Island Bend Dam
Location of the Island Bend Dam in New South Wales
Country	Australia
Location	Snowy Mountains, New South Wales
Coordinates	36°19′10″S 148°28′13″E / 36.31944°S 148.47028°E / -36.31944; 148.47028
Status	Operational
Opening date	1965
Owner(s)	Snowy Hydro
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Gravity dam
Impounds	Snowy River
Height	49 metres (161 ft)
Length	146 metres (479 ft)
Dam volume	60,400 cubic metres (2,130,000 cu ft)
Spillways	1
Spillway type	Controlled
Spillway capacity	2,832 cubic metres per second (100,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates	Island Bend Pondage
Total capacity	3,084 megalitres (108.9×10^6 cu ft)
Catchment area	221 square kilometres (85 sq mi)
Surface area	327 hectares (810 acres)

Island Bend Dam is a major gated concrete gravity dam with a controlled spillway across the Snowy River in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose is for the diversion of water for generation of hydro-power and is one of the sixteen major dams that comprise the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 and now run by Snowy Hydro.

The impounded reservoir is called the Island Bend Pondage.

Location and features

Completed in 1965, Island Bend Dam is a major dam, located within the Snowy Monaro Regional Council, adjacent to the locality of Island Bend. The dam was constructed by Utah Construction and Engineering Pty Limited based on engineering plans developed under contract from the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority.^[1]

The dam wall comprising 60,400 cubic metres (2,130,000 cu ft) of concrete is 49 metres (161 ft) high and 146 metres (479 ft) long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 3,084 megalitres (108.9×10^⁶ cu ft) of water. The surface area of Island Bend Pondage is 327 hectares (810 acres) and the catchment area is 221 square kilometres (85 sq mi). The controlled spillway is capable of discharging 2,832 cubic metres per second (100,000 cu ft/s).^[1][2]

The dam receives water from Lake Jindabyne and Lake Eucumbene through the Snowy-Island Bend and Snowy-Eucumbene tunnels respectively. The combined water is then sent West through the Snowy-Geehi trans-mountain tunnel to Geehi Dam for generation in the Murray Power Stations. Water can flow the reverse direction, to Eucumbene and Jindabyne from Geehi for storage during periods of high river flow, or otherwise.^[3]

Climate