Keepit Dam

Keepit Dam is a major gated mass concrete gravity dam with an earth fill abutment and a central gated concrete overflow crest and six radial gate spillways across the Namoi River upstream of its junction with the Peel River in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, hydro-power, irrigation, water supply and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Keepit.

Location and features
Commenced in 1939, with construction halted during World War II, and completed in 1960, the Keepit Dam is a major dam on the Namoi River, located approximately 56 km west of Tamworth and 39 km north-east of Gunnedah, upstream of the confluence of the Namoi and Peel rivers. The dam was built by the New South Wales Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission to supply water for irrigation, flood mitigation and potable water for the town of Walgett.

The dam wall height is 55 m and is 533 m long. The maximum water depth is 48 m and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 425510 ML of water at 329.6 m AHD. The surface area of Lake Keepit is 4370 ha and the catchment area is 5700 km2. The central gated overflow crest and six radial gates of the spillway are capable of discharging 10480 m3/s. An A$146.6 million upgrade of facilities commenced in 2009 and resulted in the construction of two spillways and three saddle dams, completed during 2011. A further upgrade is due to commence in 2014 for completion by 2016 that will involve raising the height of the main dam wall by 3.4 m and enhancing post tension in the concrete section of the wall.

Keepit Dam is operated in conjunction with Split Rock Dam. The two dams supply water requirements along much of the Namoi Valley, used for irrigation including cotton, cereal and wheat crops, lucerne, fodder and pasture, vegetables, vines, orchards and oil seeds.

Power generation
A hydro-electric power station generates up to 7.2 MW of electricity from the flow of the water leaving Keepit Dam with an average output of 10.2 GWh per annum. The station was completed in 1960 and upgraded in 1983. The facility is managed by Meridian Energy.

Etymology
The name Keepit originates after a riverside property called Keypit or Keepit, resumed for part of the storage area. The word probably means 'keep it', a derogatory remark about the apparent worthlessness of the pastoral run.

Recreation
The area surrounding Lake Keepit is used for local recreation including camping, picnics, swimming, boating, sailing, water skiing and fishing. The lakeshore is the location of Lake Keepit Soaring Club, the second largest gliding club by membership in Australia.