Lake Julius (Julius Dam)
Lake Julius (Julius Dam)
Location	70 km (43 mi) North East of Mount Isa, Queensland
Coordinates	20°07′53″S 139°43′23″E / 20.1315°S 139.723°E / -20.1315; 139.723
Lake type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Leichhardt River, Paroo Creek
Primary outflows	Leichhardt River
Catchment area	4,845 km2 (1,871 sq mi)
Basin countries	Australia
Surface area	1,255 ha (3,100 acres)
Average depth	8.9 m (29 ft)
Max. depth	25.2 m (83 ft)
Water volume	107,500 ML (3,800×10^6 cu ft)[1]
Surface elevation	223.54 m (733.4 ft)
References	[1]

Lake Julius was formed following the construction of Julius Dam in 1976 for irrigation and town water storage. The dam wall is located just below the junction of the Leichhardt River and Paroo Creek some 70 kilometres (43 mi) North East of Mount Isa. With a catchment area of 4,845 square kilometres it has a full supply capacity of 107,500 megalitres (3,800×10^⁶ cu ft), a surface area of 1,255 hectares (3,100 acres) with an average depth of 8.9 metres (29 ft).

The dam is unique in Queensland and is a concrete multiple arch and buttress type structure, with the spillway discharging over the tops of the arches. The spillway crest is 18.3 metres (60 ft) above bed level. The arch barrels, founded on a triangular arch base, are constructed in independent arch rings and are hinged at buttress springing lines. The spillway is a precast superstructure and the dissipation slab at ground level is post tensioned to the foundation rock.

The dam has a total storage capacity of 107,500 megalitres (3,800×10^⁶ cu ft), and has a full supply level of 223.54m AHD.

After recording its lowest level of 0% in September 2002, the dam filled to a maximum of 169.73% of capacity on January 15, 2004, after record breaking rainfall upstream at Mt Isa.^[2]

SunWater is undertaking a dam spillway capacity upgrade program.^[3]

See also

• List of dams and reservoirs in Australia

References