Thomson : Melbourne Water's Conserve Water
Area of catchment
48,700 hectares
Type of dam
Earth and rockfill embankment
Maximum height of main dam from river to crest
165 metres
Length measured along top of dam
590 metres (main bank only, saddle dam has additional length of 580 metres)
Surface area (top water level)
2,230 hectares
Total available capacity
1.068,000 megalitres
Volume as at 10/10/2008
219,283 megalitres (20.5% full)
Where the water goes
Around 18% of the Thomson River Basin water flows into the Thomson Reservoir. In recent years approximately 46% of reservoir outflow has been used to supply Melbourne and around 54 % has been released for maintaining environmental flows and supplying irrigation areas downstream. Water supply from the Thomson Reservoir for Melbourne goes to Upper Yarra Reservoir and then to Silvan Reservoir for distribution throughout the metropolitan area.
Date of completion
1983