Mount Isa Photography by Jemloco Images: Finally - some rain making the rivers flow into the Moondarra Dam {Mount Isa}

Today it rained

It rained like it should always rain in our Wet Season. On average the Mount Isa region should receive around 450mm of rain in a calendar year. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, monthly rainfall since 1966, we received 340mm in 2012 and a measly 93mm in 2013.

So far this year we have had roughly 50mm! So we are really, really excited to be receiving this rain and any more that will come our way!

Below is some images showing the water flowing into our dam that was around 20% full (or is that 80% empty?) at the start of today. I wonder what the official reading will be tomorrow.

Please enjoy the photos. I have also included a little bit of information on Lake Moondarra and just how important it is to a town of approximately 20,000 people.

Moondarra Dam and Surrounds

Lake Moondarra is an artificial lake on the Leichhardt River, 16 km downstream from the town of Mount Isa. The lake is also the main source of freshwater supply to the town and the adjacent Mount Isa Mines (MIM) mining lease. A Fresh Water Lagoon was built to allow the water to naturally filter through reeds and for particles to settle out before pumping to Mount Isa.

Construction began on the Leichardt Dam in 1956, and was completed on 6 November 1958 at a cost of £1.7 million. The dam was built for Mount Isa Mines and, at the time, was the largest water scheme in Australia financed by private enterprise.^[1] The original construction was started by Utah Construction, but Thiess Brothers completed the project. It has a surface area 2375 hectares and holds 106 000ML of water at an average depth of 6 meters when full.

On 11 July 1961 the dam officially became Lake Moondarra after a competition to name the dam was won by a Mount Isa local, Danny Driscoll. The aboriginal name means "plenty of rain also thunder".

The lake includes picnic areas, pontoons, a ski jump, and water sports facilities. The lake is also popular with birdwatchers, sailors and anglers, as it is stocked with barramundi and sooty grunter. The Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic has been held there since 1999.

The road to Lake Moondarra splits into two just before the lake, with the left fork leading to the boating area, and the right fork leading to Transport Bay, a lookout, the dam wall and Warrina Park (aka Peacock Park) at the bottom of the spillway.

Transport bay was so named because tonnes of sand was deposited on the banks of the lake by MIM trucks to create a beach. There was a shop at the top of a grassed area and change rooms with toilets and showers nearby. Another feature was a raft anchored in the bay for swimmers to rest or sunbake on. This had timber decks and was supported by 44 gallon drums welded together.

In the nineteen sixties and seventies, Lake Moondarra is a very popular recreational area, particularly in summer. (taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Moondarra)

Courtesy of Queensland Places

Fishing
Fish Species available are Barramundi, Sooty Grunter, Saratoga, Alligator Gar, Fork-tailed Catfish, Jew, Archerfish, Spangled Perch & Sleepy Cod.
Lake Moondarra is the main target for fish stocking in the Mount Isa region. The MIFSG also has a fish breeding facility located at the Freshwater Lagoon adjacent to the lake. (taken from http://www.sweetwaterfishing.com.au/Moondarra.htm)