{convert|8040|m3/s||abbr=on}}
| res_name = Lake Eppalock
| res_capacity_total = {{convert|304651|ML|impgal USgal|abbr=on}}
| res_capacity_active =
| res_capacity_inactive=
| res_catchment = {{convert|2124|km2||abbr=on}}
| res_surface = {{convert|30.11|km2||abbr=on}}
| res_max_length =
| res_max_depth = {{convert|30|m|abbr=on}}
| res_elevation = {{convert|193.8|m}} {{AHD}}
| plant_name =
| plant_coordinates =
| plant_operator =
| plant_commission =
| plant_decommission =
| plant_type =
| plant_turbines =
| plant_capacity =
| plant_annual_gen =
| website = [http://www.g-mwater.com.au/lakeeppalock Lake Eppalock] at Goulburn–Murray Water
| extra ={{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=22 March 2014|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}}{{Gazetteer of Australia|name=Lake Eppalock (VIC)|feature=VIC15202|accessdate=29 October 2014}}
}}
Lake Eppalock is an Australian reservoir{{cite web|title=Lake Eppalock |publisher=Goulburn–Murray Water |work=Water Resources |url=http://www.g-mwater.com.au/lakeeppalock |access-date=8 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020402/http://www.g-mwater.com.au/lakeeppalock |archive-date=24 September 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.coliban.com.au/about/history4.asp|title=A slide show history of Coliban Water|work=Coliban Water|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930131515/http://www.coliban.com.au/about/history4.asp|archive-date=30 September 2011|url-status=dead}} in Eppalock, North Central Victoria about {{convert|130|km}} northwest of Melbourne. It was formed by the construction of a major earth and rockfill embankment dam, known as Eppalock Dam, with a controlled chute spillway across the Campaspe and the Coliban rivers. The lake is situated between the regional population centres of Bendigo and Heathcote and serves as a major water storage facility for both places, as well as the Campaspe irrigation district. The lake also serves as a popular sports and recreational facility.
Location and features
The dam was built by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22541907 |title=EPPALOCK DAM ENLARGEMENT AT £2M URGED |newspaper=The Argus (Melbourne) |issue=31,730 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=13 May 1948 |access-date=6 March 2017 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116843406 |title=Private Contract For Eppalock |newspaper=Riverine Herald |issue=22,444 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 December 1949 |access-date=6 March 2017 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205912670 |title=ELMORE WATER SUPPLY |newspaper=The Age |issue=25,441 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=29 October 1936 |access-date=6 March 2017 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}} The dam wall height is {{convert|45|m}} and the main embankment is {{convert|1041|m}} long. At 100% capacity the dam wall was designed to hold back {{convert|304651|ML|impgal USgal}} of water. The surface area of Lake Eppalock is {{convert|3011|ha|acre}} and the catchment area is {{convert|2124|km2}}. The controlled spillway is capable of discharging {{convert|8040|m3/s}}.
Lake Eppalock supplies both stock and domestic water to the Campaspe irrigation district. It also serves as a water supply to Bendigo and Heathcote and, in more recent times, Ballarat.[http://www.g-mwater.com.au/lakeeppalock "Lake Eppalock"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020402/http://www.g-mwater.com.au/lakeeppalock |date=24 September 2015 }}. Goulburn Valley Water. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020402/http://www.g-mwater.com.au/lakeeppalock Archived version] by WebCite 2015-08-12.
The lake is a major attraction for those engaging in watersports, with a number of tourist parks and accommodation facilities available. Permissible activities on the lake include high-speed boating, water skiing, sailing, canoeing, fishing and swimming. The lake{{'s}} water levels were low for approximately eight years between 2002 and 2010 during a prolonged drought, which restricted the amount of recreational activity until rainfall in the latter half of 2010 returned the lake to 100 percent capacity. A speed restriction of 5 knots is placed on the lake when the level falls below 16 percent or {{convert|180|m}} {{AHD}}.
Camping is permitted only in caravan parks and/or on private land surrounding the lake with a permit from the land owner.
Built between 1961 and 1964, Lake Eppalock remains the only water storage on the Campaspe River system. The lake was full in August 2000 then ran dry over two years, to 2002. It remained below 15 percent for 8 years due to drought. The reservoir rose from 8 percent in June 2010, to full capacity by November. The lake overflowed its spillway for the first time since 1996, on 28 November 2010, after significant rainfall over the preceding 48 hours. As of August 2015, the lake was at 44% capacity, down from 74% a year earlier.[http://www.g-mwater.com.au/mobile/storagedetail.html?storage=EPPALOCK "Lake Eppalock"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812091712/http://www.g-mwater.com.au/mobile/storagedetail.html?storage=EPPALOCK |date=12 August 2015 }}. Goulburn Valley Water. 2015-08-06. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150812091712/http://www.g-mwater.com.au/mobile/storagedetail.html?storage=EPPALOCK Archived version] at archive.org, 2015-08-12.
Lake Eppalock is administered by Goulburn–Murray Water.
Gallery
Lake Eppalock.jpg|the Derrinal Pool (Lake at 64% capacity in October 2010)
Glorious sunrise on drive up to the Echuca.jpg|Sunrise over Lake Eppalock
Lake Eppalock Yachts 004.JPG|Sailing on Lake Eppalock
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Australia|Water}}}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web|url=http://www.g-mwater.com.au/downloads/Storages/LakeEppalock_Sliced_revised_Dec_2012_WEB.pdf|type=PDF|title=Lake Eppalock: Recreational guide|publisher=Goulburn–Murray Water|date=February 2012|access-date=28 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020341/http://www.g-mwater.com.au/downloads/Storages/LakeEppalock_Sliced_revised_Dec_2012_WEB.pdf|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}
{{Rivers of the North-Central catchment of the Murray-Darling basin}}
{{WaterVictoria |state=collapsed}}
{{Lakes of Victoria |state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eppalock}}
Category:Reservoirs in Victoria (state)
Category:Dams in Victoria (state)
Category:North-Central catchment
Category:Rivers of Loddon Mallee (region)