River Murray Weekly Report For the week ending Wednesday, 25 September 2019

Trim Ref: D19/43708 Rainfall and inflows Precipitation was recorded across most of the southern Murray-Darling Basin this week, with higher totals across the Great Dividing Ranges and southern South (Map 1). Some of the highest totals included 32 mm in the Rocky Valley in Victoria’s upper northeast, 21 mm at in the NSW southwestern slopes and 20 mm at Morgan in South Australia’s flats and lower Basin region.

Map 1 - Rainfall totals for week ending 25th September (Source: Bureau of Meteorology) Only modest responses were observed in the upper tributaries of the Murray System following this week’s rain. For specific information about flows at key locations in the upper Murray catchment including Hinnomunjie Bridge on the upper Mitta Mitta River, Biggara on the upper Murray, Bandiana on the Kiewa River as well as Peechelba on the Ovens River can be found at the MDBA’s River Murray data webpage. Up-to-date river data for sites in the upper Murray can also be found at Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM) website and in the Basin daily river report at the WaterNSW website.

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Photo 1: Higher flows downstream of Lake William Hovell on the King River (Photo courtesy: Tim Rossi, MDBA)

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River operations

• Flows downstream of Yarrawonga maintained at 15,000 ML/day as environmental water deliveries continue. • Environmental flow pulses in the lower Goulburn and Campaspe now arriving in the Murray. • Weir pool levels rise at Locks 15, 8 & 7.

River operations The MDBA total active storage reduced by 16 GL to 3,903 GL (46% capacity). At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage decreased by 13 GL to 2,249 GL (58% capacity). Releases are continuing from Dartmouth aimed at transferring water to Hume to support expected system demands in the months ahead. Approximately 140 GL will have been transferred from Dartmouth to Hume for the month of September. A target transfer volume of closer to 200 GL is expected for October. Over the last week the releases from Dartmouth, measured at Colemans, rose from 4,300 ML/day to 6,000 ML/day. The release is expected to gradually recede again into the coming week. Dartmouth releases will continue to be varied in a manner that will transfer the required volume to , whilst seeking to minimise erosion along the lower Mitta Mitta River. At Hume Reservoir, the storage increased by 1 GL to 1,269 GL (42% capacity). WaterNSW is currently undertaking scheduled maintenance works at Hume Dam to refurbish the irrigation penstocks and emergency closure gates. Works are expected to be completed by the end of 2021. More information regarding these works and access across the dam wall can be found on the WaterNSW website.

The release from Hume Dam is currently 12,500 ML/day. Without significant rainfall, releases are expected to increase steadily in order to meet higher demands downstream including environmental demands. The operational component of the flow has been approximately 9,200 ML/day over the week and is anticipated to remain as such through the month of October. This level of operational flow contributes to meeting demands along the river as well as sustaining the level in Lake Victoria in preparation for expected demands over summer and into autumn.

Downstream of Hume, tributary inflows from the Kiewa River at Bandiana and the Ovens River at Wangaratta both averaged around 3,000 ML/day over the past week.

At Lake , the pool level is currently 124.70 m AHD and is expected to remain within the normal operating range of 124.6 to 124.9 m AHD in the coming week. Diversions to the Mulwala Canal and Yarrawonga Main Channel (YMC) are around 1,000 ML/day and 700 ML/day respectively. The release downstream of Yarrawonga Weir is targeting 15,000 ML/day. This higher flow rate is being targeted on behalf of environmental water holders who have identified inundation of the Barmah-Millewa Forest as a key watering action for this year. Water consumed in the Barmah-Millewa Forest will be debited from entitlements held by environmental water holders. Water flowing back into the river from the forest, known as ‘return flows’, will be coordinated with a planned environmental pulse from the Goulburn and Campaspe Rivers providing ecological benefits along the length of the River Murray to the Coorong in South Australia. Updates on environmental watering actions and monitoring during spring 2019 are available from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office website. For more information on how environmental water is helping to improve the health of rivers in the Basin see the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website and the latest fact sheet and update from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office. Flows through the Edward and Gulpa offtakes are currently near 1,560 and 720 ML/day respectively. The diversion to Gulpa Creek at this higher rate is delivering environmental water to the Gulpa wetlands to provide optimal nesting habitat for the endangered Australasian Bittern over October, November and into December.

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Further downstream on the at Toonalook the flow averaged near 4,100 ML/day. This flow is currently being boosted by around 1,800 ML/day from return flows from the Millewa Forest. At Stevens Weir, the release is near 3,200 ML/day and is forecast to remain around this rate into the near future. Regulators into Werai forest have been opened to assist in managing flows downstream of Steven’s Weir. This action will allow water to flow through the Niemur River via anabranch channels in Werai forest.

Photo 2: Edward River at , downstream of Toonalook (Photo courtesy of Digby Jacobs, MDBA) On the the flow has increased this week from 1,100 ML/day to 5,500 ML/day at McCoys Bridge as environmental spring pulse is delivered through the Goulburn System. The timing of these flows has been co- ordinated with the spring watering event on the River Murray. Similarly, an environmental watering action is underway in the Campaspe River. Flows at Rochester reached 1,500 ML/day and have receded to 650 ML/day. Flows will continue to recede over the coming week. For more information see the Victorian Environmental Water Holder and their latest watering releases. The current Goulburn IVT balance is around 236 GL. More information regarding current opportunities for allocation trade between the Goulburn and Murray valleys is available at the Victorian water register website. Downstream at Torrumbarry weir pool, diversions to Koondrook-Perricoota Forest are continuing at around 500 ML/day. Koondrook-Perricoota Forest was last inundated during 2016 following extensive natural flooding. However dry conditions since then have seen the health of the forest and wetlands deteriorate. The MDBA ‘Basin Environmental Watering Priorities 2019-20’ identify Koondrook-Perricoota Forest as a priority site to receive water this year. A flow of around 500 ML/day is planned for delivery through September and October, with a total volume of around 30 GL expected to be delivered. This is expected to inundate approximately 4,500 ha, or just over 10% of the forest.

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The diversion to National Channel averaged 1,300 ML/day this week. A portion of this flow is being used to maintain base flows through Gunbower Creek to benefit native fish. Much of this flow is returning to the River Murray at Barham via Koondrook spillway. The additional loss attributed to maintaining this higher flow in the creek is debited from Victorian held environmental entitlements. The Torrumbarry Weir pool is currently at Full Supply Level (FSL) (86.05 m AHD). Downstream of Torrumbarry Weir, the release is now increasing as flows arrive from upstream environmental watering actions. The release is currently near 10,700 ML/day and over the coming week will steadily rise to peak around 15,500 ML/day. Inflow from the , measured at , is currently around the September end of system target of 1,330 ML/day. The Murrumbidgee IVT balance is currently 101 GL, and trade from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray is closed. Trade will remain closed until the account reduces below 85 GL. This could occur from trade from the Murray back to the Murrumbidgee, and/or from IVT deliveries from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray which are expected to commence in coming months. MDBA regularly reviews its operations planning to account for changes in catchment and climatic conditions as well as water availability. The increased water available to be delivered from the Murrumbidgee IVT account has been incorporated into this planning. Further information will be provided as part of the October update to the Annual Operating Outlook. At Euston, the weir pool level is currently 26 cm above FSL and is being slowly raised to target around 50 to 60 cm above FSL as part of the weir pool variability program. Varying pool levels helps restore a more natural wetting and drying cycle to riverbanks and adjacent wetlands within the influence of the weir pool. The downstream release averaged around 10,000 ML/day and is expected to start rising over the coming week as the environmental water continues its journey downstream. Downstream of Euston Weir, around 140 ML/day of environmental water is being pumped into Lake Kramen within the Hattah Lakes system. The Menindee Lakes storage is approximately 13 GL (less than 1% capacity). WaterNSW continues to manage the Menindee Lakes in accordance with the Lower Darling Annual Operations Plan. WaterNSW has advised that releases at Weir 32 are only planned to recommence when significant inflows are received into the Menindee Lakes. Inflows are currently zero and no significant inflows are expected in the near future. In anticipation of hot and dry conditions over the coming summer, fish scientists will relocate fish contained within drying pools (that are not expected to last through summer) downstream to the lower Darling arm of the Wentworth Weir pool (within the influence of the River Murray). More information is available at the NSW government website. As a result of the widespread drought conditions in NSW, extensive water restrictions are likely to remain in place. More information on drought management activities in NSW can be found on the NSW Government website - Drought Hub. On the Murray at Wentworth Weir, the pool level is currently targeting 10 cm above FSL to assist pumpers in the upper reaches of the arm of the weir pool whilst there is no inflow from the Darling River. The downstream release averaged near 8,200 ML/day. At Locks 8 and 7, the pool levels are being varied as part of the weir pool variability program. At Lock 8 the pool is rising to target between 75 cm and 85 cm above FSL and at Lock 7 the pool is targeting 55 cm above FSL. Whilst the pool levels are surcharged above FSL, regulators have been opened to allow water to flow through the upper reaches of Potterwalkagee Creek (around Lock 8) and Lindsay River (around Lock 7) and reconnect with the River Murray for the benefit of native fish. The additional use attributed to surcharging these weir pools and maintaining flows in these creeks is debited from entitlements held by environmental water holders. At Lake Victoria, water storage decreased by 3 GL to 579 GL (86% capacity). The level peaked this week at 585 GL (85% capacity).

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Photo 3: River Murray at Mildura upstream of Lock 11 (Photo courtesy: David Clyde) The flow to South Australia increased this week from 5,500 ML/day to the current rate near 9,500 ML/day. The flow will continue to be increased over the coming weeks as more environmental water released from Hume Dam and the Goulburn arrives through October. Due to low water resource availability in the Murray-Darling Basin, South Australia is currently receiving a reduced monthly base Entitlement flow. During September, the monthly volume has been reduced from the normal 135 GL to 105 GL. For more information see the South Australian Department for Environment and Water’s latest River Murray flow report. The Lower Lakes 5-day average water level remained at 0.76 m AHD. Approximately 13 GL of environmental water was released through the barrages over the week. These barrage releases provide environmental cues and connection to support the movement of several migratory fish species, including the short-headed lamprey which can travel large distances from the Southern Ocean to spawning grounds in upstream reaches of the River Murray System. 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 25 Sep 2019 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 3 856 457.41 2 249 58% 71 2 178 -13 Hume Reservoir 192.00 3 005 181.14 1 269 42% 23 1 246 +1 Lake Victoria 27.00 677 26.18 579 86% 100 479 -3 Menindee Lakes 1 731* 13 1% (- -) # 0 -0 Total 9 269 4 110 44% - - 3 903 -16 Total Active MDBA Storage 46% ^

Major State Storages Burrinjuck Reservoir 1 026 345 34% 3 342 +3 Blowering Reservoir 1 631 940 58% 24 916 +9 Eildon Reservoir 3 334 1 601 48% 100 1 501 -9 * 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 24 Sep 2019 Storage Active Storage (GL) Weekly Change (GL) Diversion (GL) This Week From 1 May 2019 Lake Eucumbene - Total 900 n/a Snowy-Murray +0 230 Snowy-Murray Component 362 n/a Tooma- +12 141 Target Storage 1 240 Net Diversion -12 89 Murray 1 Release +6 348 Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) * This Week From 1 July 2019 Victoria This Week From 1 July 2019 Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) 6.8 68 Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) 4.4 24 Sys Allowance 0.0 15 Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) 0 42 Western Murray Irrigation 0.3 2 Sunraysia Pumped Districts 1.2 9 Licensed Pumps n/a 11 Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) 1 1 Lower Darling n/a 0 Licensed pumps - LMW 4.6 25 TOTAL 7.1 96 TOTAL 11.2 101 * 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 135.0 * * Flow to SA will be greater than normal entitlement for Flow this week 53.2 (7 600 ML/day) this month due to environmental flows. Flow so far this month 153.6

Flow last month 172.4 Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C) Current Average over the last week Average since 1 August 2019 Swan Hill 60 60 80 Euston - - - Red Cliffs 50 50 60 Merbein 100 100 100 Burtundy (Darling) - - 1 220 Lock 9 110 100 100 Lake Victoria 110 100 110 Berri 160 160 160 Waikerie 280 260 250 Morgan 250 260 250 Mannum 280 290 320 Murray Bridge 350 370 370 Milang (Lake Alex.) 880 870 870 Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) 820 820 830 Meningie (Lake Alb.) 1 650 1 650 1 690 Goolwa Barrages 1 440 1 530 2 830

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River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 25 Sep 2019 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) - - - 2 610 F 3 110 3 740 4.0 1.80 208.32 5 230 F 5 490 5 870 Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) 4.2 2.86 219.75 6 330 R 5 630 3 810 Heywoods 5.5 3.01 156.64 13 550 S 11 220 11 700 Doctors Point 5.5 3.11 151.58 16 580 F 13 990 13 900 4.3 2.12 149.56 - - - - 4.6 3.03 129.05 14 860 R 13 110 13 640 Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) 6.4 2.27 117.31 15 000 S 15 070 15 140 6.4 2.87 106.71 15 310 F 15 380 15 350 Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) 7.3 3.35 81.90 10 690 R 9 160 6 440 Swan Hill 4.5 1.67 64.59 9 200 R 7 870 6 590 Wakool Junction 8.8 3.56 52.68 10 690 R 9 580 8 970 Euston Weir (d/s) 9.1 1.81 43.65 10 260 R 10 000 9 710 Mildura Weir (d/s) - - 9 030 F 9 140 8 730 Wentworth Weir (d/s) 7.3 3.02 27.78 8 140 F 8 200 7 890 Rufus Junction - 3.79 20.72 8 570 R 6 670 4 490 Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) - 0.88 - 8 220 R 5 650 3 760

Tributaries Kiewa at Bandiana 2.8 2.66 155.89 3 240 F 3 080 2 240 Ovens at Wangaratta 11.9 8.77 146.45 2 690 F 2 980 3 310 Goulburn at McCoys Bridge 9.0 3.77 95.19 5 500 R 2 700 1 120 Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) 5.5 2.69 82.46 3 180 F 3 170 2 910 Edward at Liewah - 2.53 57.91 1 900 R 1 870 1 850 Wakool at Stoney Crossing - 1.70 55.19 1 220 R 930 760 Murrumbidgee at Balranald 5.0 1.76 57.72 1 330 R 1 210 1 360 Barwon at Mungindi 6.1 2.41 - 0 F 0 0 Darling at Bourke 9.0 2.69 - 0 F 0 0 Darling at Burtundy Rocks - 0.49 - 0 F 0 0

Natural Inflow to Hume 11 310 9 350 (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 -0.22 - No. 7 22.10 +0.55 +1.48 No. 26 Torrumbarry 86.05 +0.00 - No. 6 Murtho 19.25 +0.02 +0.25 No. 15 Euston 47.60 +0.26 - No. 5 Renmark 16.30 +0.01 +0.30 No. 11 Mildura 34.40 +0.02 +0.28 No. 4 Bookpurnong 13.20 +0.02 +1.00 No. 10 Wentworth 30.80 +0.09 +0.38 No. 3 Overland Corner 9.80 +0.06 +0.66 No. 9 Kulnine 27.40 +0.00 +0.72 No. 2 Waikerie 6.10 +0.39 +0.35 No. 8 Wangumma 24.60 +0.65 +0.70 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 0.79 2 - Open Open - Mundoo 26 openings 0.76 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

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Week ending Wednesday 25 Sep 2019

State Allocations (as at 25 Sep 2019) NSW - Murray Valley Victorian - Murray Valley High security 97% High reliability 35%

General security 0% Low reliability 0%

NSW – Murrumbidgee Valley Victorian - Goulburn Valley High security 95% High reliability 44%

General security 6% Low reliability 0%

NSW - Lower Darling South Australia – Murray Valley

High security 30% High security 81%

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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