The canal is required to transfer water from Lake Pedder to Lake Gordon during normal operation, and in the opposite direction in the rare event of. it becoming necessary to discharge some flood water from Lake Gordon via the Serpentine Spillway Tunnel.

Whenever the level of Lake Gordon rises above SL 307.8, the control structure will be required to stop the flow from Lake Pedder, while maximum discharge is passed through the turbines of Gordon Power Station.

Diversion of water from Lake Pedder ceases whenever the level in Lake Pedder falls to SL 306.9.

The hydraulic requirements and relevant levels may be summarised as follows:

NOTE If Lake Pedder level rises above SL 308.5. the outlet gates at Serpentine Dam are to be opened until the level drops back to SL 308.5.

The canal consists of an inlet cut about 610 m long. having a bottom width of 6 m and batters of 1 on 2 up to SL 306.3 and 1on 5 above this. The flatter batter is to prevent the gravel armouring from being damaged by wave action. The inlet cut transitions at the road bridge to a trapezoidal canal with bottom width 6 m and batter of 1 on 2 for a length of about 305 m to the control structure. The same cross section was maintained from the control structure to the canal outfall. Excavation was by dragline and dozer.

The control structure incorporates a radial gate 5.2 m wide and 7 m deep. Weir units 0.3 m wide may be installed on each side of the intake to the gate to lower the velocity in the canal upstream. The main channel, some 1830 m long is excavated mostly in gravel overlying soft rock with hard bands through it.

Excavation of the downstream part of the canal was accomplished by excavating an initial channel with mechanical equipment and allowing the water to erode the banks and invert to its present final dimensions.