Tooma River
Encyclopedia
The Tooma River is a river in the Snowy Mountains
of New South Wales
, Australia
.
The Tooma River starts near Mount Jagungal
in the Snowy Mountains
and drains part of the western side of the range. It flows generally north, then west, before turning south and joining the Murray River
near the village of Tooma
.
The Tooma River has a total length of about 50 km, but a rather large seasonal flow as it drains part of the snowmelt from the Snowy Mountains
.
The Tooma Reservoir
, part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme
, captures water in the headwaters of the Tooma River, and diverts the water to the Tumut Pondage
on the Tumut River
, where the water can then be used to generate electricity in the sequence of hydro-electric power stations along the length of the Tumut River.
This diversion results in a transfer of water from the Murray River catchment (which includes the Tooma River), to the Murrumbidgee River
catchment (which includes the Tumut River). However, a compensating opposite transfer from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray basins is made using a different part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
Snowy Mountains
The Snowy Mountains, known informally as "The Snowies", are the highest Australian mountain range and contain the Australian mainland's highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, which reaches 2,228 metres AHD, approximately 7310 feet....
of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, 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...
.
The Tooma River starts near Mount Jagungal
Mount Jagungal
Mount Jagungal is a mountain within the Jagungal Wilderness Area of the Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales, Australia. At 2061 metres AHD, Mount Jagungal surpasses any elevation except for peaks in the Main Range and Gungartan . Because it stands alone in an extensive plain Mount Jagungal...
in the Snowy Mountains
Snowy Mountains
The Snowy Mountains, known informally as "The Snowies", are the highest Australian mountain range and contain the Australian mainland's highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, which reaches 2,228 metres AHD, approximately 7310 feet....
and drains part of the western side of the range. It flows generally north, then west, before turning south and joining 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...
near the village of Tooma
Tooma, New South Wales
Tooma is a village community in the eastern part of the Riverina and situated about 11 kilometres east from Welaregang and 34 kilometres south from Tumbarumba.Tooma is in the valley of the Tooma River, not far from where it joins the Murray River....
.
The Tooma River has a total length of about 50 km, but a rather large seasonal flow as it drains part of the snowmelt from the Snowy Mountains
Snowy Mountains
The Snowy Mountains, known informally as "The Snowies", are the highest Australian mountain range and contain the Australian mainland's highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, which reaches 2,228 metres AHD, approximately 7310 feet....
.
The Tooma Reservoir
Tooma Reservoir
Tooma Reservoir is a man made lake on the Tooma River, a tributary of the Murray River in New South Wales, Australia. The reservoir is located at and is part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme....
, part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme
Snowy Mountains Scheme
The Snowy Mountains scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in south-east Australia. It consists of sixteen major dams; seven power stations; a pumping station; and 225 kilometres of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts and was constructed between 1949 and 1974. The Chief engineer was Sir...
, captures water in the headwaters of the Tooma River, and diverts the water to the Tumut Pondage
Tumut Pondage
Tumut Pondage also referred to as Tumut Pond Reservoir or Tumut Pond Dam, is a concrete arch dam and reservoir on the upper reaches of the Tumut River near Cabramurra in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. The wall of the dam is 90 metres high measured from the floor of the valley. The top of...
on the Tumut River
Tumut River
The Tumut River is a river in New South Wales, Australia.The Tumut River rises on the northern face of Mount Jagungal in the Snowy Mountains of southern New South Wales. It flows about 145km before joining the Murrumbidgee River, at Darbalara near the town of Gundagai...
, where the water can then be used to generate electricity in the sequence of hydro-electric power stations along the length of the Tumut River.
This diversion results in a transfer of water from the Murray River catchment (which includes the Tooma River), to the Murrumbidgee River
Murrumbidgee River
The Murrumbidgee River is a major river in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory . A major tributary of the Murray River, the Murrumbidgee flows in a west-northwesterly direction from the foot of Peppercorn Hill in the Fiery Range of the Snowy Mountains,...
catchment (which includes the Tumut River). However, a compensating opposite transfer from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray basins is made using a different part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.