Tasmania’s Hydro dams are spilling after days of heavy rain, with more than half of the state’s 52 reservoirs forced to release excess water, including the iconic Devils Gate Dam.
The Devil’s Gate Dam was built in 1969 and forms part of Lake Barrington, one of eight hydroelectric power stations in the Mersey–Forth scheme.
It was commissioned in 1971 and has a generating capacity of 63 megawatts.
The dam wall is 84 metres high and one of the thinnest concrete arch dams in the world.
Despite the spectacular sight of water cascading over the dams, Hydro Tasmania assures that the structures are “designed to spill” and that it does not contribute to flooding.
A spokesperson said most of the dams operate on a “run of the river” principle, generating electricity through a series of power stations as water flows downstream.
“Run of the river hydropower schemes harness the natural flow of the river, generating electricity through a series of power stations as the water flows downstream and eventually out to sea,” they said.
Water levels across all dams rose by more than 5% in the past week thanks to extreme rainfall, leaving the state in a ‘good position’ ahead of the summer period off the back of a historically dry 12 months.
While the dams may be spilling, authorities are urging people to remain vigilant and avoid flooded areas.
