Brogo Dam Popular fishing and water sport destination
Our recreation areas are open for day use only. Read more on our COVID-19 response measures and guide for using facilities.
Our recreation areas are open for day use only. Read more on our COVID-19 response measures and guide for using facilities.
Visit the Dam
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
What Brogo Dam lacks in size it more than makes up for with stunning mountain scenery. Situated in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range above Bega on the South Coast, the dam supplies water to irrigate pastures for the Bega Valley’s dairy industry and supplies towns and farmers along the Brogo and Bega rivers. The dam is also a popular fishing and water sport destination.
Look out points
Dam wall
Walk across the dam wall for spectacular views across the lake fringed by the rugged bushland of Wadbilliga National Park and downstream along the Brogo River. The dam wall is 260 metres long and 43 metres high.
Things to do
Opening hours
Dam foreshores
Open during daylight hours. Entry is free.
Directions
View in MapsBrogo Dam is about 30 kilometres north-west of Bega on the NSW South Coast. Bega is about 430 kilometres south of Sydney via the Princes Highway.
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
Restrictions
Restrictions are in place to protect our water supply and ensure that everyone has an enjoyable and safe visit - with penalties up to $44,000 applying:
- No model aircraft or drones
Recreation Areas at WaterNSW dams will be closed on ALL Total Fire Ban days.
The Brogo Experience
Things to see and do
1. Water sports
The lake is a popular spot for water sports including power boats, sailing, canoeing and swimming. There is an 8kph speed limit for power boats. Canoes are available for hire. A boat ramp is located just south of the dam wall with picnic tables and toilets nearby. Please note: there is no skiing permitted on the dam.
2. Fishing
The dam is stocked with trout and bass. Fishing is best done on the water by canoe or boat, as the rugged foreshores are generally inaccessible. Access is via a boat ramp just south of the dam wall.
3. Wadbilliga National Park
From Brogo Dam bushwalkers and campers can explore Wadbilliga National Park.
Dam Summary
Facts & History
Brogo Dam is situated on the Brogo River upstream of Bega on the NSW South Coast and about 430 kilometres south of Sydney.
The dam was completed in 1976 to provide water for irrigation, stock and domestic requirements on the NSW South Coast.
Why the dam was built
Brogo Dam was built to provide a reliable supply of water for the dairy industry, the main agricultural industry on the NSW South Coast. It provides water for improved pastures for stock feed as well as vegetables.
Water released from Brogo Dam is taken from the river downstream for the townships of Quiaama, Cobargo and Bermagui.
The dam’s 400 square kilometre catchment falls largely within Wadbilliga National Park with its rugged mountain terrain of steep ridges and deep gullies.
How the dam was built
Brogo Dam is a concrete-faced rock-fill embankment. The wall is 260 metres long and 43 metres high.
An unlined rock cutting spillway is located just north of the dam wall.
Construction began in 1964 and finished in 1976.
Notifications
In consultation with our stakeholders and the community we review and update these notifications.
To receive Early Warning Network notifications below please register your details with us.
To see past notifications, please visit all dam notifications.
Dam safety notifications
Alerts will be issued in the following unlikely events:
- When there is a reasonable possibility of dam failure.
- State Emergency Service (SES) require advance public warning to evacuate if such a failure may occur.
Amber alert
- Trigger - Storage level has reached Design Flood Level (top of intake tower).
- Notification - You are advised to move to higher ground and if necessary evacuate.
Red alert
- Trigger - Storage level has reached roadway crest level.
- Notification - Residents are advised to evacuate to their designated flood assembly points.
Flood notifications
Flood notifications indicate the dam is releasing controlled or uncontrolled flows, likely to cause downstream flooding.
Flood operations
- Trigger - Spillway flows (uncontrolled*) over 1,500 megalitres per day.
- Notification - Flows of XX,000 megalitres per day are being passed.
Flood of record
- Trigger - Spillway flows of over 85,900 megalitres per day.
- Notification - Flows of over 85,900 megalitres per day are being passed.
* refers to automatic spillway flows at un-gated dams once storage capacity exceeds 100%
High regulated release notifications
High regulated releases are when our operations may impact landholders immediately downstream or we are releasing higher than normal flows.
Normal operations
- Range - 0 to 1000 mega litres per day.
- Notification - No notifications in this range.
Increased flows
- Trigger - When flow increases above or below 1000 megalitres per day.
- Notification - Releases are planned to increase from XX,000 megalitres per day (ML/day) to YY,000 ML/day at 00:00 on DD/MM/YY.
More information
| Agency | Information | Website | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Meteorology | Weather forecasts and warnings | BOM | varies by region |
| NSW State Emergency Service | Flood or severe weather warnings/advice | NSW SES | 132 500 |
| NSW Water Information | Storage levels and river heights | Water info | N/A |
| WaterNSW Algae Hotline | Algal alert details and algae levels | WaterNSW | 1800 999 457 |
| Early Warning Network | To view or edit your registration details | EWN | 1300 662 077 |