Scotts Peak Dam

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}

{{Infobox dam

| name = Scotts Peak Dam

| name_official =

| image =

| image_size =

| image_caption = This non-hydroelectric dam helps retain water in Lake Pedder.

| image_alt =

| location_map = Australia Tasmania

| location_map_size = 280

| location_map_caption = Location of the Edgar Dam in Tasmania

| location_map_alt =

| coordinates = {{coord|43|01|52|S|146|17|46|E|type:landmark_region:AU-TAS|display=inline,title}}

| country = Australia

| location = South West Tasmania

| purpose = P

| status = O

| construction_began =

| opening = {{start date|1973}}

| demolished =

| cost =

| owner = Hydro Tasmania

| operator =

| dam_type = E

| dam_crosses = Huon River

| dam_height = {{Convert|43|m|ft|0}}

| dam_height_foundation=

| dam_height_thalweg =

| dam_length = {{Convert|1067|m|ft|0}}

| dam_elevation_crest =

| dam_width_crest =

| dam_width_base =

| dam_volume = {{convert|584|e3m3|abbr=on}}

| spillway_count = 0

| spillway_type =

| spillway_capacity =

| res_name = Lake Pedder

| res_capacity_total = {{Convert|2937930|ML|abbr=on}}

| res_capacity_active =

| res_capacity_inactive=

| res_catchment = {{convert|734|km2|abbr=on}}

| res_surface = {{Convert|242|km2|mi2|0|abbr=on}}

| res_max_length =

| res_max_width =

| res_max_depth = {{Convert|43|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| res_elevation =

| res_tidal_range =

| plant_name =

| plant_coordinates =

| plant_operator =

| plant_commission =

| plant_decommission =

| plant_type =

| plant_hydraulic_head =

| plant_turbines =

| plant_capacity =

| plant_capacity_factor=

| plant_annual_gen =

| website = {{URL|hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/gordon-pedder}}

| extra =

}}

The Scotts Peak Dam is a rockfill embankment dam without a spillway across the Huon River, located in the South West region of Tasmania, Australia.

The impounded reservoir, also formed with the Edgar Dam and the Serpentine Dam, is called Lake Pedder which flooded Lake Edgar, a naturally forming fault scarp pond. The dam was constructed in 1973 by the Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS) as part of the Gordon River Power Development Scheme for the purpose of generating hydro-electric power via the conventional Gordon Power Station. Water from Lake Pedder is diverted to Lake Gordon (formed by the Gordon Dam) via the McPartlan Pass Canal.{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/gordon-pedder |title=Gordon - Pedder |work=Energy: Our power stations |publisher=Hydro Tasmania |access-date=21 June 2015 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/shado/Learned%20Groups/Interest%20Groups/Engineering%20Heritage/Register/Scotts%20Peak%20Dam%20-%20Nomination%20-%20April%202000.pdf |title=Scotts Peak Dam, Tasmania |work=Submission for an Historic Engineering Marker |publisher=Engineers Australia |date=April 2000 |access-date=1 July 2015 |archive-date=2 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702210245/https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/shado/Learned%20Groups/Interest%20Groups/Engineering%20Heritage/Register/Scotts%20Peak%20Dam%20-%20Nomination%20-%20April%202000.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite book |author=Reid, Vern |year=1976 |chapter=Sealing Scott's Peak Dam |type=B&W photo |page=249 |title=Tasmanian Year Book |number=10 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |location=Tasmania |issn=0082-2116 }}

Location and features

The Scotts Peak Dam, together with the Edgar Dam and the Serpentine Dam, are three major dams that form the headwaters for the Gordon River Power Development Scheme. The dam is located near Lake Pedder's most easterly point{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/node/858/edgar-dam-camp-ground |title=Edgar Dam camp ground |work=Community |publisher=Hydro Tasmania |date=2015 |access-date=29 June 2015 |archive-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701191340/http://www.hydro.com.au/node/858/edgar-dam-camp-ground |url-status=dead }} in the upper reaches of the Huon River where the river descends from the Marsden Range and descends into what is now known as the Huon Basin. Also at the southern end of the Lake Pedder, the Scotts Peak Dam impounds the upper reaches of the Huon River. At the northwestern end of the lake is impounded by the Serpentine Dam across the Serpentine River. The water in Lake Pedder provides around 40% of the water used in the Gordon Power Station. The water flows to Lake Gordon via McPartlan Canal. Water from Lake Gordon then exits through the Gordon Dam.

Built on a foundation of rock and soil, the Scotts Peak Dam wall was constructed with {{convert|584|e3m3}} of rockfill and faced with asphalt. The dam wall is {{convert|43|m}} high and {{convert|1067|m}} long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back {{convert|2937930|ML}} of water. The surface area of Lake Pedder is {{convert|241330|ha}} and the catchment area is {{convert|734|km2}}. The dam wall does not have a spillway.{{cite web |url=http://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dams-Australia-2010-v1.xls |format=Excel (requires download) |title=Register of Large Dams in Australia |publisher=Australian National Committee on Large Dams |year=2012 |access-date=28 June 2015 |work=Dams information |archive-date=4 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304001024/http://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dams-Australia-2010-v1.xls |url-status=dead }}

This non-hydroelectric dam helps retain water in the new impoundment, which then flows to Lake Gordon via the McPartlans Pass Canal at {{Coord|42|50|51|S|146|11|45|E|display=inline|name=McPartlans Pass Canal}}. In 2001 the dam was recorded as an Historic Engineering Marker along with twenty-four other dams by Engineers Australia.

Controversy

The construction of Scotts Peak Dam was controversial as it was built to flood Lake Pedder and extend the reservoir for the Gordon Dam. A small greens movement was formed it response, which mobilised in the 1980s to stop the proposed Franklin River Dam.{{Citation| last = Stephen | first = Sarah | title = 10th anniversary of the Franklin blockade | magazine = Green Left Weekly | issue= 80 | location = Sydney | date = 18 November 1992 | url= http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/2601 | access-date = 2011-08-09}}

Problems

In the 2008 edition of Ticklebelly Tales engineers associated with the dam acknowledge that there were issues leaks as soon as it was built.{{Citation | author1=Felton, Heather | author2=Hydro Tasmania | title=Ticklebelly tales and other stories from the people of the Hydro | year=2008 | publication-date=2008 | publisher=Hydro Tasmania | isbn=978-0-646-47724-4 }} page 458 - John Wilkins and Bruce Cole mentioned in relation to design and problem solving in the early 1970s, as well as the 1974 identified large hole in the bitumen wall{{Citation | author1=Cole, BA | title=Wave Wall Design for Scotts Peak Dam | journal=Annual Engineering Conference 1976: Engineering 1976-2001 | year=1976 | publication-date=1976 | publisher=Institution of Engineers, Australia | pages=126–133 | isbn=978-0-85825-058-1 }}{{Citation | author1=Roberts, GT | author2=Cole, BA | author3=Barnett, RHW | title=Engineering Geology of Scotts Peak Dam and Adjacent Reservoir Watertightness | journal=Annual Engineering Conference 1975: Papers | publication-date=1975 | publisher=Institution of Engineers, Australia | pages=152–159 | isbn=978-0-85828-045-8 }}

Evidence of deformation is still current in the 2010s.

Climate

Due to its far south-western location, this site is frequently lashed by severe weather; with a mean annual wind speed of {{convert|27.1|km/h}}, peaking at a mean of {{convert|32.9|km/h}} in September. Cloud cover is likewise extreme, with precipitation falling on 269 days of the year and as much as 27 days in July. Snow is a common occurrence throughout the year and can even occur in the summer.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|location = Scotts Peak Dam (1998–2023); 408 m AMSL; 43.04° S, 146.27° E

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

| Jan record high C = 38.6

| Feb record high C = 35.9

| Mar record high C = 37.5

| Apr record high C = 29.1

| May record high C = 22.0

| Jun record high C = 15.7

| Jul record high C = 17.1

| Aug record high C = 22.5

| Sep record high C = 25.2

| Oct record high C = 30.6

| Nov record high C = 34.8

| Dec record high C = 37.9

| Jan high C = 21.4

| Feb high C = 21.1

| Mar high C = 18.5

| Apr high C = 14.9

| May high C = 11.6

| Jun high C = 9.8

| Jul high C = 9.3

| Aug high C = 10.4

| Sep high C = 12.5

| Oct high C = 14.9

| Nov high C = 17.8

| Dec high C = 19.1

| year high C =

| Jan low C = 9.5

| Feb low C = 9.4

| Mar low C = 8.5

| Apr low C = 6.9

| May low C = 5.5

| Jun low C = 4.1

| Jul low C = 3.3

| Aug low C = 3.4

| Sep low C = 4.4

| Oct low C = 5.2

| Nov low C = 6.9

| Dec low C = 8.1

| year low C =

| Jan record low C = 2.6

| Feb record low C = 3.3

| Mar record low C = 1.3

| Apr record low C = −0.4

| May record low C = −1.1

| Jun record low C = −1.0

| Jul record low C = −2.3

| Aug record low C = −2.1

| Sep record low C = −1.6

| Oct record low C = −1.0

| Nov record low C = −0.5

| Dec record low C = 1.5

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 92.8

| Feb precipitation mm = 82.8

| Mar precipitation mm = 122.1

| Apr precipitation mm = 131.4

| May precipitation mm = 193.2

| Jun precipitation mm = 183.0

| Jul precipitation mm = 214.2

| Aug precipitation mm = 227.0

| Sep precipitation mm = 205.6

| Oct precipitation mm = 161.9

| Nov precipitation mm = 114.4

| Dec precipitation mm = 141.5

| year precipitation mm = 1869.9

| unit precipitation days= 0.2 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 17.3

| Feb precipitation days = 16.0

| Mar precipitation days = 19.5

| Apr precipitation days = 21.9

| May precipitation days = 26.0

| Jun precipitation days = 25.9

| Jul precipitation days = 27.2

| Aug precipitation days = 26.5

| Sep precipitation days = 25.2

| Oct precipitation days = 23.9

| Nov precipitation days = 19.8

| Dec precipitation days = 20.0

| year precipitation days = 269.2

|Jan afthumidity = 58

|Feb afthumidity = 59

|Mar afthumidity = 66

|Apr afthumidity = 74

|May afthumidity = 82

|Jun afthumidity = 86

|Jul afthumidity = 85

|Aug afthumidity = 81

|Sep afthumidity = 76

|Oct afthumidity = 69

|Nov afthumidity = 62

|Dec afthumidity = 63

|year afthumidity =

|source={{Cite web | title=Climate statistics for Australian locations | url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_097083_All.shtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709005112/http://www.bom.gov.au:80/climate/averages/tables/cw_097083_All.shtml | access-date=2025-01-11 | archive-date=2011-07-09}}

}}

See also

{{stack|{{Portal|Australia|Water|Energy|Environment}}}}

References