Somerset Dam Map
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Somerset Dam

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Key Facts

Name:
Somerset Dam / Lake Somerset
Water Course:
Stanley River near Kilcoy
Location:
Stanley River near Kilcoy
Catchment Area:
1,340km2
Lake Surface Area:
4,210ha
Full Supply Capacity:
379,849 ML
Current Capacity:
385,383 ML (101.5% full) at 12/03/2010
Flood Mitigation:
155,000ML above full capacity, totalling 524,000ML
Year Complete:
1959
Full Supply Waterline:
99m AHD (above sea level)
Spillway Level:
Outlet System:
Eight radial gates
Type of Construction:
Mass concrete gravity dam
Length of Dam Wall:
305m
Somerset Dam was constructed by the Bureau of Industry Stanley River Works Board. Construction commenced in 1935 but had to be suspended due to World War II. Work resumed in 1948 and the dam was completed in 1959.
 
Water from Somerset Dam is released into Wivenhoe Dam, which in turn supplements the natural flow of the Brisbane River and maintains an adequate supply of water to the Mt Crosby pumping station located 132 kilometres downstream.
 

Interesting facts about Somerset:

  • The length of the dam is 305 metres and the maximum thickness at the base of the wall is approximately 41 metres.
  • The Somerset Dam wall is a mass concrete gravity type, using a volume of 203,000 cubic metres of concrete, which resists the thrusts of water by its weight alone.
  • The top of the 8 spillway gates (8x 17.97m x 7.01m) is 108 metres above sea level, 47 metres above the original stream bed and 53 metres above the base foundation of the wall.
  • The Somerset Dam hydroelectric power station was commissioned in 1953 and completed in 1959. It is a small plant of 4000 KVA capacity.
 
Seqwater is the provider of catchment-based surface and groundwater for urban, rural and industry consumption in South East Queensland. Seqwater own and operate more than 20 dams including Somerset, Wivenhoe and North Pine, as well as over 45 water treatment plants and a range of related facilities and equipment across the region.
 

Recreation

The following recreational activities are permitted at Lake Somerset:
 
  • barbequing
  • boating (powered and non-powered) with permit
  • electric model boating (outside designated swimming areas)
  • camping (available at Somerset Park - see the brochure for more details)
  • canoeing
  • fishing
  • jet skiing
  • kayaking
  • picnicking
  • sailing
  • swimming (designated areas)
  • walking
 Yachting at Somerset
Reflection off Lake Somerset
 
Somerset water release into Lake Wivenhoe (March 2009)
Somerset water release into Lake Wivenhoe (March 2009)