Ross Creek Reservoir

Ross Creek Reservoir
Ross Creek Reservoir in 2009, looking north. Valve tower to the right.
Location	Dunedin, South Island
Coordinates	45°50′50″S 170°29′55″E / 45.8471°S 170.4986°E / -45.8471; 170.4986
Type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Ross Creek, Wakari Creek
Primary outflows	Ross Creek
Basin countries	New Zealand
Max. length	approx. 350 m (1,150 ft)
Max. width	approx. 80 m (260 ft)
Average depth	30 m (98 ft)
Water volume	162,000 m3 (131 acre⋅ft)[1]
Surface elevation	115 metres (377 ft) ASL
Settlements	Dunedin
References	[1]

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 gold rush. 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.

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

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.