Ross Creek Reservoir

The Ross Creek Reservoir is an artificial lake in Dunedin, New Zealand. One of the oldest artificial lakes in the country, and the oldest water supply reservoir still in use in the country,[2] it was created in the 1860s to provide water for the city of Dunedin, at that time in the middle of rapid expansion due to the Otago goldrush. Designed by engineer Ralph Donkin and supervising builder David Proudfoot, the reservoir was opened in 1867 as the Royal Albert Reservoir, but the name was unpopular and it has been known as the Ross Creek Reservoir for over a century.

Reservoir valve tower
Ross Creek Reservoir
Ross Creek Reservoir in 2009, looking north. Valve tower to the right.
Ross Creek Reservoir
LocationDunedin, South Island
Coordinates45.8471°S 170.4986°E / -45.8471; 170.4986
Typereservoir
Primary inflowsRoss Creek, Wakari Creek
Primary outflowsRoss Creek
Basin countriesNew Zealand
Max. lengthapprox. 350 m (1,150 ft)
Max. widthapprox. 80 m (260 ft)
Average depth30 m (98 ft)
Water volume162,000 m3 (131 acre⋅ft)[1]
Surface elevation115 metres (377 ft) ASL
SettlementsDunedin
References[1]

The reservoir, dams, and picturesque valve tower have a New Zealand Historic Places Trust Level I classification.[3][4]

Bush tracks surround the reservoir.

The reservoir is located in a heavily wooded valley in the suburb of Glenleith, four kilometres north of the city centre. Fed by a small stream, the Ross Creek — a tributary of the Water of Leith — it is held behind two small dams, 23 metres and 10 metres in height. The base of the larger dam is 95 metres above sea level, with the water surface at approximately 115 metres ASL.

Ross Creek Reserve
The School Creek Waterfall was created when the waters of Ross Creek were diverted during construction of the reservoir.

The reservoir is surrounded by a public reserve which has been allowed to regenerate with native bush. Though not technically covered by the New Zealand Reserves Act, the area is referred to as a reserve and managed and maintained as such by the Dunedin City Council, by virtue of its high scenic and recreational value.[5] This lies between Tanner and Rockside Roads in Glenleith and Cannington Road in Maori Hill. The winding Burma Road runs through the reserve to the north and west of the reservoir. One of Dunedin's most popular golf courses, Balmacewen Golf Course, abuts the reserve's southwest corner. The highest point in the reserve, in its northeastern corner close to Tanner Road, is some 190 metres (620 ft) above sea level.

Numerous popular walking tracks lead to and circle the reservoir, and follow the course of the Ross Creek and its tributary, School Creek. Track counters have recorded as many as 4,000 walkers on the tracks per month, making them some of Dunedin's most well-used bush walks.[5] The tracks are marked with stone markers, and a permanent orienteering course is also marked numbered posts. The walks can be entered from various points along Burma and Tanner Roads, but the main entry is from lower down Ross Creek at Glenleith. A further track links the reserve with a walkway which follows the course of the Water of Leith past a former quarry to link with tracks which run through Woodhaugh Gardens at the mouth of the Leith Valley 0.9 kilometres (0.56 mi) to the southeast.

Ross Creek Reserve
Location of Ross Creek Reserve within Dunedin

Notable features of the reserve — other than the reservoir — include a waterfall which cascades some 20 metres (66 ft) into School Creek. Though these falls appear completely natural, they were created by the diversion of Ross Creek to form the reservoir, and now carry waters from the creek's flood channel. The lower parts of the reserve's tracks close to Glenleith are also notable, as they pass through the narrowest part of the Ross Creek's valley, which rises as canyon walls on both sides of the track and creek.

Notes
  1. Dunedin City Council website
  2. 2003 conference notes, Geological Society of New Zealand
  3. "Ross Creek Valve Tower". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  4. "Ross Creek Earth Dam". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  5. Hamel, A. (2008) Dunedin tracks and Trails. Dunedin:Silver Peaks Press. pp. 2.04-06. ISBN 978-0-473-13772-4

References
  • Herd, J., and Griffiths, G. J. (1980). Discovering Dunedin. Dunedin: John McIndoe. ISBN 0-86868-030-3.
  • McLean, G., and Sheehan, G. (2002) 100 historic places in New Zealand. Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett. ISBN 1-86958-920-3.
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