Fairbairn Dam

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Fairbairn Dam
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = 18km Southwest from Emerald, Queensland
coords = coord|23.6553|S|148.069|E|type:waterbody_region:AU|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = Nogoa River
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = Australia
length =
width =
area = 15,000 ha
depth =
max-depth = 31.7m
volume = 1,301,000 ML
reference = [http://www.sunwater.com.au/water_store.htm Sunwater Current Water Storage Information] ]
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = 204m
islands =
cities =

Fairbairn Dam is located 25 kilometres southwest of Emerald, almost on top of the Tropic of Capricorn line. Fairbairn Dam was constructed in 1972 across the Nogoa River "Gap" creating Lake Maraboon, (Aboriginal for "where the black ducks fly") and is Queensland's second largest lake.

SunWater is undertaking a dam spillway capacity upgrade program to ensure the highest level of safety for our dams is maintained. The spillway will be upgraded in the longer term. [ [http://www.sunwater.com.au/current_projects_Spillway.htm Spillway Capacity Upgrade Program] ]

2008

On 18 January 2008 at around 12 noon, the dam overflowed (photo) [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/photos/2008/01/23/2144288.htm ABC News Spillway Photo] ] for the first time in 17 years, due to heavy local rain. [cite news |title=Drought-stricken Fairbairn Dam overflows|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/19/2142199.htm |accessdate=2008-01-20 |date=2008-01-19] On 20 January 2008, around 48 hours later the water level was about 3.5m over the spill way level (~156% full capacity). The water level peaked at about 4.5m on 22 January 2008. A week before this rain event, the level saw the lake holding only 29% of full capacity. [ [http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ60005.html#Mackenzie Bureau of Meteorology - Latest River Heights for Nogoa R at Fairbairn Dam] ]

References