Commenced in 1964 and completed in 1976, the Brogo Dam is a major dam on the Brogo River, a tributary of the Bega River, and is located approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) northwest of Bega. The dam was built by Citra Constructions Pty Limited on behalf of the New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation to supply water for irrigation[1] and potable water for the towns of Quaama, Cobargo, and Bermagui. The dam supplies water to farmers along the Brogo and Bega rivers for stock and domestic use and irrigation on improved pastures for stock feed. Dairy farming is the main industry in the Bega Valley and the dam ensures a continuous and reliable supply for this activity.[2]
The dam wall comprises 8,547 cubic metres (301,800 cu ft) of concrete-faced rock fill and is 43 metres (141 ft) high and is 260 metres (850 ft) long. The maximum water depth is 25 metres (82 ft) and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 8,980 megalitres (317×10^6 cu ft) of water at 102 metres (335 ft) AHD. The surface area of Brogo Dam is 100 hectares (250 acres) and the catchment area is 400 square kilometres (150 sq mi). The uncontrolled unlined rock cut spillway is capable of discharging 3,700 cubic metres per second (130,000 cu ft/s).[1][2][3]
Brogo Dam is stocked with Australian Bass and eels can also be found in the dam's waters.[5] Boating and canoeing on the dam's surface are permitted. The area surrounding the dam has abundant ferns and rock orchids that provide a photographer's paradise.[2]
^ abc"Register of Large Dams in Australia". Dams information. The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated. 2010. Archived from the original(Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
^ abc"Brogo Dam"(PDF). State Water Corporation. 2009. Archived from the original(PDF brochure) on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
^"Brogo Dam". Water delivery: Dams. State Water Corporation. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.