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History
The reservoir was initially constructed between 1913 and 1916 to store 21,000 megalitres (ML) of water for irrigation at Werribee. The embankment was raised in 1937 and vertical lift spillway gates were installed. This increased the capacity to 23,500 ML. Since then siltation has reduced its total volume back to 14,340 ML.
Major upgrade works were undertaken from 1988 to 1994 to allow the dam to pass the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). The primary spillway was remodelled with the removal of the flood gates, construction of a fixed crest, and the spillway chute deepened. As this spillway could only pass about 20% of the PMF, a secondary spillway was required. As a result the main embankment had its crest capped in concrete and concrete steps were provided on the downstream face to enable it to act as a secondary spillway.
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Statistics
RESERVOIR Capacity 14,364 ML Dead storage 141 ML Surface area 230 ha Full supply level 82.56 m AHD Catchment area 1,114 km2 EMBANKMENT Maximum height 35.4 m Length 181 m PRIMARY SPILLWAY Crest length 130 m Discharge capacity* 147,000 ML per day SECONDARY SPILLWAY Crest length 181 m Discharge capacity * 60,000 ML per day * Melton Dam was upgraded to withstand overtopping in 1994. The secondary spillway is the dam embankment itself.
Location
Melton Reservoir (also known as Exford Weir) is located on the Werribee River approximately 6kms south of Melton – VicRoads Reference Map 97 G4.
Please check the water levels (see graph at the top of the page) before planning a day out at the reservoir!