Shoalhaven Scheme
The Shoalhaven system is a system of three reservoirs and two hydroelectric power plants in the eastern part of the Australian state of New South Wales. It serves both the collection of drinking water for the Sydney metropolitan area as well as the production of electrical energy from hydropower. It was created as a joint project of the Electricity Commission of New South Wales and the New South Wales Metropolitan Water, Sewerage Drainage Board to. The operation of the plant was handed over after completion the responsibility of Eraring Energy and the Sydney Catchment Authority.
Water supply
The water in the system is collected in three reservoirs. The Lake Yarrunga, the Fitzroy reservoir and the Wingecarribee Reservoir.
Lake Yarrunga
Main article: Lake Yarrunga With 75 million cubic meters of storage space Yarrunga Lake is the largest reservoir in the system. He was born in 1976 in the valleys of the Shoalhaven River and Kangaroo River by building the ' Tallowa Dam ''. Upon reaching the target storage level is to be 176 m.
Fitzroy Falls Reservoir
Main article: Fitzroy Falls Reservoir The Fitzroy Falls Reservoir with 9.95 m³ storage space was completed in 1974. It is fed by the ' Yarrunga Creek '' and is connected by pipes, ducts and tunnels with both the Wingecarribee reservoir, as well as with the Lake Yarrunga. Upon reaching the target storage level is to be 668 m.
Wingecarribee reservoir
Main article: Wingecarribee reservoir The 24.13 million m³ large Wingecarribee reservoir was also completed in 1974 and is powered by the Wingecarribee Swamp, at the margin it is. Below its dam the Wingecarribee River forms. Upon reaching the storage destination of the mirror of the Wingecarribee reservoir is also at 668 m.
Generation of Electrical Energy
The Shoalhaven system has two pumped-storage power plants in Kangaroo Valley ( above the Lake Yarrunga on Kangaroo River) and Bendeela ( on the north shore of Lake Yarrunga ). About the Bendeela Pondage latter pumped water from the Lake Yarrunga in the Fitzroy Falls Reservoir. From there the water can be directed back through the turbines in the Lake Yarrunga again. The system brings it to a maximum power of 240 MW.
Effects on the environment
The Shoalhaven River and its major tributary, the Kangaroo River, were once known as a good fishing waters for Australian bass. Unfortunately, the Tallowa Dam nearly insurmountable barrier for migrating fish is denied and so the perch access to more than 80 % of its former habitat. Also the onset of breeding perch into Lake Yarrunga brought little improvement in the situation. A fish ladder at the Tallowa Dam has been discussed for 20 years, but not executed until today. Since August 2009, does a fish lift at the dam. The Lake Yarrunga also suffered from the forbidden establishment of very harmful, exotic carp now exist in large numbers in the lake.
Gallery Images
Fitzroy Falls Reservoir
Wingecarribee reservoir
Swell
- P. C. Gehrke, D. M. Gilligan & M. Barwick: Changes in fish communities of the Shoalhaven River 20 years after construction of Tallowa Dam, Australia. River Research and Applications. Volume 18 ( 2002). Pp. 265-286.
- Shoalhaven system. Sydney Catchment Authority
- Shoalhaven Pumping Stations. Eraring Energy
- James Woodford: What's scaly and goes up and down? A fish in an elevator. Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney (24 August 2009)