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Rocklands Reservoir

Coordinates: 37°14′04.34″S 141°57′35.70″E / 37.2345389°S 141.9599167°E / -37.2345389; 141.9599167
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Rocklands Dam
Rocklands Reservoir is located in Victoria
Rocklands Reservoir
Location of Rocklands Reservoir in
Victoria
CountryAustralia
LocationWimmera, Victoria
Coordinates37°14′04.34″S 141°57′35.70″E / 37.2345389°S 141.9599167°E / -37.2345389; 141.9599167
StatusOperational
Construction began1938
Opening date1953
Owner(s)GWM Water
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity dam
ImpoundsGlenelg River
Length270 m (890 ft)
Dam volume69,000 m3 (2.4 million cu ft)
Spillways1
Spillway typeUncontrolled
Spillway capacity763 m3/s (26,900 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesRocklands Reservoir
Total capacity348,300 ML (76.6 billion imp gal; 92.0 billion US gal)
Active capacity261,510 ML (57.52 billion imp gal; 69.08 billion US gal)
Catchment area1,355 km2 (523 sq mi)
Surface area67.50 km2 (26.06 sq mi)
Maximum water depth17 m (56 ft)
Normal elevation195.5 m (641 ft) AHD
Website
Rocklands Reservoir at www.gwmwater.org.au

The Rocklands Reservoir, a water reservoir, is created by a major ungated concrete-walled gravity dam with embankment sections across the Glenelg River in the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia. It is the largest reservoir within the Grampians–Wimmera–Mallee Water (GWMWater) supply system. Originally constructed to supply the Wimmera-Mallee Domestic and Stock channel system, water held by Rocklands Reservoir is now used for many different purposes. A unique feature of Rocklands Reservoir is that all entitlement holders, including the environment, are able to be supplied with water from the reservoir.

Rocklands Dam

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Construction of the dam began in 1938. World War II caused construction to cease, and it was recommenced in 1950, with the dam being completed in 1953. Its catchment area is 1,355 square kilometres (523 sq mi).

A 270-metre-long (890 ft) cement gravity dam forms the main wall, and is flanked by two embankment sections. At 100% operating capacity, the dam wall holds back 261,510 ML (9.235 billion cu ft) of water. The reservoir is capable of holding up to 348,300 ML (12.30 billion cu ft) of water. At 100% capacity, the surface area of the reservoir is 67.5 square kilometres (26.1 sq mi). The spillway is capable of discharging 763 cubic metres per second (26,900 cu ft/s).[1][2]

Recreation

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Rocklands Reservoir is a popular recreational boating location, with powerboating, water skiing and jet skiing allowed. Camping is permitted in designated areas. During the duck hunting season, duck shooting is allowed. It is also a popular fishing spot, with Murray cod, redfin, trout and carp taken at all times of the year. Rocklands had a reputation as one of the premier carp fishing destinations in the late 1990s and early 2000s with ten-plus-kilogram carp taken regularly.

Climate

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Climate data for Woohlpooer, elevation 250 m (820 ft)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 43.6
(110.5)
40.3
(104.5)
38.0
(100.4)
32.8
(91.0)
25.0
(77.0)
18.3
(64.9)
20.5
(68.9)
21.4
(70.5)
26.7
(80.1)
31.1
(88.0)
36.1
(97.0)
39.2
(102.6)
43.6
(110.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27.6
(81.7)
26.9
(80.4)
24.5
(76.1)
19.7
(67.5)
15.2
(59.4)
12.6
(54.7)
11.9
(53.4)
13.1
(55.6)
15.5
(59.9)
18.1
(64.6)
20.4
(68.7)
24.2
(75.6)
19.1
(66.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 11.0
(51.8)
11.9
(53.4)
10.2
(50.4)
7.4
(45.3)
5.7
(42.3)
3.2
(37.8)
3.3
(37.9)
3.6
(38.5)
4.7
(40.5)
6.2
(43.2)
7.6
(45.7)
9.3
(48.7)
7.0
(44.6)
Record low °C (°F) 3.3
(37.9)
4.4
(39.9)
1.3
(34.3)
−0.6
(30.9)
−2.8
(27.0)
−4.4
(24.1)
−4.0
(24.8)
−3.1
(26.4)
−1.7
(28.9)
−1.7
(28.9)
0.6
(33.1)
3.0
(37.4)
−4.4
(24.1)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 34.8
(1.37)
39.4
(1.55)
35.1
(1.38)
57.6
(2.27)
78.5
(3.09)
63.7
(2.51)
81.4
(3.20)
86.3
(3.40)
74.0
(2.91)
66.0
(2.60)
54.3
(2.14)
43.2
(1.70)
713.0
(28.07)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) 3.8 3.9 4.7 6.9 10.6 9.6 12.9 13.4 11.3 9.1 8.0 6.4 100.6
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Rocklands Reservoir". GWM Water. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  2. ^ "Register of Large Dams in Australia". Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Archived from the original (Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Climate statistics for Australian locations- WOOHLPOOER". 8 July 2024.