Learn about water catchment in the Alps
Australian Alps Education Kit
Chapter 11 – Water catchment in the Australian Alps
Australian Alps Liaison Committee, November 2005
A vital resource
Thredbo River, Kosciuszko
National Park –
One of the rivers that feed
Lake Jindabyne and the Snowy
Hydro Electric Scheme
Photo: Australian Alps Liaison
Committee
Water from the Alps is a vital resource, generating electricity as well as enabling irrigated farming in dryer parts of south-east Australia.
The Australian Alps contribute to the catchments of a number of important rivers in New South Wales, Victoria , South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. They do this by capturing precipitation which slowly filters to the surrounding lowlands through an extensive system of rivers.
The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme involved diverting the headwaters of the Snowy, Eucumbene and the Murrumbidgee Rivers westward through the Australian Alps.
This provided water to the inland and created the Murray and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Areas.
The water drops steeply through the scheme (approximately 800 metres) and passes through a series of power stations , creating electricity for mainland eastern Australia.
More Information
For more information about water catchment in the Australian Alps:
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