Toonumbar Dam

Toonumbar Dam is a minor ungated rock fill with clay core embankment dam with a concrete chute spillway across the Iron Pot Creek north-west of Casino in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes hydro-power, irrigation, water supply, and conservation. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Toonumbar.

Location and features
Commenced in 1969 and completed in 1971, the Toonumbar Dam is a minor ungated dam, located approximately 30 km west of Kyogle and 55 km north-west of Casino. The dam was built by Citra Australia Limited on behalf of the New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation to conserve water, control flows, reduce flood risk and provide a reliable water supply in the region.

The dam wall constructed with 361 m3 of rock fill with clay core is 44 m high and 483 m long. The maximum water depth is 34 m and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 11100 ML of water at 129.6 m AHD. The surface area of Lake Toonumbar is 320 ha and the catchment area is 9800 km2. The uncontrolled concrete chute spillway is capable of discharging 1700 m3/s.

Recreation
The reservoir, Lake Toonumbar, provides a location for freshwater sports fishing for the species Australian Bass. Boat access is available at Bells Bay and near the dam wall, combustion engine powered craft are permitted to use the dam as long as the 8 knot speed limit is kept to.

Fishing
Lake Toonumbar has been stocked regularly with Australian Bass and Eastern Cod (totally protected in NSW) fingerlings. It is also known as one of the best bass fisheries on the North Coast. A NSW Fishing Licence is required to fish in the dam.