Ewen Maddock Dam

The Ewen Maddock Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam with an un-gated spillway across the Addlington Creek that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for potable water supply of the Sunshine Coast region.[2][3]

Ewen Maddock Dam
Location of the Ewen Maddock Dam in Queensland
Country	Australia
Location	South East Queensland
Coordinates	26°40′51″S 153°0′22″E
Purpose	Potable water supply
Status	Operational
Construction began	1973
Opening date	1976; upgrade 1982
Operator(s)	SEQ Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment dam
Impounds	Addlington Creek
Height	11.4 m (37 ft)
Length	660–728 m (2,165–2,388 ft)[1][2]
Dam volume	352×10^3 m^3 (12.4×10^6 cu ft)
Spillway type	Uncontrolled
Spillway capacity	132 m^3/s (4,700 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity	16,590 ML (3.65×10^9 imp gal; 4.38×10^9 US gal)[1]
Catchment area	21 km^2 (8.1 sq mi)
Surface area	450 ha (1,100 acres)
Maximum length	3.1 m (10 ft)
Maximum width	2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Maximum water depth	4.5 m (15 ft)
Website www.seqwater.com.au

Location and features

The Ewen Maddock Dam is situated approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southeast of Mooloolah and 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Landsborough to supply the fast-growing region with town water. The dam is built across the Addlington Creek, a tributary of the Mooloolah River, and was commenced in 1973, completed in 1976, with a subsequent upgrade to the height of the spillway in 1982.[2]

The earthfill dam structure is 11.4 metres (37 ft) high and ranges from 660–728 metres (2,165–2,388 ft) in length to hold back 16,590-megalitre (3.65×10⁹ imp gal; 4.38×10⁹ US gal) reservoir when at full capacity. From a catchment area of 21 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi), the dam creates an unnamed reservoir with an average depth of 4.5 metres (15 ft). The surface area of the 3.1-kilometre (1.9 mi) long and 2.6-kilometre (1.6 mi) wide reservoir is 3.71 hectares (9.2 acres). The uncontrolled un-gated spillway has a discharge capacity of 132 cubic metres per second (4,700 cu ft/s).[1][2] The dam is managed by Seqwater.

Water supply

In the past, raw water from the dam has been supplied to a treatment plant at Caloundra.[4] Since 1988 Ewen Maddock Dam was not used as a water source due to a lack of working water treatment infrastructure. In 2007, work begun on an A$30 million water treatment plant that will allow the dam to supply drinking water to the South East Queensland Water Grid, via the Northern Pipeline inter-connector.[5] The Queensland Government incorporated a 100-metre (330 ft) timber boardwalk along the reservoir's edge into the revised master plan when open space at Ewen Maddock Park was resumed for the treatment plant's construction.[6]

Recreation

Swimming is permitted in the reservoir. Boating is limited to paddle power, due to the likelihood that powered boats would agitate the water and cause noxious weeds to break apart and spread.[3]

Access is limited to daylight hours and no camping is permitted, except at a group camping site with cabins and dormitories, called the Ewen Maddock Dam Recreation Centre which is located at the south eastern end of the lake.[3][7]

Fauna and Flora

Ewen Maddock Dam is stocked with bass, silver perch, golden perch and southern saratoga, while bony bream is also present naturally.[3] As Of September 1, 2016 the lake is on the "Stocked impoundments" register and requires a "SIPS" permit for fishing. The lake is weedy and shallow, except in the northern parts close to the dam wall.[3] The weed species, Cabomba and Salvinia, have been the target of weed eradication programs by CalAqua.[8] The dam is a good place to see jabirus. South-eastern banks of the lake are heavily forested and protected within the Beerwah State Forest.

See also

• List of dams in Queensland

References

1. "Ewen Maddock Dam". Water supply: Dams and weirs. Seqwater. 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
2. "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download)). Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
3. Harrison, Rod; James, Ernie; Sully, Chris; Classon, Bill; Eckermann, Joy (2008). Queensland Dams. Bayswater, Victoria: Australian Fishing Network. pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-1-86513-134-4.
4. "Water supply". Sunshine Coast Regional Council. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
5. "Details still sought on water piping plan". ABC News. Australia. 23 March 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
6. "Project goes swimmingly at Ewen Maddock Dam" (Press release). Sunshine Coast Regional Council. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
7. "Ewen Maddock Recreation Centre". Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
8. "Caloundra City launches attack on water weeds" (Press release). Sunshine Coast Regional Council. 9 October 2003. Retrieved 30 April 2008.

External links

• "Recreation Management Plan: Lake Baroon and Ewen Maddock Dam" (PDF) (PDF). SEQ Water. December 2013.
• "Recreation Guide: Ewen Maddock Dam" (PDF) (PDF). SEQ Water. 2014.