• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

RIVER MURRAY WEEKLY REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2018

Trim Ref: D18/3361 Rainfall and inflows Rainfall was relatively widespread across Victoria and New South Wales this week, however for most of the interior Basin, rainfall totals were small (i.e. less than 10mm) (Map 1). Larger falls occurred over the Victorian Alps, south eastern New South Wales and the Northern Tablelands with highest recorded totals of 94mm at Thredbo (just outside the Basin) and 67 mm at Falls Creek (Rocky Valley) . Little to no rainfall was recorded in southern Queensland and western New South Wales.

Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall map week ending 17 January 2018 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).

Flows in the upper Murray tributaries continued to recede this week with the exception of a small rise following moderate rainfall recorded over the Australian Alps on the weekend. The flow in the upper Mitta Mitta River at Hinnomunjie fell to 350 ML/day ML/day, then increased to just under 600 ML/day following rainfall before receding again to around 370 ML/day. Inflow from the Kiewa River to the Murray averaged 640 ML/day over the past week and flow in the Ovens River at Wangaratta averaged 935 ML/day this week. Ovens River flow is currently 830 ML/day.

Subscribe to the River Murray weekly report

Page 1 of 8 River operations

MDBA active storage decreased this week by 135 GL to 5,809 GL (69% capacity). The storage volume at Dartmouth Reservoir increased by 3 GL to 3,439 GL (89% capacity). The release from Dartmouth Reservoir, measured at Colemans, averaged 300 ML/day over the week. A brief increase to around 2,200 ML/day is planned to begin on Australia Day and continue until Sunday before gradually returning to the minimum flow target of 300 ML/day. The pulse is for the benefit of water quality in the Mitta Mitta River downstream of Dartmouth Dam. At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume fell by 84 GL to 1,968 GL (65% capacity). The release from Hume reduced from 16,300 ML/day to 12,500 ML/day in response to reduced demands downstream following the cooler conditions. Releases are forecast to increase ahead of the hot and dry conditions this coming week. Downstream at Lake Mulwala, the pool level has remained within the normal operating range of 124.7 to 124.9 m AHD. Diversions at the major irrigation offtakes reduced slightly in response to rainfall and milder temperatures, but have increased again as hot and dry conditions returned. The diversion to Mulwala Canal is currently 5,600 ML/day, similar to the peak diversion at the start of the week. At Yarrawonga Main Channel, the diversion has averaged 1,200 ML/day. Releases from Yarrawonga Weir over the past week increased from 9,250 ML/day to 9,800 ML/day. The release is expected to reduce towards 9,000 ML/day in the coming week. Flow into the Gulpa Creek is currently targeting 600 ML/day to deliver water to support bird breeding in Reedbeds wetland. This is above the normal summer maximum regulated flow of 350 ML/day. The flow through the Edward offtake regulator is targeting the maximum regulated flow of 1,600 ML/day. Return flows from Millewa forest into the Edward River continue to ease contributing to the flow at Toonalook declining to 2,000 ML/day. Over the next week this flow is expected to remain steady at 2,000 ML/day. Diversion into Wakool Main Canal has averaged 1,500 ML/day. Murray Irrigation Limited is currently releasing around 800 ML/day from Edward Escape to help meet the higher demand at Wakool Main Canal. The release from Stevens Weir has averaged 740 ML/day and is likely to increase to around 1,300 ML/day over the coming week as more of the Wakool Canal demands are supplied from the Edward Escape. Inflow to the Murray from the Goulburn River, measured at McCoys Bridge, averaged around 1,170 ML/day. A further rise to 1,500 ML/day is foreshadowed in the coming weeks as the MDBA continues to call water from the Goulburn Valley (Goulburn Valley inter valley transfers (IVT)). This IVT water will help meet system demands in the Murray Valley downstream of the Barmah choke. If conditions remain warm and dry, IVT will continue to be delivered from the Goulburn system during February, possibly at higher rates. Goulburn-Broken Catchment Management Authority is currently planning to deliver a small flow pulse in the lower Goulburn River to benefit native fish. The pulse, originally planned for late January, may now commence a little later (early February) with peak flow rates currently planned to reach 2,500– 3,000 ML/day at McCoys Bridge for around two weeks. More information on this pulse will be provided in coming weeks. Goulburn Valley IVT is also being delivered to the Murray via the Campaspe River, with a target flow rate of 200 ML/day at Rochester. Information regarding current opportunities for allocation trade between the Goulburn and Murray valleys is available at the Victorian water register website. Diversion into National Channel, from Torrumbarry Weir pool, has remained steady near 2,300 ML/day. The release downstream of Torrumbarry is currently 6,050 ML/day and expected to recede a little over the coming week. Inflow from the Murrumbidgee River, measured at Balranald, averaged around 1,190 ML/day this week and is currently 680 ML/day. This continues to be above the normal January end of system target of 190 ML/day and is mostly the result of reduced irrigation demand following rainfall upstream in the Murrumbidgee Valley in late December 2017. The Murrumbidgee IVT balance is currently

2 6.8 GL, restricting the MDBA’s ability to call on water delivery from this valley to help meet Murray system demands. At Euston, the weir pool level remains around 20 cm above the full supply level (FSL). The pool level, which was initially raised to capture and conserve water during the recent unregulated flow event, may vary in the coming week with hot and dry conditions forecasted and irrigation demands anticipated to increase. The downstream release has continued to recede and is currently 5,810 ML/day. A further recession is expected over the coming weeks toward 4,000 ML/day. At Menindee Lakes, the storage volume reduced by 20 GL to 397 GL (23% capacity). A red alert warning (high alert) for blue-green algae is current for Lake Wetherell, Lake Menindee and Lake Tandure. Releases from the Menindee Lakes are currently being managed by WaterNSW in accordance with the Lower Darling Annual Operations Plan. This plan was implemented by WaterNSW when the storage volume fell below 480 GL in December 2017 and will remain in place until the storage volume next exceeds 640 GL. The plan aims to help ensure critical human water needs are met whilst seeking to maintain environmental objectives in the Lower Darling under the worst-case inflow scenario. The release from Weir 32 is currently 215 ML/day and being managed to maintain a minimum flow in the lower Darling at Burtundy, where the flow is currently 40 ML/day. Downstream on the Murray, the flow at Wentworth has reduced to 4,260 ML/day, and is expected to recede further over the coming weeks. The weir pool level is currently targeting 10 cm above FSL in anticipation of hot and dry conditions and high irrigation demand. Operations at Lock 9, 8 and 7 continue to target weir pool levels around FSL. At Lake Victoria, the storage volume reduced by 34 GL and is currently at 596 GL (88% capacity). The Lake level is expected to fall away as stored water is used to help deliver entitlement flows to South Australia. The flow to South Australia averaged 7,600 ML/day this week and is currently 7,000 ML/day. Early in the coming week the flow will reduce further to around 6,300 ML/day.

Photo 1 – Looking out across the Coorong (Sophie Taylor, MDBA).

At the Lower Lakes, the 5-day average water level in Lake Alexandrina eased to 0.76 m AHD remaining above the normal full supply level of 0.75 m AHD. Releases through the barrages continue Subscribe to the River Murray weekly report

Page 3 of 8 to provide a small flow into the Coorong (Photo 1). The current release is around 1,400 ML/day and all barrage fishways remain open.

For media inquiries contact the Media Officer on 02 6279 0141

ANDREW REYNOLDS Executive Director, River Management

4 Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 17 Jan 2018 Change in Full Current Total Full Supply Dead Active MDBA Storages Supply Storage Current Storage Storage Volume Storage Storage Level Level for the Week (m AHD) (GL) (m AHD) (GL) % (GL) (GL) (GL) Dartmouth Reservoir 486.00 3 856 479.42 3 439 89% 71 3 368 +3 Hume Reservoir 192.00 3 005 186.20 1 968 65% 23 1 945 -84 Lake Victoria 27.00 677 26.32 596 88% 100 496 -34 Menindee Lakes 1 731* 397 23% (- -) # 0 -20 Total 9 269 6 400 69% - - 5 809 -135 Total Active MDBA Storage 69% ^

Major State Storages Burrinjuck Reservoir 1 026 651 63% 3 648 -15 Blowering Reservoir 1 631 695 43% 24 671 -43 Eildon Reservoir 3 334 2 447 73% 100 2 347 -24 * 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 16 Jan 2018 Active Storage Weekly Change From 1 May Storage Diversion (GL) This Week (GL) (GL) 2017 Lake Eucumbene - Total 1 767 n/a Snowy-Murray +12 577 Snowy-Murray Component 749 n/a Tooma-Tumut +4 182 Target Storage 1 520 Net Diversion 9 395 Murray 1 Release +18 800 Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) * From 1 July From 1 New South Wales This Week Victoria This Week 2017 July 2017 Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) 40.9 543 Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) 6.8 159 Wakool Sys Allowance 2.7 23 Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) 14.6 256 Western Murray Irrigation 1.2 13 Sunraysia Pumped Districts 3.9 65 Licensed Pumps 7.6 125 Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) 1 19 Lower Darling 4.4 60 Licensed pumps - LMW 4.6 200 TOTAL 56.8 764 TOTAL 30.9 699 * 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 217.0 * * Flow to SA will be greater than normal Flow this week 53.2 (7 600 ML/day) entitlement for this month due to environmental Flow so far this month 150.9 flows. Flow last month 441.2

Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C) Current Average over the last week Average since 1 August 2017 Swan Hill 80 80 100 Euston - - - Red Cliffs 160 160 160 Merbein 160 160 150 Burtundy (Darling) 640 640 660 Lock 9 160 160 170 Lake Victoria 250 240 230 Berri 240 230 280 Waikerie 250 240 330 Morgan 260 250 350 Mannum 280 270 390 Murray Bridge 320 320 450 Milang (Lake Alex.) 720 710 640 Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) 650 630 600 Subscribe to the River Murray weekly report

Page 5 of 8 Meningie (Lake Alb.) 1 570 1 590 1 540 Goolwa Barrages 980 990 1 200 River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 17 Jan 2018 Minor Flood Gauge Height Flow Trend Average Flow Average Stage this Week Flow last Week River Murray (m) local (m) (m AHD) (ML/day) (ML/day) (ML/day) Khancoban - - - 2 980 F 2 960 2 940 Jingellic 4.0 1.58 208.10 3 580 R 3 890 3 360 Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) 4.2 1.47 218.36 740 F 800 1 280 Heywoods 5.5 2.81 156.44 12 500 F 15 270 14 710 Doctors Point 5.5 2.88 151.35 13 590 R 16 140 15 950 Albury 4.3 1.88 149.32 - - - - Corowa 4.6 3.12 129.14 14 940 F 16 590 14 100 Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) 6.4 1.67 116.71 9 800 R 9 630 9 250 Tocumwal 6.4 2.27 106.11 9 570 S 9 500 9 390 Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) 7.3 2.15 80.69 6 050 R 5 600 5 570 Swan Hill 4.5 1.13 64.05 5 440 R 5 310 6 180 Wakool Junction 8.8 2.47 51.59 5 570 F 6 080 7 640 Euston Weir (d/s) 9.1 1.25 43.09 5 810 F 6 150 6 920 Mildura Weir (d/s) - - 5 420 F 5 330 6 950 Wentworth Weir (d/s) 7.3 2.83 27.59 4 260 R 4 130 5 680 Rufus Junction - 3.50 20.43 6 520 F 7 140 9 140 Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) - 0.81 - 4 530 F 4 700 6 160

Tributaries Kiewa at Bandiana 2.8 1.29 154.52 880 R 640 920 Ovens at Wangaratta 11.9 8.11 145.79 830 F 930 1 030 Goulburn at McCoys Bridge 9.0 1.65 93.07 1 220 S 1 170 910 Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) 5.5 1.07 80.84 720 F 740 530 Edward at Liewah - 1.17 56.55 600 F 750 1 190 Wakool at Stoney Crossing - 1.41 54.90 420 F 430 580 Murrumbidgee at Balranald 5.0 1.14 57.10 680 F 1 190 800 Barwon at Mungindi 6.1 3.23 - 160 S 110 80 Darling at Bourke 9.0 3.92 - 0 F 10 40 Darling at Burtundy Rocks - 0.67 - 40 S 50 50

Natural Inflow to Hume 3 380 2 750 (i.e. Pre Dartmouth & Snowy Mountains scheme)

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 -0.00 - No. 7 Rufus River 22.10 +0.05 +1.17 No. 26 Torrumbarry 86.05 -0.00 - No. 6 Murtho 19.25 +0.02 +0.11 No. 15 Euston 47.60 +0.20 - No. 5 Renmark 16.30 +0.04 +0.19 No. 11 Mildura 34.40 +0.05 +0.10 No. 4 Bookpurnong 13.20 +0.05 +0.64 No. 10 Wentworth 30.80 +0.06 +0.19 No. 3 Overland Corner 9.80 +0.00 +0.21 No. 9 Kulnine 27.40 +0.02 -0.02 No. 2 Waikerie 6.10 +0.04 +0.06 No. 8 Wangumma 24.60 -0.01 +0.10 No. 1 Blanchetown 3.20 -0.08 +0.06

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 0.76 1 - Open Open - Mundoo 26 openings 0.72 All closed - - - Open Hunters Creek - - - - Open - - Boundary Creek 6 openings - 1 - Open - - Ewe Island 111 gates - All closed - - - Open Tauwitchere 322 gates 0.76 2 Open Open Open - AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level

6 Week ending Wednesday 17 Jan 2018

State Allocations (as at 17 Jan 2018) NSW - Murray Valley Victorian - Murray Valley High security 97% High reliability 100% General security 49% Low reliability 0%

NSW – Murrumbidgee Valley Victorian - Goulburn Valley High security 95% High reliability 100% General security 33% Low reliability 0%

NSW - Lower Darling South Australia – Murray Valley High security 100% High security 100% General security 100%

Subscribe to the River Murray weekly report Page 7 of 8 http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/water-management/water- NSW : availability VIC : http://nvrm.net.au/seasonal-determinations/current http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural- SA : resources/river-murray

Subscribe to the River Murray weekly report Page 8 of 8

Load more

  8

Copy Link