Storm King Dam

Storm King Dam was created from Quart Pot Creek which is the only inflow ({{Coord|-28.7425|151.9923|type:waterbody_region:AU-QLD|name=Storm King Dam (inflow)}}) and outflow of the dam ({{Coord|-28.7091|151.9931|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Storm King Dam (wall and outflow)}}).{{Queensland Globe|access-date=27 January 2022}}

The dam takes its name from the Storm King Mining Company which was established by John Yaldwyn and James Ross, who built an earlier dam for mining purposes. The company, in turn, took its name from the sailing ship Storm King, on which they migrated to Australia, arriving 9 February 1872.

The present dam was first proposed in 1928 but was not built until 1954 by the Stanthorpe Shire Council.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21324817 |title=COUNCIL MEETINGS. |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |date=14 September 1928 |accessdate=14 June 2015 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}} It had filled by February 1954.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50577485 |title=Dam is full. |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=23 February 1954 |accessdate=14 June 2015 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}} Following local government area amalgamations in 2008, the dam is currently operated by the Southern Downs Regional Council. It supplies water both to residents of Stanthorpe and to irrigators.

In the 1980s, the Memorial School of Arts was relocated from Amiens to the dam to expand the recreation centre in the youth camp.{{Cite web|title=Social|url=https://www.amiensqldhistory.com/copy-of-the-administration-centre-1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125082935/https://www.amiensqldhistory.com/copy-of-the-administration-centre-1|archive-date=25 January 2022|access-date=2022-01-25|website=Amiens History Association|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Amiens Memorial Hall, ca. 1955|url=http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=slq_alma21218635660002061&vid=SLQ&search_scope=SLQ_PCI_EBSCO&tab=all&lang=en_US&context=L|access-date=2022-01-26|website=State Library of Queensland|archive-date=26 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126231439/http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=slq_alma21218635660002061&vid=SLQ&search_scope=SLQ_PCI_EBSCO&tab=all&lang=en_US&context=L|url-status=live}} It opened in Amiens in 1926.{{cite news|date=7 July 1926|title=AMIENS.|page=20|newspaper=The Brisbane Courier|issue=21,356|location=Queensland, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21036014|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=27 January 2022|archive-date=26 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126231422/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/21036014|url-status=live}}

During drought periods, the dam has proved inadequate to meet the needs of the community it serves. In 2007, Storm King Dam was carrying as little as two months supply. In August 2019, the dam was almost dry and plans were being made to bring drinking water to the community by truck.{{Cite web|last=Bradfield|first=Elly|date=5 August 2019|title=Day zero approaches for Stanthorpe as locals face prospect of levy to cover cost of trucked-in water|url=https://weatherzone.com.au/news/day-zero-approaches-for-stanthorpe-as-locals-face-prospect-of-levy-to-cover-cost-of-trucked-in-water/530027|access-date=2022-01-26|website=weatherzone.com.au|language=en|archive-date=5 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805023728/https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/day-zero-approaches-for-stanthorpe-as-locals-face-prospect-of-levy-to-cover-cost-of-trucked-in-water/530027|url-status=live}} The shire council delivered water by truck from approximately January 2020 to March 2021. Following heavy rain on the eastern seaboard in mid-late March 2021, the dam filled and started to spill.{{Cite news|last=Bradfield|first=Elly|last2=Robinson|first2=Lucy|last3=Daly|first3=Jon|date=2021-03-25|title='Good for the soul': This town trucked in water for 15 months — now the dam is overflowing|language=en-AU|work=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-25/locals-rejoice-full-dam-at-stanthorpe-and-beg-tourists-to-return/13272038|access-date=2022-01-27|archive-date=25 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325003534/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-25/locals-rejoice-full-dam-at-stanthorpe-and-beg-tourists-to-return/13272038|url-status=live}}

Storm King Dam is available for recreational use, including fishing, water sports, bird watching and picnics. Fish in the dam include Murray cod, yellowbelly and silver perch. The lake attracts many water birds including pelicans. Barbeques and other picnic facilities are available. Boating is permitted on the lake.{{cite web|title=Storm King Dam|url=http://www.queensland.com/attraction/Storm-King-Dam|publisher=Queensland Government|accessdate=14 June 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083724/http://www.queensland.com/attraction/Storm-King-Dam|url-status=live}}

There is a boat ramp and jetty off Eukey Road ({{coord|-28.7154|151.9923|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Storm King Dam boat ramp}}). It is managed by the Southern Downs Regional Council.{{Cite web|date=12 November 2020|title=Recreational Boating Facilities Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/recreational-boating-facilities-queensland/resource/60ce6cc3-af0c-4806-bc8c-ab0ee981819c|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122210008/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/recreational-boating-facilities-queensland/resource/60ce6cc3-af0c-4806-bc8c-ab0ee981819c|archive-date=22 November 2020|access-date=22 November 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=Queensland Government}}

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{{commons category-inline|Storm King Dam}}

Category:Southern Downs Region

Category:Dams in Queensland