Khancoban Dam


Khancoban Dam is a major ungated earthfill embankment dam with a controlled spillway across the Swampy Plain River in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose is for the generation of hydro-power and is one of the sixteen major dams that comprise the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 and now run by Snowy Hydro.
The impounded reservoir is called the Khancoban Reservoir.

Location and features

Completed in 1965, Khancoban Dam is a major dam, located within the Snowy Valleys local government area, approximately southwest of the town of Khancoban. The dam was constructed by Kaiser Engineers and Construction Incorporation based on engineering plans developed under contract from the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority.
Built on a soil foundation, the dam wall comprises of earthfill with an internal core, and is high and long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back of water. The surface area of Khancoban Reservoir is and the catchment area is. The controlled spillway is capable of discharging.
Located immediately upstream of the Khancoban Reservoir is the Murray 2 Power Station, a conventional hydroelectric power station. Water from the power plant is discharged into the reservoir, before passing over the spillway of Khancoban Dam, and down the Swampy Plain River.