Dartmouth Dam

MDBC Asset

Water Storage Levels

Last Updated: 04/12/2008
19.43%
 21.18%
 22.19%
 22.41%
 22.56%
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Current Volume 881190
% of Capacity 22.56
Capacity (ML) 3906000
Graph: Historical water levels...

Recreational Facilities

Large Grassed Area Car Parking Boat Ramp Playground Equipment Tables & Chairs BBQ Toilets

Facts & Figures

Name Dartmouth Dam
Stream Mitta Mitta River
Year of Completion 1979
Construction Earth and rockfill
Full Supply Level 486.0 m AHD
Capacity 3,907,590 ML
Area Submerged 6,380 ha
Main Embankment Length 670 m
Main Embankment Height 180 m
Hydro-electric Generation 150 MW

About Dartmouth Dam

  Dartmouth Wall

Dartmouth Dam is operated by Goulburn-Murray Water on behalf of the MDBC. It is the largest capacity dam in Victoria and the highest structure of its kind in Australia. When full, the dam stores almost 4,000,000 megalitres (ML).

Location

Dartmouth Dam is located downstream of the confluence of the Mitta Mitta and Dart Rivers, approximately 24 km east of Mitta Mitta in North-Eastern Victoria.

History

Dartmouth Dam was constructed by the Victorian Rural Water Commission on behalf of the then River Murray Commission, the forerunner to today's MDBC. Construction began in 1973 and was completed in 1979.

Construction costs were shared equally by the Commonwealth, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia due to the role of the storage in the Murray system.

Operations

The primary purpose of Dartmouth Dam is the storage of water for irrigation and domestic and stock use in Victoria and New South Wales.

In dry seasons, the storage supplements releases from Lake Hume and increases supplies to the River Murray system.

Recreation and Tourism at Dartmouth Dam

Facilities Available

Large Grassed Area Large Grassed Area
Car Parking Car Parking
Boat Ramp Boat Ramp
Playground Equipment Playground Equipment
Tables & Chairs Tables & Chairs
BBQ BBQ
Toilets Toilets

Further Information

Lake Dartmouth offers a variety of water sports as well as recreation facilities. It is a favourite spot for fishing, especially trout and Macquarie Perch. Camping (with limited facilities) is permitted in designated areas around the Lake. The track from Sassafras Gap to the Eustace Creek camping area can be accessed by car, although a four wheel drive is recommended in wet conditions. The two other camping grounds can only be reached by boat.

There are good boat launching facilities but, while motor boats can be used, water skiing and house boating is not permitted. Boats are required to keep at least 700 metres away from the dam wall.  Work is being done to extend temporary boat launching facilities to enable continued boat access at low lake levels.

For details of Parks Victoria camping facilities in the Lake Dartmouth area, go to http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au./