River Murray Weekly Report For the week ending Wednesday, 14th November 2018

Trim Ref: D18/52958 Rainfall and inflows This week a cloud band from central Australia moved south-eastward and produced shower and thunderstorm activity across much of the Murray-Darling Basin (Map 1). In the northern Basin light to moderate falls were widespread, with 24 mm at Kenilworth Station in Queensland’s Warrego catchment and 27 mm at Bourke in . Rainfall was less widespread in the southern Basin with the highest totals in the New South Wales , where Wagga Wagga recorded 39 mm and 32 mm fell at Biggara on the headwaters of the upstream of .

Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall map week ending 14 November 2018 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology). Upper Murray tributaries receded early in the week before rising in response to the rain. The upper Murray at Biggara receded to 450 ML/day before increasing to 1,250 ML/day during Wednesday. Without further rain the flow is expected to gradually recede over the coming week. The catchment upstream of Dartmouth received less rainfall resulting in a negligible streamflow increase, with the current flow near 500 ML/day. Downstream of Hume reservoir, hydroelectricity generation in the Kiewa valley has delivered fluctuating inflows from the Kiewa that varied between 800 ML/day and 1,600 ML/day. On the Ovens River, the flow at Wangaratta peaked near 1,500 ML/day early this week before slowly receding to 700 ML/day.

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River operations

• Transfers from Dartmouth Reservoir to Hume Reservoir expected to continue at high rates • Transfers from Hume Reservoir to Lake also expected to continue at high rates • Significant volumes of IVT water likely to continue to be delivered from the Goulburn Valley account over coming months

MDBA active storage decreased by 47 GL this week to 4,681 GL (55% capacity). Low inflows to Dartmouth Reservoir coupled with ongoing transfers to Hume Reservoir resulted in the Dartmouth storage volume decreasing by 44 GL to 3,005 GL (78% capacity). The Dartmouth release, measured at Colemans, was maintained near 7,000 ML/day before it was increased to 9,400 ML/day later in the week, and is expected to remain near this rate over the coming week as high transfers to Hume continue. Water stored in Dartmouth Reservoir is generally maintained as the system’s drought reserve and is called upon in dry seasons when the downstream storages have insufficient water to meet demands. Given the continuing warm and dry conditions and low tributary stream flows, substantial calls on water from Dartmouth are expected to continue this year. Despite ongoing transfers from Dartmouth, the Hume Reservoir (Photo 1) volume decreased by 41 GL this week to 1,356 GL (45% capacity). During the week the release averaged 16,000 ML/day and will fluctuate around this rate in the coming days depending on downstream irrigation demands and forecast rainfall.

Photo 1: Bethanga crossing Hume Reservoir. Photo courtesy Michelle Hampton.

At the level is currently 124.75 m AHD, which is within the normal operating range (124.6 to 124.9 m AHD). Following the reduction in diversions last week in response to rainfall, diversions to Yarrawonga Main Channel and Mulwala Canal have gradually increased to 1,100 ML/day and 1,800 ML/day, respectively. Of the diversion to Mulwala Canal, approximately 1,000 ML/day is being diverted around the Barmah Choke through Murray Irrigation Limited infrastructure and released into the Murray (Pericoota escape), Wakool (Wakool escape), Edward (Edward escape) and Billabong Creek (Finley escape). Similarly, on the Victorian side water continues to travel through Yarrawonga Main Channel and into the Broken Creek, again to bypass the Barmah Choke and transfer water to Lake Victoria. The release from Yarrawonga Weir is currently targeting 14,900 ML/day. At this flow rate, part of the flow is being transferred around the Barmah Choke via pre-wetted anabranch channels and the lower floodplain primarily within the Barmah Forest. As of early November, water flowing through the forest includes some environmental water. While these higher releases were initiated to boost transfers to Lake Victoria, this action provides a complimentary benefit in improving connectivity between the river and forest channels for native fish and wetland watering for birds.

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Flows at the Edward River offtake and Gulpa Creek offtake are currently near 1,570 ML/day and 330 ML/day, respectively. In the coming days flows into Gulpa Creek are expected to increase towards 600 ML/day as environmental water is used to inundate important wetlands in Millewa Forest. Return flows from the Millewa Forest plus flows from Edward River and Gulpa Creek are combining to produce a flow of 3,300 ML/day at Toonalook. Diversion into Wakool Main Canal is currently near 100 ML/day, and Wakool, Yallakool and Colligen offtakes continue to pass around 55, 410 and 390 ML/day respectively to boost transfers downstream to Lake Victoria. Flow in the Edward River is being supplemented by releases from the Edward Escape, to target a flow of 3,000 ML/day downstream of Stevens Weir. As the flow downstream of Steven’s Weir is above 2,700 ML/day, Tumudgery and Niemur regulators (downstream of Stevens Weir) have been partially opened. This allows water to reach the Niemur River via anabranch channels in Werai Forest. These higher flows are being targeted to further boost transfers to Lake Victoria. In Victoria, inflows from the Broken Creek, measured at Rice’s Weir, have averaged around 370 ML/day. On the Murray, the flow at Barmah has gently risen to 10,500 ML/day, which includes water returning to the River Murray from Barmah Forest channels and wetlands. Flows around this rate are expected to continue over the coming weeks. Inflow to the Murray from the Goulburn River, measured at McCoys Bridge, was steady at 950 ML/day this week and is expected to fluctuate around this rate over the coming week. On the Campaspe River at Rochester, flows have held steady at around 100 ML/day. A portion of the flow in the Broken, Goulburn and Campaspe is water delivered to the Murray from the Inter Valley Trade (IVT) account. Information regarding current opportunities for allocation trade between the Goulburn and Murray valleys is available at the Victorian water register website.

Photo 2: The Campaspe River at Kyneton. Significant deliveries of IVT are expected to continue from the Broken, Goulburn and Campaspe over the coming months. Photo courtesy Tegan Abbott, MDBA.

National Channel diversions have remained steady around 2,100 ML/day. At Torrumbarry Weir the release steadied around 9,200 ML/day and is expected to vary near this rate over the coming fortnight.

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Inflow from the , measured at Balranald, averaged around 570 ML/day this week and is expected to rise in the coming days. At Euston, the weir pool is targeting full supply level (FSL) to 10 cm below FSL. The downstream release gently receded to just below 12,600 ML/day and will ease further in the coming days as the tail end of the October Goulburn pulse moves downstream.

Photo 3: River Murray near Robinvale. Photo Ross & Ruth Rofe The Menindee Lakes storage volume decreased 3 GL to 120 GL (7% capacity). WaterNSW continues to manage the Menindee Lakes in accordance with the Lower Darling Annual Operations Plan. As part of drought contingency measures, WaterNSW has installed two temporary block banks across the lower Darling below Pooncarie near Jamesville and below Burtundy near Ashvale to assist in maintaining supply to domestic, stock and permanent plantings along the lower Darling. The release from Weir 32 remains near 220 ML/day. At Wentworth Weir, operations continue to target a pool level of around 10 cm above FSL to assist pumpers in the upper reaches of the Darling arm of the weir pool. The downstream release receded from 13,600 ML/day to the current flow near 11,600 ML/day. The flow is expected to recede further over the coming fortnight. The Lock 9 weir pool is currently targeting around 10 cm below FSL. The Lock 8 weir pool is currently around 50 cm below FSL as part of the weir pool variability program. The Lock 7 weir pool is currently targeting around 30 cm above FSL. Ongoing transfers from Hume, temporarily reduced demands and sustained IVT deliveries from the Goulburn system have helped increase the Lake Victoria storage volume by 38 GL to 514 GL (76% capacity). The storage volume is expected to increase further over the next fortnight as upstream transfers continue from Hume and Goulburn IVT water is delivered.

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Flow to is currently targeting 5,600 ML/day and will remain near this rate for the coming week. As part of the planned Chowilla watering the Lock 6 weir pool is currently 3cm above FSL but dropping slowly to reach the normal pool level by the end of November. At Lock 5 the weir pool has returned to the normal pool level. At Lock 2 the weir pool level is now targeting normal pool level. For more information see the South Australian Department for Environment and Water’s latest River Murray flow report. The 5-day average water level in the Lower Lakes is currently 0.76 m AHD. When conditions allow, environmental water is being released through the barrages to maintain connectivity between Lake Alexandrina and the Coorong estuary. Barrage releases have prioritised Tauwitchere, Boundary Creek and Goolwa and all fishways remain open.

For media inquiries contact the Media Officer on 02 6279 0141 ANDREW REYNOLDS Executive Director, River Management

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Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 14 Nov 2018 Full Full Current Change in Total Dead Active MDBA Storages Supply Supply Storage Current Storage Storage for the Storage Storage Level Volume Level Week (m AHD) (GL) (m AHD) (GL) % (GL) (GL) (GL) Dartmouth Reservoir 486.00 3 856 472.03 3 005 78% 71 2 934 -44 Hume Reservoir 192.00 3 005 181.84 1 356 45% 23 1 333 -41 Lake Victoria 27.00 677 25.61 514 76% 100 414 +38 Menindee Lakes 1 731* 120 7% (- -) # 0 -3 Total 9 269 4 995 54% - - 4 681 -50 Total Active MDBA Storage 55% ^

Major State Storages Burrinjuck Reservoir 1 026 432 42% 3 429 +0 Blowering Reservoir 1 631 871 53% 24 847 -14 Eildon Reservoir 3 334 1 980 59% 100 1 880 -18 * Menindee surcharge capacity – 2050 GL ** All Data is rounded to nearest GL ** # NSW has sole access to water when the storage falls below 480 GL. MDBA regains access to water when the storage next reaches 640 GL. ^ % of total active MDBA storage

Snowy Mountains Scheme Snowy diversions for week ending 13 Nov 2018 Storage Active Storage (GL) Weekly Change (GL) Diversion (GL) This Week From 1 May 2018 Lake Eucumbene - Total 777 +21 Snowy-Murray +0 492 Snowy-Murray Component 441 +22 Tooma-Tumut +4 135 Target Storage 1 450 Net Diversion -4 358 Murray 1 Release +1 611 Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) * New South Wales This Week From 1 July 2018 Victoria This Week From 1 July 2018 Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) 4.4 187 Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) 5.9 98 Wakool Sys Allowance 0.0 25 Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) 12.1 222 Western Murray Irrigation 0.5 6 Sunraysia Pumped Districts 2.6 32 Licensed Pumps 2.7 65 Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) 1 12 Lower Darling 0.2 4 Licensed pumps - LMW 4.6 105 TOTAL 7.8 287 TOTAL 26.2 469 * Figures are derived from actual and estimates where data is unavailable. Please note that not all data may have been available at the time of creating this report. ** All data above is rounded to nearest 100 ML for weekly data and nearest GL for cumulative data

Flow to South Australia (GL) Entitlement this month 180.0 * * Flow to SA will be greater than normal entitlement for Flow this week 41.8 (6 000 ML/day) this month due to environmental flows. Flow so far this month 105.1

Flow last month 227.0 Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C) Current Average over the last week Average since 1 August 2018 60 60 70 Euston - - - Red Cliffs 80 80 120 Merbein 80 80 120 Burtundy (Darling) 800 850 750 Lock 9 90 90 130 Lake Victoria 110 130 160 Berri 220 210 220 Waikerie 250 280 280 Morgan 300 300 290 Mannum 370 370 310 Murray Bridge 350 340 360 Milang (Lake Alex.) 920 900 850 Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) 790 780 740 Meningie (Lake Alb.) 1 450 1 450 1 510 Goolwa Barrages 1 370 1 390 2 990

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River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 14 Nov 2018 Minor Flood Average Flow this Average Flow last Gauge Height Flow Trend Stage Week Week local (m River Murray (m) (m) AHD) (ML/day) (ML/day) (ML/day) Khancoban - - - 1 430 R 850 1 770 Jingellic 4.0 1.39 207.91 2 380 R 2 810 2 370 Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) 4.2 3.36 220.25 9 530 R 7 990 9 130 Heywoods 5.5 3.18 156.81 16 030 S 15 830 15 610 Doctors Point 5.5 3.26 151.73 18 400 R 16 930 16 330 4.3 2.30 149.74 - - - - Corowa 4.6 3.39 129.41 17 140 R 16 280 17 210 Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) 6.4 2.26 117.30 14 930 S 14 720 14 980 Tocumwal 6.4 2.89 106.73 14 200 S 14 070 14 240 Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) 7.3 3.03 81.58 9 400 R 9 270 9 950 Swan Hill 4.5 1.73 64.65 9 590 S 10 010 11 270 Wakool Junction 8.8 4.05 53.17 12 480 F 13 140 14 240 Euston Weir (d/s) 9.1 2.25 44.09 12 560 F 13 300 14 460 Mildura Weir (d/s) - - 12 530 F 13 220 14 660 Wentworth Weir (d/s) 7.3 3.20 27.96 11 560 R 12 580 13 970 Rufus Junction - 3.18 20.11 4 650 S 5 250 8 330 Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) - 0.88 - 3 770 F 5 260 7 840

Tributaries Kiewa at Bandiana 2.8 1.76 154.99 1 590 R 1 270 930 Ovens at Wangaratta 11.9 8.06 145.74 700 F 980 700 Goulburn at McCoys Bridge 9.0 1.48 92.90 940 F 950 1 240 Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) 5.5 2.62 82.39 3 040 S 3 120 3 110 Edward at Liewah - 3.02 58.40 2 560 S 2 570 2 580 Wakool at Stoney Crossing - 1.74 55.23 940 R 930 920 Murrumbidgee at Balranald 5.0 1.08 57.04 630 R 570 590 Barwon at Mungindi 6.1 3.09 - 0 F 10 40 Darling at Bourke 9.0 3.43 - 0 F 0 0 Darling at Burtundy Rocks - 0.63 - 10 R 10 10

Natural Inflow to Hume 4 840 4 220 (i.e. Pre Dartmouth & )

Weirs and Locks Pool levels above or below Full Supply Level (FSL) Murray FSL (m AHD) u/s d/s FSL (m AHD) u/s d/s Yarrawonga 124.90 -0.15 - No. 7 Rufus River 22.10 +0.32 +0.87 No. 26 Torrumbarry 86.05 -0.00 - No. 6 Murtho 19.25 +0.03 +0.05 No. 15 Euston 47.60 -0.03 - No. 5 Renmark 16.30 +0.01 +0.14 No. 11 Mildura 34.40 -0.02 +0.51 No. 4 Bookpurnong 13.20 +0.03 +0.33 No. 10 Wentworth 30.80 +0.10 +0.56 No. 3 Overland Corner 9.80 -0.03 +0.08 No. 9 Kulnine 27.40 -0.05 -0.40 No. 2 Waikerie 6.10 -0.04 +0.08 No. 8 Wangumma 24.60 -0.47 +0.42 No. 1 Blanchetown 3.20 -0.02 +0.13

Lower Lakes FSL = 0.75 m AHD Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD) 0.76

Barrages Fishways at Barrages Openings Level (m AHD) No. Open Rock Ramp Vertical Slot 1 Vertical Slot 2 Dual Vertical Slots Goolwa 128 openings 0.74 1 - Open Open - Mundoo 26 openings 0.78 All closed - - - Open Hunters Creek - - - - Open - - Boundary Creek 6 openings - 1 - Open - - Ewe Island 111 gates - All closed - - - Open Tauwitchere 322 gates 0.76 1 Open Open Open - AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level

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Week ending Wednesday 14 Nov 2018

State Allocations (as at 15 Nov 2018) NSW - Murray Valley Victorian - Murray Valley High security 97% High reliability 90%

General security 0% Low reliability 0%

NSW – Murrumbidgee Valley Victorian - Goulburn Valley High security 95% High reliability 85%

General security 7% Low reliability 0%

NSW - Lower Darling South Australia – Murray Valley

High security 100% High security 100%

General security 0%

NSW : https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/allocations-availability/allocations/summary

VIC : http://nvrm.net.au/seasonal-determinations/current

SA : http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/river-murray

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