Lake Awoonga

Lake Awoonga
	Awoonga Dam
Location:	Queensland ( Australia )
Tributaries:	Boyne River , Eastern Boyne River , Diglum Creek, Iveragh Creek
Drain:	Boyne River
Larger places nearby:	Gladstone
	Queensland , Australia
Coordinates	24 ° 4 ′ 31 ″ S , 151 ° 18 ′ 29 ″ E Coordinates: 24 ° 4 ′ 31 ″ S , 151 ° 18 ′ 29 ″ E
	Data on the structure
Building volume:	2 million m³
Crown length:	650 m
Crown width:	54.4 m
	Data on the reservoir
Altitude (at congestion destination )	41 m
Water surface	84 km²
Reservoir length	26 km
Reservoir width	12 km
Total storage space :	777 million m³

The Lake Awoonga is a reservoir in the eastern Australian state of Queensland . The lake was created by building a dam on the Boyne River 30 km south of Gladstone (Queensland) .

purpose

Lake Awoonga is the main water reservoir in the Gladstone region. The Gladstone Area Water Board operates the facility and has released it to residents and tourists for water sports and sport fishing.

design type

The Awoonga Dam is a CFR dam that is heaped up from boulders and provided with a concrete jacket on the water side. The fill was created from rocks from a quarry in the immediate vicinity. It is over 650 m long and 54.4 m high. Their volume is approx. 2 million m³. The outlet is 40 m above sea level. The construction of the current dam also allows the spout to be raised further should this be necessary. The maximum storage volume is currently 777 million m³.

When the water level is full, the water level is 41 m above sea level.

fauna

Letter pigeons

At Lake Awoonga there are many small animals that need special protection, e.g. B. the gray-headed flying fox and the yellow-bellied glide bag . The aquatic flora provides food for a range of prey for fish, eels, turtles, platypus and birds. Other species of animals are Australian nasal sacs , red rat kangaroos , kangaroos , wallabies , giant gliding sacs and fox cusus .

More than 225 species of birds can be found at the lake, e. B. the letter pigeon , which is listed as endangered, and another 27 bird species from the International Migratory Conservation Agreement List .

Wedge-tailed eagle
Australian water dragon
Sickle whistle goose
Hood reads

Fish farming and sport fishing

Around 200,000 fish - including barramundi and some Mangrove Jack ( Lutjanus argentimaculatus ) - are put into the lake every year. By the beginning of 2006, over 2.9 million fish had been placed in Lake Awoonga, including 2.4 million barramundi, 470,000 mullets and 15,000 mangrove jack. The largest barramundi ever caught there was registered in November 2008 at 36.5 kg. Lake Awoonga is one of the few lakes in Australia that has been equipped with Mangrove Jack.

flora

More than 415 plant species ensure the healthy development of Lake Awoonga and its surroundings. The habitats include rainforests as well as open forests and grass forests. There are 45 confirmed species of aquatic plants there, such as: B. Hornmoss and sour grass that can be found in shallow water. Aquatic plants perform important tasks; they are forage plants for animals, stabilize the river bed and break down nutrients.

There are also a number of particularly valuable plants in the Awoonga region, such as B. Persoonia amaliae and Eucalyptus melanoleuca , which are classified as rare, while Cycas megacarpa and Grevillea venusta are considered endangered. Banksia integrifolia and Xanthorrhoea latifolia are protected species that are also found in the area.

In the entire river system there are also introduced plants and weeds that spread everywhere, e.g. B. Parthenium , swimming ferns , cat's claw , convertible herb , oleander and Cryptostegia grandiflora . An introduced plant control program has been developed to support the annual weed control program.

The Gladstone Area Water Board has implemented a planting program to preserve endangered regional ecosystems that have been damaged by the construction of the reservoir.

Recreational facilities

Visitor huts on Lake Awoonga

Swimming is permitted in the lake, and there is a 24-hour boat slipway, allowing sailing, fishing, and water skiing. Various watercraft, including houseboats, can be rented. There are also tours for sport fishermen. The waters are controlled by the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol and the Water Police and all recreational captains are required to adhere to the prescribed speed limits.

Camping is allowed at two locations on Lake Awoonga, the Caravan Park and the Boynedale Bush Camp . The main recreation area is freely accessible to the public and has barbecue and picnic areas, as well as hiking trails.