Baroon Pocket Dam
Encyclopedia
Lake Baroon is formed by Baroon Pocket Dam, a dam
constructed in 1988 on Obi Obi Creek, in South East Queensland
. The two smaller creeks, Bridge Creek and Forbes Creek also provide inflows to the dam. The reservoir
has a surface area of 400 ha, an average depth of 15 metres and holds some 60 000 ML of water. It is situated 7 km (4.3 mi) NE of Maleny
and 5 km (3.1 mi) SW of Montville
.
Just below the dam is Obi Obi Gorge, one of the few remaining places left where the Mary River cod
maintains a wild population. After its initial filling, the dam reached its lowest level between December 2002 and February 2003 at 50 % capacity.
. Water is then distributed by AquaGen
for a range of purposes.
with bass
, Mary River cod, golden perch
and silver perch
, while eel-tailed catfish
and spangled perch are naturally present. A Council permit is required to fish in the dam.
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
constructed in 1988 on Obi Obi Creek, in South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
. The two smaller creeks, Bridge Creek and Forbes Creek also provide inflows to the dam. The reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
has a surface area of 400 ha, an average depth of 15 metres and holds some 60 000 ML of water. It is situated 7 km (4.3 mi) NE of Maleny
Maleny, Queensland
Maleny is a small, scenic town north of Brisbane on the Blackall Range overlooking the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Queensland, Australia. Nearby towns include Landsborough, Montville and Peachester...
and 5 km (3.1 mi) SW of Montville
Montville, Queensland
Montville is a small town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, on the Blackall Range in Queensland, Australia, around 400 metres above sea level. At the 2006 census, Montville and the surrounding area had a population of 853.-Early settlement:...
.
Just below the dam is Obi Obi Gorge, one of the few remaining places left where the Mary River cod
Mary River cod
Mary River cod are a Maccullochella cod found in the coastal Mary River system of southern Queensland, Australia...
maintains a wild population. After its initial filling, the dam reached its lowest level between December 2002 and February 2003 at 50 % capacity.
Water supply
Baroon Pocket Dam's primary use is for town water supply for Maroochy and Caloundra. An intake tower allows water to flow from the dam through a 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide, 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long tunnel under the Blackall RangeBlackall Range
The Blackall Range is a mountain range in South East Queensland, Australia. The first European explorer in the area was Ludwig Leichhardt. It was named after Samuel Blackall, the second Governor of Queensland....
. Water is then distributed by AquaGen
Aquagen
Aquagen is a German dance music group, consisting of Gino Montesano and Olaf Dieckmann. They initially achieved success with their single "Ihr Seid So Leise" , which sold more than 250,000 copies in Germany.-Singles:...
for a range of purposes.
Facilities
The dam is managed by Seqwater. There is a single boat ramp, but no camping facilities for visitors to the lake. There are picnic areas by the lakeside while viewing platforms and a rainforest walking track through Obi Obi Gorge, are located near the spillway.Fishing
Baroon Pocket Dam is stockedFish stocking
Fish stocking is the practice of raising fish in a hatchery and releasing them into a river, lake, or the ocean to supplement existing populations, or to create a population where none exists...
with bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
, Mary River cod, golden perch
Golden perch
The golden perch, Macquaria ambigua, is an Australian native freshwater fish, primarily of the Murray-Darling river system. It is not a true perch of the genus Perca....
and silver perch
Silver Perch
Silver perch is a medium sized freshwater fish endemic to the Murray-Darling river system in south-eastern Australia. The scientific name comes from an aboriginal name for the species recorded by Major Mitchell on his 1832 expedition. It is not a perch, being a grunter in the family Terapontidae...
, while eel-tailed catfish
Eel-tailed Catfish
The eel-tailed catfish, Tandanus tandanus, is a species of catfish of the family Plotosidae. This fish is also known as dewfish, freshwater catfish, jewfish, and tandan.-Distribution:...
and spangled perch are naturally present. A Council permit is required to fish in the dam.