Scotts Peak Dam

;Location The Scotts Peak Dam, completed in 1973 by the Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS), together with the Edgar and Serpentine dams, are three major dams that form the headwaters for the Gordon River Power Development Scheme. The dam is located at the southern end of the Lake Pedder where it impounds the upper reaches of the Huon River. In a straight line, the Gordon Power Station is to the north west of the dam wall; or approximately by road. Near Lake Pedder's most easterly point is the Edgar Dam, where the Huon River descends from the Marsden Range into what is now known as the Huon Basin. At the northwestern end of the lake, the Serpentine Dam across the Serpentine River is impounded into Lake Pedder. ;Technical details The bituminous concrete-faced rock-fill dam wall is high and long. When full, Lake Pedder has capacity of and covers , drawn from a catchment area of . The dam wall does not have a spillway. In 2001, the dam received an Historic Engineering Marker from Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program. At the time, it was one of only two Australian dams completed with bituminous concrete facing. Water from Lake Gordon then exits through the Gordon Dam and into the Gordon River. == History ==

In early 1967, Eric Reece, the Premier of Tasmania, announced plans to flood the natural Lake Pedder and the legislation was debated in the Tasmanian Parliament several days later. A small environmental movement was formed, which mobilised in the 1980s to stop the proposed Franklin River Dam. In 1972, Reece controversially approved the three dams and hence, the flooding of Lake Pedder, which proceeded despite a determined environmental protest movement and a blank cheque offer from his Labor colleague, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, to preserve the area. Reece refused Whitlam's offer, stating that he would 'not have the Federal Government interfering with the sovereign rights of Tasmania.' Reece retrospectively commented: Environmental protests and political lobbying continued. It was claimed that the Tasmanian Government had contravened the National Parks and Wildlife Act (TAS), resulting in the passage of retrospective legislation that confirmed construction of the three dams could continue. Reece commented at the time, "As far as Lake Pedder is concerned, the sooner they fill it up the better." Evidence of deformation could be seen in the 2010s. == See also ==