004 Lachlan River, below Wyangala Dam wall

 
 
  THIS CAN BE A DIFFICULT SECTION ,- ONLY EXPERIANCED AND ADAQUATLY EQUIPED PADDLERS SHOULD ATTEMPT ANY RUN. 
Access to the two sections of rapid is by the track from the dissipator park below the dam in the village of Wyangala. Follow track leaving the dissipator park by the old bridge, till it ends at the pool above 1st rapid . Water flow depends entirely on the discharge from the wall. At low flow levels the top rapid stops.  Whilst the discharge is normally continous the volume varies. Normal outflow are through the powerstation generators with higher flows open the dissipator. Try to be there when an environmental release is happening or the dam is full to ensure a adequate amount of water is flowing to allow passage between the major rocks if rafting. Whilst only a short run this can be very dangerous/interesting with large water discharge levels.  The paddler will find the rapids a challange with 1300 or better ML/D being discharged.  Return to the top of the rapids is by a 700m walk over  the spillway along the old roadway. This spillway crossing is challanging especially carrying  vessels.   Vehicle access is a 6.5 km drive back to the top rapid via the new bridge.  The old road is 40mts off the river at the EXIT point.
Access to the river below the spillway and rapids can be via the dirt track that leaves the old road to the wall . this road leaves the Wyangala DArbys rd on the Darbys Falls side of the new bridge, approx 200mts from bridge. the dirt track leaves the sealed road approx 900mts from the turn off. this unmaintained  track leads to the spillway with the river some 45mts below.  Walking  from the track to the river is recommended, can be ardous..
Access to the river below the new bridge can/may be obtained thru private property with permission from resident who occupies home  on the Wyangala side of bridge.
All  accommodation and services are available at the Wyangala Waters Park, upstream behind the wall.  Exit would require continuing down river to an exit point or a walk back around rapid to starting point. Large rocks in the river will make this stroll interesting.
 If dam is full when you are there and you do hear a loud horn, evacuate immeadiatly as there is a discharge from the gates about to occour.