Cotter Dam

The Cotter Dam is a concrete gravity and rockfill embankment dam across the Cotter River, located in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The impounded reservoir is called the Cotter Reservoir which is a supply source of potable water for the city of Canberra and its environs.Original dam completed in 1912The original concrete gravity Cotter Dam was built in 1912 when the city of Canberra was established. The height of the dam wall was raised to a height of in 1951 in order to increase capacity of the reservoir. The 26e3m3 dam wall was long and created a reservoir with a surface area of. The uncontrolled spillway was capable of discharging. At that time, the top water level of the dam was above sea level and the reservoir had a capacity of 3856ML. A subsequent review in October 2006, using more accurate mapping methods, resulted in capacity being re-estimated downwards from the previous estimate of 4700ML. Additional galleries and drains were constructed between 1984 and 1986. In order to supply the city with potable water, water from the reservoir was pumped to Mount Stromlo, and from there the water flowed by gravity to fill the city's reservoirs.