Lake Somerset
Encyclopedia
Lake Somerset is an artificial lake
created by the Somerset Dam on the Stanley River
in South East Queensland
. The dam was completed in 1953 providing flood mitigation and water storage for the cities of Brisbane
and Ipswich
and is the site of a small 4 MW hydroelectric power station.
At full capacity the lake holds 904,000 megalitres. Under normal conditions 380,000 megalitres is reserved for water supply
, but the dam can hold another 524,000 megalitres to temporarily store flood waters. The mass concrete gravity type dam wall is 305 metres long and contains 203,000 cubic metres of concrete.
The dam is managed by SEQ Water
. A level of 90% is the optimum capacity for keeping evaporation
rates to a minimum. Dam operators discharge water into the Wivenhoe Dam
downstream to hold Somerset at this level when inflows are occurring.
s caused severe damage to Brisbane River valley residents downstream. A commission of enquiry recommended Stanley Gorge as the site for a dam in 1928, but it was not until 1933 that the Forgan Smith
Labor
Government
adopted the reservoir's construction as a major job creation project to counter job losses caused by the Great Depression
.
Construction began in 1935. Worker's cottages had to be built and other facilities were constructed to attract 1,000 construction workers and their families to the area. By 1942 the dam was almost complete when workers were diverted to the war
effort. Work on the dam recommenced in 1948. Opened in 1953 when structural work was finished, it was not until 1958 that the dam was officially named after Henry Somerset and the next year before all work related to the dam, including the hydroelectric
power station
was complete.
. During busy periods the two camping locations can be filled to capacity with room for a maximum of 2,200 campers at Kirkleigh and 800 at Somerset Park. The dam contains 30 km of navigable waterway and a permit is required to use watercraft on the lake.
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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,...
created by the Somerset Dam on the Stanley River
Stanley River
Stanley River could be any of the following:* Stanley River — a river in the Canterbury region of New Zealand.* Stanley River — a river in Queensland, Australia, main tributary of the Brisbane River...
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 dam was completed in 1953 providing flood mitigation and water storage for the cities of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
and is the site of a small 4 MW hydroelectric power station.
At full capacity the lake holds 904,000 megalitres. Under normal conditions 380,000 megalitres is reserved for water supply
Water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
, but the dam can hold another 524,000 megalitres to temporarily store flood waters. The mass concrete gravity type dam wall is 305 metres long and contains 203,000 cubic metres of concrete.
The dam is managed by SEQ Water
SEQ Water
Seqwater provides bulk water storage and treatment services to the SEQ Water Grid. In addition, Seqwater also supplies water to smaller communities in the region not connected to the Grid....
. A level of 90% is the optimum capacity for keeping evaporation
Evaporation
Evaporation is a type of vaporization of a liquid that occurs only on the surface of a liquid. The other type of vaporization is boiling, which, instead, occurs on the entire mass of the liquid....
rates to a minimum. Dam operators discharge water into the Wivenhoe Dam
Wivenhoe Dam
Wivenhoe Dam is a dam across the Brisbane River a little way upstream from Locker Creek. The dam creates the artificial Lake Wivenhoe. The dam wall is located about by road from the centre of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
downstream to hold Somerset at this level when inflows are occurring.
Construction
The site was first suggested for the location of a dam by Henry Somerset, the owner of Caboonbah Homestead, after the 1893 Brisbane flood1893 Brisbane flood
The 1893 Brisbane flood, occasionally referred to as the Great Flood of 1893 or the Black February flood, occurred when the Brisbane River burst its banks on three occasions in February 1893. It is the occurrence of three major floods in the same month that saw the period named "Black February"....
s caused severe damage to Brisbane River valley residents downstream. A commission of enquiry recommended Stanley Gorge as the site for a dam in 1928, but it was not until 1933 that the Forgan Smith
William Forgan Smith
William Forgan Smith , generally known as Forgan Smith, was Premier of the Australian state of Queensland from 1932 to 1942. He came to dominate politics in the state during the 1930s, and his populism, firm leadership, defence of states' rights and interest in state development make him something...
Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Government
Government of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
adopted the reservoir's construction as a major job creation project to counter job losses caused by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
Construction began in 1935. Worker's cottages had to be built and other facilities were constructed to attract 1,000 construction workers and their families to the area. By 1942 the dam was almost complete when workers were diverted to the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
effort. Work on the dam recommenced in 1948. Opened in 1953 when structural work was finished, it was not until 1958 that the dam was officially named after Henry Somerset and the next year before all work related to the dam, including the hydroelectric
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...
power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
was complete.
Facilities
There are two public access areas on Somerset Dam, Kirkleigh and The Spit. Both locations have multi-lane, concrete boat ramps with facilities for day-trippers. Camping is permitted and caravans are catered for at Kirkleigh and below the dam wall at Somerset Park in the small town of SomersetSomerset, Queensland
Somerset is a historical ruin of Somerset homestead, a station established by John Jardine in 1863 and is 35 km north of Bamaga on Cape York in Queensland, Australia. It is a good camping area and day trip with facilities for barbecues....
. During busy periods the two camping locations can be filled to capacity with room for a maximum of 2,200 campers at Kirkleigh and 800 at Somerset Park. The dam contains 30 km of navigable waterway and a permit is required to use watercraft on the lake.