Lake Eppalock
Encyclopedia
Lake Eppalock is a man-made lake
located in North Central Victoria
, Australia
. It's situated on the Campaspe River
between the city of Bendigo
and the town of Heathcote
and serves as a major water storage facility for both places. In the past the lake was a major attraction for those engaging in watersports such as skiing, with a number of tourist parks and accommodation facilities around the lake. Water levels have been low for the last 7-8 years (2002–2010) and had restricted the amount of recreational activities that was possible on the Lake, but recent rainfall in the latter half of 2010 has caused the lake to reach 100% of its capacity.
Activities like High Speed Boating, Water Skiing, Sailing, Canoeing and Fishing are all accepted on the lake. The longest boat ramp is functional to 13% capacity, however a speed restriction of 5 knots is placed on the lake when the level falls below 16% or 180.0 m AHD
. (Full Supply Level is 193.8 m AHD.)
Camping is permitted only in caravan parks and/or on private land surrounding the lake with a permit from the land owner.
Created in 1961, it remains the only water storage on the Campaspe River system.
The reservoir rose from 8% in June 2010, to full capacity by November.
The lake has overflowed its spillway for the first time since 1996, on 28 November 2010, after significant rain fall over the previous 48 hours.
The lake was full in August 2000, and then ran dry over 2 years, to 2002, where it remained below 15% for 8 years due to drought.
The lake filled in August 2010 and as of October 2011 was at 100%.
Lake Eppalock is administered by Goulburn Murray Water.
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,...
located in North Central Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, 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...
. It's situated on the Campaspe River
Campaspe River
The Campaspe River is a river in Victoria, Australia. It was named by Major Mitchell in 1836 for Campaspe, a mistress of Alexander the Great.The river was known as yalooka by the local aboriginal people of the Rochester area.-Course:...
between the city of Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
and the town of Heathcote
Heathcote, Victoria
Heathcote is a town in central Victoria, Australia, situated on the Northern Highway 110 kilometres north of Melbourne and 40 kilometres south-east of Bendigo via the McIvor Highway. Heathcote's local government area is the City of Greater Bendigo and it is part of the federal electorate of...
and serves as a major water storage facility for both places. In the past the lake was a major attraction for those engaging in watersports such as skiing, with a number of tourist parks and accommodation facilities around the lake. Water levels have been low for the last 7-8 years (2002–2010) and had restricted the amount of recreational activities that was possible on the Lake, but recent rainfall in the latter half of 2010 has caused the lake to reach 100% of its capacity.
Activities like High Speed Boating, Water Skiing, Sailing, Canoeing and Fishing are all accepted on the lake. The longest boat ramp is functional to 13% capacity, however a speed restriction of 5 knots is placed on the lake when the level falls below 16% or 180.0 m AHD
Australian Height Datum
The Australian Height Datum is a geodetic datum for altitude measurement in Australia. According to Geoscience Australia, "In 1971 the mean sea level for 1966-1968 was assigned the value of zero on the Australian Height Datum at thirty tide gauges around the coast of the Australian continent...
. (Full Supply Level is 193.8 m AHD.)
Camping is permitted only in caravan parks and/or on private land surrounding the lake with a permit from the land owner.
Created in 1961, it remains the only water storage on the Campaspe River system.
The reservoir rose from 8% in June 2010, to full capacity by November.
The lake has overflowed its spillway for the first time since 1996, on 28 November 2010, after significant rain fall over the previous 48 hours.
The lake was full in August 2000, and then ran dry over 2 years, to 2002, where it remained below 15% for 8 years due to drought.
The lake filled in August 2010 and as of October 2011 was at 100%.
Lake Eppalock is administered by Goulburn Murray Water.