River Murray Operations Weekly Report 11 January 2017

RIVER MURRAY WEEKLY REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING WEDNESDAY, 11 JANUARY 2018

Trim Ref: D17/2011 Rainfall and inflows A strong high pressure system in the Tasman Sea maintained hot and mostly dry conditions across most of the Murray-Darling Basin, before an extensive cloud band stretching from Western Australia brought rain to South Australia, areas of southern New South Wales and much of Victoria. The heaviest falls were in the NSW and Victorian ranges, with 52 mm recorded at Thredbo AWS and 79 mm at Falls Creek AWS. In South Australia 34 mm fell at Mindarie in the Murray Mallee region. Temperatures are expected to remain warm to hot along the Murray this week, with some rainfall forecast for Friday.

Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall week ending 11 January 2017 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology) Tributaries in the upper Murray catchments slowly receded this week before rainfall delivered short- lived rises. Hinnomunjie, on the Mitta Mitta River upstream of Dartmouth Reservoir, decreased to 550 ML/day before peaking near 1,700 ML/day. Similarly, Biggara on the upper Murray receded to 540 ML/day before peaking near 1,600 ML/day following Monday’s rain. The Kiewa River at Bandiana has fluctuated throughout the week, averaging near 1,300 ML/day, while the flow in the Ovens River at Wangaratta receded from 2,000 ML/day to below 1,300 ML/day before rising to 2,300 ML/day. Tributaries are expected to recede over the coming week.

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of 10 River operations

MDBA total storage fell by 124 GL this week to 7,071 GL (82% capacity).

Dartmouth Reservoir storage increased by 8 GL to 3,014 GL (78% capacity). The release, measured at Colemans gauge, remained at 300 ML/day this week but is scheduled to be increased for three days starting on Friday 20 January 2017. This pulse of water is provided for by MDBA’s minimum release provisions for Dartmouth and is designed to mimic a small natural pulse that will provide water quality and ecosystem function benefits in the Mitta Mitta River downstream of Dartmouth Dam (see attached flow advice).

The storage volume at Hume Reservoir fell by 55 GL this week to 2,691 GL (90% capacity). Releases from Hume were increased to 15,800 ML/day during the week to help meet growing downstream demands before being gradually wound back to 11,800 ML/day. Downstream at Corowa, the flow has risen to 16,300 ML/day and is expected to gradually decline over the coming days.

This week’s hot weather contributed to higher than anticipated irrigation diversions (Photo 1) from Lake Mulwala. On the Victorian side, diversion to Yarrawonga Main Channel increased to near 1,600 ML/day before rain over Victorian irrigation districts eased demands back to 1,100 ML/day later in the week. Diversion to Mulwala Canal increased from 3,700 ML/day to 6,400 ML/day this week and is expected to increase further in the coming days. Currently, about 1,200 ML/day is being delivered via Mulwala Canal to the Edward River upstream of Deniliquin to supply customers on the Wakool Main Canal, where demand increased to around 1,700 ML/day. Given the higher than anticipated diversions from Lake Mulwala, the pool level dipped to 124.69 m AHD before additional water released from Hume increased the pool level.

Releases from Yarrawonga Weir have remained around 8,000 ML/day this week and are expected to average near this rate over the coming weeks. These releases are lower than experienced over the last few years at this time of year due to downstream demands being supplemented by water from the Goulburn, Campaspe, Murrumbidgee and Menindee Lakes. This allows more water to be conserved in the major storages of Hume and Dartmouth than would otherwise have been the case.

On the Edward River system, the flow through the Edward and Gulpa offtakes has remained near 1,600 ML/day and 500 ML/day, respectively. Downstream at Stevens Weir the flow is 600 ML/day and is expected to remain near this rate over the coming week.

The flow in the Goulburn River at McCoys Bridge fluctuated this week, falling from 2,900 to 2,000 ML/day before rising to 3,000 ML/day. The flow is expected to recede to around 1,500 ML/day in the next few weeks. Dissolved oxygen readings in the lower Goulburn dropped to near 1 mg/L (hypoxic) at the start of the week before recovering in the following days. No notable change in dissolved oxygen has been recorded in the Murray from this event.

Inter Valley Trade (IVT) deliveries from the Goulburn and Broken Creek to the Murray have now begun, and deliveries from the Campaspe are to begin shortly. These deliveries are expected to persist for the next few months and will help meet downstream demands in the Murray system. Once sufficient volumes have been delivered to the Murray, trade out of the Goulburn, Campaspe, Broken and Loddon system may be made available.

2 Photo 1 – This week’s hot temperatures helped drive up irrigation demands in the Riverina.

At Torrumbarry Weir, the diversion to National Channel has remained steady around 2,300 ML/day. This includes a small component of environmental water to maintain higher flows in Gunbower Creek for juvenile Murray Cod development. The majority of this environmental flow will return to the River Murray upstream of Barham and will be used to help meet downstream demands. The release from the weir increased to 7,500 earlier in the week before receding to 6,400 ML/day.

On the lower Murrumbidgee River, the flow at Balranald receded further, falling from 4,100 ML/day to near 600 ML/day. IVT deliveries from the Murrumbidgee system are to begin in about 3 weeks’ time and may persist beyond February. This will result in the flow at Balranald increasing to around 2,000 ML/day. Once a sufficient volume of IVT has been delivered from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray, trade out of the Murrumbidgee may become available. Further information on IVT in the Murrumbidgee system is available from WaterNSW. Downstream on the Murray at Euston, the flow receded from 16,500 ML/day to 12,000 ML/day. The flow is expected to further recede over the coming week. The lock at Euston is closed due to repair works being undertaken on one of the upstream lock gates (see attached media release). In the coming weeks the Euston weir pool may be lowered below the Full Supply Level (FSL) but will be returned to near FSL during important recreational times.

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of 10 Photo 2 – An inundated wetland surrounded by Redgum Forest in Gulpa Island, Millewa Forest. Source: Sarah Commens, MDBA.

Total storage in Menindee Lakes reduced by 54 GL this week and is now 1,454 GL (82% capacity). Releases, measured at Weir 32, had averaged around 1,800 ML/day for around three weeks. A portion of this release was environmental water aimed at supporting the growth and dispersal of Murray Cod that have spawned in the Lower Darling River over the past few months. However this week the release changed to an operational release to begin supplying water to the River Murray System. The operational release has been shaped to mimic a more natural pulse to benefit native fish in the lower Darling. Releases have increased to 4,600 ML/day this week and will increase to 6,500 ML/day in the coming days before being gradually returned to a steady flow of 5,000 ML/day later in January. Releases will continue as needed until the end of the irrigation season. Even without further flows past Wilcannia, MDBA is not expecting the total volume in the Lakes to fall below about 600 GL by the end of May.

On the Murray, weir pools at Locks 9, 8 and 7 are currently close to Full Supply Level (FSL) but are planned to be lowered below FSL in the coming weeks. Weir pool variability helps to restore a more natural wetting and drying cycle to riverbanks along weir pool affected reaches. More information on possible weir pool levels in the coming weeks is available on the MDBA website. The Lake Victoria storage volume reduced by 24 GL this week 586 GL (87% capacity) and is forecast to continue decreasing over coming months if conditions are dry. Currently water in Lake Victoria is supplementing Murray flows to target a flow to South Australia of 17,000 ML/day. This flow rate will be gradually reduced throughout the remainder of this month.

At the Lower Lakes, the 5-day average level in Lake Alexandrina is 0.80 m AHD. As the flooding subsides in South Australia, barrage releases have fallen from over 70,000 ML/day last week to below 10,000 ML/day this week.

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

4 Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 11 Jan 2017 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 3 856 472.18 3 014 78% 71 2 943 +8 Hume Reservoir 192.00 3 005 190.39 2 691 90% 23 2 668 -55 Lake Victoria 27.00 677 26.24 586 87% 100 486 -24 Menindee Lakes 1 731* 1 454 84% (480 #) 974 -54 Total 9 269 7 745 84% - - 7 071 -124 Total Active MDBA Storage 82% ^

Major State Storages Burrinjuck Reservoir 1 026 950 93% 3 947 -32 Blowering Reservoir 1 631 1 485 91% 24 1 461 -59 Eildon Reservoir 3 334 2 587 78% 100 2 487 -27 * 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 10 Jan 2017 Active Storage Weekly Change From 1 May Storage Diversion (GL) This Week (GL) (GL) 2016 Lake Eucumbene - Total 1 929 -21 Snowy-Murray +8 880 Snowy-Murray Component 884 -1 Tooma-Tumut +0 320 Target Storage 1 520 Net Diversion 8 560 Murray 1 Release +15 1 273 Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) * From 1 July From 1 New South Wales This Week Victoria This Week 2016 July 2016 Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) 43.5 410 Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) 9.2 90 Wakool Sys Allowance 1.7 1 Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) 12.7 194 Western Murray Irrigation 1.1 11 Sunraysia Pumped Districts 4.6 48 Licensed Pumps 8.6 95 Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) 2.6 11 Lower Darling 0.2 3 Licensed pumps - LMW 20 167 TOTAL 55.1 520 TOTAL 49.1 510 * 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 120.2 (17 200 ML/day) entitlement for this month due to trades and Flow so far this month 191.8 environmental deliveries. Flow last month 1,915.3

Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C) Current Average over the last week Average since 1 August 2016 Swan Hill 110 100 130 Euston - - - Red Cliffs 160 180 160 Merbein 160 190 160 Burtundy (Darling) 400 400 650 Lock 9 210 230 170 Lake Victoria 190 190 180 Berri 300 300 200 Waikerie 460 520 260 Morgan 510 590 260 Mannum 600 540 260 Murray Bridge 430 390 260 Milang (Lake Alex.) 360 370 540 Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) 380 380 320 Subscribe to the River Murray weekly report

of 10 Meningie (Lake Alb.) 1 620 1 610 1 770 Goolwa Barrages 430 480 1 230 River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 11 Jan 2017 Average Minor Flood Average Flow Gauge Height Flow Trend Flow last Stage this Week Week River Murray (m) local (m) (m AHD) (ML/day) (ML/day) (ML/day) Khancoban - - - 1 930 F 2 820 3 130 Jingellic 4.0 1.70 208.22 4 240 R 3 870 6 090 Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) 4.2 1.60 218.49 1 020 F 970 1 200 Heywoods 5.5 2.80 156.43 12 170 F 12 090 8 150 Doctors Point 5.5 2.90 151.37 13 760 F 14 110 10 220 Albury 4.3 1.86 149.30 - - - - Corowa 4.6 3.30 129.32 16 320 R 12 930 10 580 Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) 6.4 1.35 116.39 7 910 S 8 030 9 750 Tocumwal 6.4 2.20 106.04 9 860 F 9 940 11 940 Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) 7.3 2.13 80.68 6 410 F 8 110 7 670 Swan Hill 4.5 1.54 64.46 8 340 F 7 930 7 910 Wakool Junction 8.8 3.60 52.72 10 840 R 6 990 8 940 Euston Weir (d/s) 9.1 2.17 44.01 12 000 F 13 820 17 380 Mildura Weir (d/s) - - 13 620 F 15 250 18 100 Wentworth Weir (d/s) 7.3 3.41 28.17 13 340 F 14 710 17 650 Rufus Junction - 4.82 21.75 16 070 R 16 190 18 160 Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) - 1.42 - 18 400 R 18 610 56 890

Tributaries Kiewa at Bandiana 2.8 1.65 154.88 1 450 R 1 270 1 470 Ovens at Wangaratta 11.9 8.68 146.36 2 340 R 1 570 2 960 Goulburn at McCoys Bridge 9.0 2.59 94.01 3 020 R 2 510 2 160 Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) 5.5 0.84 80.61 610 F 610 980 Edward at Liewah - 1.73 57.11 1 040 F 1 200 1 500 Wakool at Stoney Crossing - 1.74 55.23 1 320 F 1 670 2 180 Murrumbidgee at Balranald 5.0 0.97 56.93 580 F 1 790 5 590 Barwon at Mungindi 6.1 3.16 - 30 R 10 90 Darling at Bourke 9.0 4.06 - 220 S 290 420 Darling at Burtundy Rocks - 1.14 - 1 370 S 1 390 1 390

Natural Inflow to Hume 4 980 8 830 (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 -0.18 - No. 7 Rufus River 22.10 +0.04 +2.48 No. 26 Torrumbarry 86.05 +0.00 - No. 6 Murtho 19.25 -0.04 +0.81 No. 15 Euston 47.60 -0.05 - No. 5 Renmark 16.30 +0.00 +0.78 No. 11 Mildura 34.40 -0.02 +0.40 No. 4 Bookpurnong 13.20 +0.03 +1.64 No. 10 Wentworth 30.80 -0.02 +0.77 No. 3 Overland Corner 9.80 +0.17 +1.03 No. 9 Kulnine 27.40 +0.07 +0.37 No. 2 Waikerie 6.10 +0.20 +1.05 No. 8 Wangumma 24.60 -0.01 +0.72 No. 1 Blanchetown 3.20 -0.17 +0.67

Lower Lakes FSL = 0.75 m AHD Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD) 0.80 Barrages Fishways at Barrages Dual Level (m Vertical Slot Vertical Openings AHD) No. Open Rock Ramp 1 Vertical Slot 2 Slots Goolwa 128 openings 0.73 5 - Open Open - Mundoo 26 openings 0.67 1 - - - Open Hunters Creek - - - - Open - - Boundary Creek 6 openings - 1 - Open - - Ewe Island 111 gates - All closed - - - Open Tauwitchere 322 gates 0.75 21 Open Open Open - AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level

6 Week ending Wednesday 11 Jan 2017

State Allocations (as at 11 Jan 2017) NSW - Murray Valley Victorian - Murray Valley High security 100% High reliability 100% General security 100% Low reliability 0%

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

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

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Flow advice

13 January 2017

Mitta Mitta flow pulse Landholders and river users, including pumpers, on the Mitta Mitta River are advised to take into account forecast releases of water from Dartmouth Dam and make any necessary adjustment to their river activities. On Friday 20 January, releases will be increased from 300 megalitres per day (ML/day) to 2,400 ML/day. Releases will start being reduced the next day, Saturday 21 January, and will return to 300 ML/day by Sunday 22 January. This pulse in the Mitta Mitta River is to benefit the local environment. The releases from Dartmouth Dam may vary from those forecast and flows on the Mitta Mitta may increase at any time if rain falls in the catchment downstream of the dam. Forecast Mitta Mitta flows Time and Date Releases from Colemans Gauge Tallandoon Gauge Dartmouth Dam Flow Height Flow Height (ML/day) (m) (ML/day) (m) 0700 hrs Friday 20 Flows increasing 300 1.00 720 1.45 January 1600 hrs Friday 20 Flow steady 2,400 1.78 760 1.47 January 1600 hrs Saturday 21 Flows 2,400 1.78 3,000 2.16 January decreasing 1800 hrs Sunday 22 Flows steady 300 1.00 1,500 1.75 January 0800 hrs Monday 23 Flows steady 300 1.00 760 1.47 January

A further flow advice will be issued when there is a significant change to releases. Landholders and river users on the Mitta Mitta are advised to regularly check the information on releases from Dartmouth Dam and current flows and forecasts on the MDBA website: www.mdba.gov.au/river-information/storage-volumes-releases Live river data for Dartmouth Dam, the Mitta Mitta and other sites on the Murray system can be seen at: http://livedata.mdba.gov.au.

Subscribe to the River Murray weekly report Page 8 of 10 Further details are available in the latest River Murray Weekly Report. ENDS For more information, contact the MDBA Media office at [email protected] or 02 6279 0141 Follow us on Twitter @MD_Basin_Auth or Facebook @Murray-DarlingBasinAuthority

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12 January 2017

Euston lock closed for urgent maintenance

Euston’s Lock 15 has been closed for urgent maintenance to one of its upstream lock gates.

Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) general manager river operations Andrew Reynolds said boats would not be able to access the lock until the maintenance is completed.

“An issue with an upstream lock gate was identified yesterday,” Mr Reynolds said.

“WaterNSW is working to address the issue. This will involve using a crane to lift the gate out.

“While the crane is onsite, we will check all of the lock gates to ensure there are no other problems.

“We know there are many people using the river at this time of the year so we will be working to fix the gate as soon as possible.

“The maintenance will take at least one week. However, there could be further delays to boat traffic into late January if additional work is identified.”

The water level in the Euston weir pool will not be affected.

Boat operators and other river users are advised to take this lock closure into account when planning their activities on the river.

For more information, contact the MDBA Media office at [email protected] or 02 6279 0141 Follow @MD_Basin_Auth on Twitter: twitter.com/MD_Basin_Auth Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/MDBAuth

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