Lake Hume
Encyclopedia
Lake Hume is an artificial lake
in Australia
formed by the Hume Weir east of Albury-Wodonga
on the Murray River
just downstream of its junction with the Mitta River. The small towns of Tallangatta
, Bonegilla
and Bellbridge
are located on the shores of Lake Hume. It is often referred to as the Hume Weir, only named Lake Hume in the mid 1980s.
As it is the furthest downstream of the major reservoirs on the Murray River
system, and has the capacity to release water at the fastest rate, Lake Hume is used by the irrigation authorities as the storage of first resort. The reservoir typically falls to less than one-third capacity by March each year, but in normal years refills to at least two-thirds capacity before November, though Australia's highly unpredictable climatic conditions cause these figures to vary quite significantly from year to year. In 2007 Lake Hume fell to a scant 1% capacity, barely more than the water in the two rivers (Murray and Mitta) flowing through on their original paths. As of November 2010, however, Lake Hume is now at full capacity.
Monitoring of the dam in the early 1990s revealed that the water pressure and leakage had caused the dam to move on its foundations slightly, leading to concerns that the dam was heading for collapse, threatening Albury-Wodonga and the entire Murray basin with it. Authorities denied any short-term threat. Traffic was banned from the spillway, and a large repair job commenced involving, in part, the construction of a secondary earth wall behind the original to take the strain.
The dam wall is constructed of rock covered with clay
and other earth, with a concrete spillway
. Designed to carry vehicular traffic, the dam wall is 51 metres high and 1,616 metres long, and at 100% capacity can hold 3,036,500 megalitres of water. Water is retained nearly 40 kilometres up both river valley
s. Lake Hume holds approximately 5 times the volume of Sydney Harbour.
The Hume Power Station is a 58-megawatt hydro-electric power station
installed in the dam wall, and is primarily used for peak-load generation.
The lake is stocked with fish
. Most of these are introduced species - carp
, redfin
and trout
though native species such as Golden Perch
and Murray Cod
can also be found. The fishing varies from year to year. It is also popular for water skiing
, and several holiday resorts catering for fishing and skiers are dotted around the upper reaches of the lake.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
formed by the Hume Weir east of Albury-Wodonga
Albury-Wodonga
Albury-Wodonga is the broad settlement incorporating the twin Australian cities of Albury and Wodonga, which are separated geographically by the Murray River and politically by a state border: Albury on the north of the river is part of New South Wales while Wodonga on the south bank is in...
on the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
just downstream of its junction with the Mitta River. The small towns of Tallangatta
Tallangatta, Victoria
Tallangatta is a small town in north-eastern Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, Tallangatta had a population of 950.The town is situated on the banks of the Mitta Arm of Lake Hume, approximately south-east of Albury-Wodonga along the Murray Valley Highway.-History:Tallangatta was founded in...
, Bonegilla
Bonegilla, Victoria
Bonegilla is a bounded rural locality of the City of Wodonga Local Government Area in northeast Victoria, Australia, located 10 kilometres east of Wodonga, and around 300km north-east of Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Bonegilla and surrounding area had a population of 773.- History :Bonegilla Post...
and Bellbridge
Bellbridge, Victoria
Bellbridge is a small town in the state of Victoria. Overlooking the Lake Hume and located near the Bethanga Bridge, Bellbridge is a popular destination for local tourists, especially from the nearby towns of Albury and Wodonga who often come to the Weir to water ski...
are located on the shores of Lake Hume. It is often referred to as the Hume Weir, only named Lake Hume in the mid 1980s.
History
Constructed over a 17-year period from 28 November 1919 to 1936 with a workforce of thousands, a branch siding from the Wodonga - Cudgewa railway was built to supply materials. It was extended during the 1950s, and completed in 1961, necessitating the wholesale removal of Tallangatta township and its re-establishment at a new site eight kilometres west of the original, as well as railway and road diversions.As it is the furthest downstream of the major reservoirs on the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
system, and has the capacity to release water at the fastest rate, Lake Hume is used by the irrigation authorities as the storage of first resort. The reservoir typically falls to less than one-third capacity by March each year, but in normal years refills to at least two-thirds capacity before November, though Australia's highly unpredictable climatic conditions cause these figures to vary quite significantly from year to year. In 2007 Lake Hume fell to a scant 1% capacity, barely more than the water in the two rivers (Murray and Mitta) flowing through on their original paths. As of November 2010, however, Lake Hume is now at full capacity.
Monitoring of the dam in the early 1990s revealed that the water pressure and leakage had caused the dam to move on its foundations slightly, leading to concerns that the dam was heading for collapse, threatening Albury-Wodonga and the entire Murray basin with it. Authorities denied any short-term threat. Traffic was banned from the spillway, and a large repair job commenced involving, in part, the construction of a secondary earth wall behind the original to take the strain.
Facilities
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
and other earth, with a concrete spillway
Spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
. Designed to carry vehicular traffic, the dam wall is 51 metres high and 1,616 metres long, and at 100% capacity can hold 3,036,500 megalitres of water. Water is retained nearly 40 kilometres up both river valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
s. Lake Hume holds approximately 5 times the volume of Sydney Harbour.
The Hume Power Station is a 58-megawatt hydro-electric power station
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
installed in the dam wall, and is primarily used for peak-load generation.
The lake is stocked with fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
. Most of these are introduced species - carp
Common carp
The Common carp is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia. The wild populations are considered vulnerable to extinction, but the species has also been domesticated and introduced into environments worldwide, and is often considered an invasive...
, redfin
European perch
The European perch, Perca fluviatilis, is a predatory species of perch found in Europe and Asia. In some areas it is known as the redfin perch or English perch, and it is often known simply as perch. The species is a popular quarry for anglers and has been widely introduced beyond its native area,...
and trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
though native species such as 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 Murray Cod
Murray Cod
The Murray cod is a large Australian predatory freshwater fish of the Maccullochella genus and the Percichthyidae family. Although the species is a called cod in the vernacular, it is not related to the northern hemisphere marine cod species...
can also be found. The fishing varies from year to year. It is also popular for water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
, and several holiday resorts catering for fishing and skiers are dotted around the upper reaches of the lake.