General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014–2015
NSW Murray Catchment
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Publisher: NSW Department of Primary Industries, Water
Level 10, Macquarie Tower, Locked Bag 5123 Parramatta NSW 2124 [email protected]
General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 –NSW Murray Catchment
First published: December 2015
ISBN: 978-1-74256-869-0
More information This report may be cited as: Burrell M., Moss P., Petrovic J., Ali A., (2015) General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015:NSW Murray Catchment, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Sydney www.water.nsw.gov.au
Cover image: Murray River, Border Bridge downstream of Hume Dam, courtesy of DPI Water Hydrometric Gauging Team
© State of New South Wales through The NSW Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development 2015. You may copy, distribute and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute the NSW Department of Primary Industries as the owner. Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (December 2015). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency.
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Table of Contents Introduction ...... 1 Contextual Statement ...... 2 Upper Murray ...... 2 Central Murray ...... 2 Lower Murray ...... 3 Accounting extent ...... 3 Climate ...... 5 Dam inflows and volume ...... 8 High flow events ...... 12 Surface water resources and management ...... 13 Trading...... 16 Environmental Water ...... 18 Planned environmental water ...... 18 Held environmental water ...... 19 Water Accounting Statements ...... 22 Significant water accounting policies ...... 23 Quantification of data ...... 23 Data accuracy ...... 23 2014-15 Murray Physical Flows Mass Balance Diagram ...... 24 Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities ...... 25 Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities ...... 26 Note Disclosures ...... 29 Reconciliation and future prospect descriptions ...... 30 Note 1 – Allocation accounts ...... 33 Note 2 – Available water determination (AWD) (allocation announcement) ...... 36 Note 3 – Allocation account usage ...... 41 Note 4 – Account Water Trading (allocation assignments) ...... 43 Note 5 - Intervalley Trade Account (IVT) ...... 45 Note 6 – Held environmental water ...... 48 Note 7 – Environmental provisions...... 51 Note 8 – Surface water storage ...... 54 Note 9 – River channel storage ...... 55 Note 10 - Snowy required annual release ...... 56 Note 11 – Storage inflow...... 59 Note 12 – Storage evaporation and storage rainfall ...... 60 Note 13 – River evaporation and river rainfall ...... 61 Note 14 – Gauged tributary inflow ...... 62 Note 15 – Ungauged runoff estimate ...... 64 Note 16 – Dam releases, river inflow from dam releases ...... 65 Note 17 – End of system / Flow leaving ...... 67 Note 18 – NSW Extractions from river ...... 69 Note 19 – Victoria extractions ...... 70 Note 20 – Snowy water savings transfer ...... 71 Note 21 – Basic rights extractions ...... 72 Note 22 – Supplementary/Uncontrolled Flow (UCF) extractions ...... 73 Note 23 – Unaccounted difference ...... 78 Appendix 1 - Groundwater ...... 79
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Tables Table 1: 2014-15 monthly rainfall and historic monthly rainfall statistics at Tumbarumba, Berrigan and Moulamein...... 6 Table 2: Water Allocation Licence Accounting Rules 2014-15 ...... 13 Table 3: Water account data accuracy estimates key ...... 23 Table 4: Explanatory information for allocation account summary ...... 34 Table 5: Allocation account balance summary for the NSW Murray regulated river 2014-15 ...... 35 Table 6: Priority of access licence categories ...... 36 Table 7: Allocation summary report notes ...... 37 Table 8: Allocation announcements for the NSW Murray regulated river water source 2014-15 ... 38 Table 9: Licence category metered usage apportionment table ...... 42 Table 10: Account usage summary 2014-15 ...... 42 Table 11: Murray- Murrumbidgee inter-valley trade account summary ...... 46 Table 12: Explanatory information for Environmental Account Summary ...... 49 Table 13: NSW Murray regulated water source environmental account balance summary 2014-15 ...... 50 Table 14: NSW Murray regulated water source environmental holding summary 2014-15 ...... 50 Table 15: Barma-Millewa Environmental Allowance ...... 53 Table 16: Additional Environmental allowance ...... 53 Table 17: Storage summary table ...... 54 Table 18: Summary of river channel storage calculation components ...... 55 Table 19: Snowy-Murray RAR summary table...... 57 Table 20: Components for backcalculation of inflow ...... 59 Table 21: Summary of storage evaporation and rainfall 2014-15 ...... 60 Table 22: Rainfall and evaporation summary table ...... 61 Table 23: Summary of NSW Murray gauged tributary inflow 2014-15 ...... 62 Table 24: NSW daily tributary inflow to Murray 2014-15 ...... 63 Table 25: End of System Flows ...... 67 Table 26: Reconciliation of physical extraction to account usage (ML) ...... 69 Table 27: NSW Murray Supplementary and Uncontrolled Flow events summary 2014-15 ...... 74 Table 28: NSW Murray groundwater water sharing plan summary ...... 80 Table 29: NSW Murray surface water catchment groundwater sources summary table...... 83
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Figures Figure 1: Surface water geographical extent of the accounts ...... 4 Figure 2: Monthly Rainfall Data and historical median deviations at Tumbarumba, Moulamein and Berrigan ...... 5 Figure 3: Murray catchment annual rainfall for 2014-15 ...... 7 Figure 4: Average annual rainfall in the Murray catchment (1961-1990) ...... 7 Figure 5: Long-term unregulated inflows to Hume Dam against mean and reporting year inflow ..... 8 Figure 6: Long-term inflows to Dartmouth Dam against mean and reporting year inflow ...... 9 Figure 7: Long-term inflows Wilcannia gauging station against mean and reporting year inflow ...... 9 Figure 8: Daily inflows and rainfall at Hume Dam 2014-15 ...... 10 Figure 9: Daily inflows and rainfall at Dartmouth Dam 2014-15...... 10 Figure 10: Flows at Wilcannia against rainfall 2014-15 ...... 10 Figure 11: Daily inflows and rainfall at Lake Victoria 2014-15 ...... 11 Figure 12: Hume Dam 2014-15 behaviour (volume and percentage) ...... 11 Figure 13: Dartmouth Dam 2014-15 behaviour (volume and percentage) ...... 11 Figure 14: Combined Menindee 2014-15 behaviour (volume and percentage) ...... 12 Figure 15: Lake Victoria 2014-15 behaviour (volume and percentage) ...... 12 Figure 16: Flows in the Murray River 2014-15 ...... 13 Figure 17: NSW Murray Account Water Availability (Carryover + Available Water Determinations)[][][] ...... 14 Figure 18: NSW Murray supplementary licence and uncontrolled flow usage since commencement of water sharing plan ...... 15 Figure 19: NSW Murray total share component and usage since the introduction of the water sharing plan (excludes supplementary licences) ...... 15 Figure 20: Average Annual Account Usage vs Annual account Usage ...... 16 Figure 21: Allocation assignments (trade) Out of the NSW Murray ...... 16 Figure 22: Net volume of allocation assignment (trade) Out of NSW Murray by water source ...... 17 Figure 23: Total assignments of share component by licence category ...... 17 Figure 24: Share assignments purchases to environmental holders and non-environmental holders ...... 18 Figure 25: Barmah-Millewa Environmental Water Allowance summary since commencement of plan ...... 18 Figure 26: NSW Murray Additional Environmental Allowance summary since commencement of plan ...... 19 Figure 27: Held environmental water share component in the NSW Murray catchment ...... 20 Figure 28: Held Environmental usage by licence category since the commencement of the Plan ... 20 Figure 29: Held environmental water available against usage since the commencement of the plan ...... 21 Figure 30: Held Environmental water transferred to Snowy Hydro since the commencement of the Plan ...... 21 Figure 31: NSW Murray catchment allocation assignment summary 2014-15 ...... 44 Figure 32: Victorian daily tributary inflow to Murray 2014-15 ...... 63 Figure 33: Hume Dam releases 2014-15 ...... 65 Figure 34: Dartmouth Dam releases 2014-15 ...... 66 Figure 35: Lake Victoria Dam releases 2014-15 ...... 66 Figure 36: End of system flow to South Australia 2014-15 ...... 68 Figure 37: NSW Murray supplementary and uncontrolled flow usage by river section 2014-15 ...... 76 Figure 38: Total monthly supplementary and uncontrolled flow usage in the NSW Murray 2014-15 77 Figure 39: NSW Murray surface water catchment – groundwater water sharing plans ...... 81 Figure 40: Potential recharge deviation non-modelled areas 2014-15 ...... 85 Figure 41: NSW Murray catchment, non-modelled areas annual potential recharge (1971-72 to 2014-15) ...... 86 v | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Abbreviations Acronym Description AEA Murray Additional Environmental Allowance ARCGIS Mapping and spatial analysis platform for designing and managing solutions through the application of geographic knowledge AWAS 1 Australian Water Accounting Standards AWD Available Water Determination B-M EWA Barmah-Millewa Environmental Water Allowance CAIRO Computer Aided Improvements to River Operations Ck Creek DECCW NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water D/S Downstream EWA Environmental Water Allowance GIS Geographic Information System GL Gigalitres (1,000,000,000 litres) GMA Groundwater Management Area GPWAR General Purpose Water Accounting Report IQQM Integrated Quantity and Quality Model LAS Licencing Administration System MDBA Murray-Darling Basin Authority MIL Murray Irrigation Limited ML Megalitres (1,000,000 litres) MODFLOW Modular Three Dimensional Finite-Difference Groundwater Flow Model NSW New South Wales SA South Australia SILO Climatic data provision system run by Queensland government for the provision of both measured and modeled data. U/S Upstream VIC Victoria WASB Water Accounting Standards Board
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Glossary Term Definition Allocation The specific volume of water allocated to water allocation accounts in a given season, defined according to rules established in the relevant water plan. Allocation assignments The transfer of water between licence holder allocation accounts as a result of a trade agreement. The assignment becomes part of the receiver’s current year allocation account water. Allocation Account Water account attached to an access licence used to track the balance of account water. Aquifer Soil or rock below the land surface that is saturated with water. A confined aquifer has layers of impermeable material above and below it and is under pressure. When the aquifer is penetrated by a well, the water rises above the top of the aquifer. In an unconfined aquifer, the upper water surface (water table) is at atmospheric pressure and thus is able to rise and fall. Available Water Determination The process by which water is made available for use and shared amongst water (AWD) users who hold a water access licence. It determines the volume of water that is to be added to an individual’s licence allocation account. Australian Water Accounting A national standard that prescribes the basis for preparing and presenting a General Standard (AWAS) Purpose Water Accounting Report (GPWAR). It sets out requirements for the recognition, quantification, presentation and disclosure of items in a GPWAR. Back-calculation A calculation approach using a mass balance to determine an unknown variable (used to calculate storage inflows based on balancing the change in storage volume where inflow is the only unknown). Basic rights The non-licensed right to extract water to meet basic requirements for household purposes (non-commercial uses in and around the house and garden) and for watering of stock. It is available for anyone who has access to river frontage on their property. Computer Aided Improvements to A spreadsheet-based water balance model used for optimising river operations River Operations (CAIRO) (orders and releases) Carryover The volume or share component that may be reserved by a licence holder for use in the proceeding year. Catchment The areas of land which collect rainfall and contribute to surface water (streams, rivers, wetlands) or to ground-water. A catchment is a natural drainage area, bounded by sloping ground, hills or mountains, from which water flows to a low point. Conveyance licence Defined licence category that provides an allowance for losses in the delivery of water. Dead storage The volume in storage that is generally considered unavailable for use (e.g water level below release valves) due to access and often poor water quality. Dealings A water dealing refers to a change that can be made to a licence, in particular, those arising from trading including the sale of all or part of an access licence or account water. May also include a change in location, licence category or consolidation/subdivision of licences. Double entry accounting Double-entry accounting is a method of record-keeping that records both where money (or in this case water) comes from and where it goes. Using double-entry means that water is never gained or lost - it is always transferred from somewhere (a source account) to somewhere else (a destination account). Effective storage The total volume of storage minus the dead storage component – the volume generally considered as useable. Effluent Flow leaving a place or process. Sewage effluent refers to the flow leaving a sewage treatment plant. An effluent stream is one which leaves the main river and does not return. Entity A defined geographical area or zone within the accounting region. Transactions and reports are produced for each entity. End of system The last defined point in a catchment where water information can be measured and/or reported.
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Environmental water Water allocated to support environmental outcomes and other public benefits. Environmental water provisions recognise the environmental water requirements and are based on environmental, social and economic considerations, including existing user rights. Equity Total assets minus total liabilities Evaporation The process by which water or another liquid becomes a gas. Water from land areas, bodies of water, and all other moist surfaces is absorbed into the atmosphere as a vapour. Evapotranspiration The process by which water is transmitted as a vapour to the atmosphere as the result of evaporation from any surface and transpiration from plants. Extraction The pumping or diverting of water from a river or aquifer by licensed users for a specific purpose (irrigation, stock, domestic, towns, etc). The volume is measured at the point of extraction or diversion (river pump, diversion works etc). General Purpose Water A report prepared according to the Australian Water Accounting Standard. It is Accounting Report (GPWAR) comprised of a number of components including a contextual statement, a Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities, a Statement of Change in Water Assets and Water Liabilities, a Statement of Physical Water Flows, Notes and Disclosures, and an assurance and accountability statement General security licence A category of water access licence implemented under the Water Management Act 2000. Forms the bulk of the water access licence entitlement volume in NSW and is a low priority entitlement i.e. only receives water once essential and high security entitlements are met in the available water determination process. Groundwater Water location beneath the ground in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. High security licence A category of licence water access licence implemented under the Water Management Act 2000. Receives a higher priority than general security licences but less priority than essential requirements in the available water determination process. HYDSTRA database A database used by DPI Water to store continuous time series data such as river flow, river height, and water quality. Inflows Surface water runoff and deep drainage to groundwater (groundwater recharge) and transfers into the water system (both surface and groundwater) for a defined area. Inter-valley trade Trade of licence holder allocation account water, via allocation assignment, from one catchment to another catchment (or state). Intra-valley trade Trade of licence holder allocation account water, via allocation assignment, within the same catchment. Licence Administration System The system used by DPI Water to manage water access licence information and (LAS) transaction. Liability A legally binding obligation to settle a debt. Median The middle point of a distribution, separating the highest half of a sample from the lowest half. Non-physical transaction An accounting transaction representing a process that is not a component of the water cycle (e.g. an available water determination). Physical transaction An accounting transaction representing a process of the water cycle (e.g. a extraction) Recharge Groundwater recharge is a hydrologic process where water drains downward from surface water to groundwater. Groundwater is recharged naturally by rain, floods and snow melt and to a smaller extent by drainage directly from surface water (such as rivers and lakes). Regulated river A river system where flow is controlled via one or more major man-made structures e.g. dams and weirs. For the purposes of the Water Management Act 2000 a regulated river is one that is declared by the Minister to be a regulated river. Within a regulated river system licence holders can order water against a held entitlement. Replenishment flows Flows provided along effluent systems downstream of a water source to supply water for household, town use and stock.
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Return inflows Water that has been diverted from a river by a water user and is then returned to the river after use (e.g. can include non-consumptive uses, such as hydropower, cooling water for industry or water for aquaculture). This water is included as an inflow to the basin because the water is available to be diverted downstream or will pass the basin outlet. Share component An entitlement to water specified on the access licence, expressed as a unit share or in the case of specific purpose licences (eg. local water utility, major water utility and domestic and stock) a volume in megalitres. The amount of water a licence holder is allocated as a result of an available water determination and the amount they can take in any year is based on their share component. Snowpack Volume of water stored in packed snow that upon melting will result in a system inflow. Steady State A condition in a physical groundwater system where the volume does not change over time, or in which any one change in volume is continually balanced by another. Storage A state-owned dam, weir or other structure which is used to regulate and manage river flows in the catchment and the water bodies impounded by these structures. Storage discharge The volume of water released from storage in a specified time frame. Storage reserve Proportion of water in a storage reserved in the resource assessment process for future essential or high security requirements (e.g. town water). Storage volume The total volume of water held in storage at a specified time. Sub account This is the separation of account water into specific categories to allow different accounting rules to apply to each. Supplementary water Unregulated river flow available for extraction under a supplementary licence. Surface water All water that occurs naturally above ground including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, creeks, wetlands and estuaries. Translucent flow The release of an agreed percentage of an incoming flow event from a dam for environmental purposes immediately downstream of the dam. Transparent flow The release of all or part of an incoming flow event from a dam for environmental purposes at one or more sites downstream of the dam. Tributary A smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river or stream. Usually a number of smaller tributaries merge to form a river. Uncontrolled flow Water permitted to be extracted without debt under a general security access licence during a supplementary flow event. The extracted water may be progressively debited to the general security account if water availability exceeds predefined levels. Ungauged catchment A catchment without a flow gauge to accurately record stream flows. Modelled estimates must be used to approximate the contribution of ungauged catchments to the main river. Water accounting The systematic process of identifying, recognising, quantifying, reporting, assuring and publishing information about water, the rights or other claims to that water, and the obligations against that water Water assets The physical water held in storage, as well as any claims to water that are expected to increase the future water resource (e.g. external water entering the system through intervalley trading). Water liabilities Claims on the water assets of the water report entity including water that has been allocated to licence holder accounts or environmental accounts but yet to be taken at the end of the reporting period. Water sharing plan A water management plan that defines the rules for sharing of water within a region under the Water Management Act 2000.
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Introduction This document is a General Purpose Water Accounting Report (GPWAR) for the regulated, component of the NSW Murray River system, prepared by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Water (DPI Water) under the Australian Water Accounting Standard 1 (WASB, 2012). The GPWAR has been prepared for the reporting period of 1 July to 2014 to 30 June 2015 and aims to provide a consolidated and informative annual summary of the available water resources and the water resource management that occurred during this period. The GPWAR consists of:
- A contextual statement, summarising the climatic conditions, water resources, and water resource management for the Murray in 2014-15. - Physical flow diagrams, illustrating changes in storage volumes and the associated inflows and outflows for the Murray catchment. - Water accounting statements presenting the opening and closing balances, and itemised changes to these balances for available water resources (water assets) and licenced allocation accounts (water liabilities). - Disclosure notes (linked to the figures within the water accounting statements) providing detailed information of accounting components such as planned and held environmental water, available water determinations, temporary trading, supplementary announcements, allocation account balances, and physical flows. While groundwater has not been specifically included in the GPWAR (the physical interactions between the river and groundwater form part of the unaccounted difference presented in the accounting statements), annual summary information pertaining to physical groundwater flows, and the management of groundwater resources in the Murray catchment is presented in Appendix 1 of this report. As Director Water Information and Insights, DPI Water, I hereby declare: • The information presented in these accounts as a faithful representation of the management and operation of the NSW Murray Regulated River Water Source in 2014- 2015 • All data presented in this report is based on the best available information at the time of publication. • DPI Water has to the best of its ability prepared this GPWAR for the NSW Murray Regulated River Water Source for the 2014-15 water year in accordance with the Australian Water Accounting Standard 1.
Dr Christobel Ferguson Director, Water Information and Insights DPI Water
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Contextual Statement The NSW Murray catchment stretches over southern New South Wales, northern Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. The main drainage feature is the Murray River which begins in the mountains of the Southern Alps of NSW and Victoria, and flows in a westerly direction for over 2,500 km to its outlet on the South Australian coast near Goolwa. It forms the boundary between NSW and Victoria for 1,880 km (Figure 1). At Wentworth in south- west NSW the Murray is joined by its major tributary the Darling River which drains an area of 116,000 square kilometres of NSW and Queensland. The NSW Murray catchment represents one fifth of the total area of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), one of the most significant agricultural areas in Australia. In NSW the Murray River moves through three distinct landscapes. The following three sections combine together as the NSW Murray Catchment: (i) Upper Murray (ii) Central Murray and (iii) Lower Murray. Upper Murray The Upper Murray comprises the headwaters and unregulated reaches of the Murray River upstream of Hume Dam to Lake Mulwala, near Yarrawonga. The river begins its course amongst the high mountain peaks of Mount Kosciusko and Mount Jagungal in the Snowy Mountains, marking the border between NSW and Victoria through to Hume Dam. The upper catchment is generally rugged and mountainous which has restricted agricultural and urban development. Vast areas of the catchment remain forested with native vegetation and over one third of the catchment is protected within National Parks. Elevations across the catchment range from around 2,200 metres around the alpine peaks in the east to approximately 150 metres at Hume Dam. Hume Dam is the main operational storage for the Murray River. It has been supplying regulated deliveries of water to the Murray River system since its completion in 1936 (the wall was raised in 1961).The Mitta Mitta River is the major Victorian tributary to Hume Dam. It flows northwards from the high country near Omeo and enters Hume Dam near Tallangatta. Dartmouth Dam was constructed on the Mitta Mitta River in 1979 and with a capacity of nearly 4,000,000 megalitres is the largest storage in the Murray system. Dartmouth Dam is primarily used as a drought reserve for the system, with bulk transfers of water released to Hume Dam as required. The most extensive land use in the Upper Murray is conservation with nearly one third of the catchment designated as National Parkland. Outside this, forestry and grazing are the dominant land use. Central Murray The Central Murray area broadly covers central Murray River from Yarrawonga in the east to the Darling River-Murray River confluence at Wentworth, in the west. Major tributaries include the Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon rivers in Victoria, and the Murrumbidgee and Wakool rivers in New South Wales. As the Murray River enters Lake Mulwala (the major storage in central Murray), it then continues west through Yarrawonga Weir. Flows are diverted from the Murray through various creeks and channels to the Edward-Wakool River system which aligns the Murray River floodplain, west of Deniliquin. The Wakool River joins the Murray River west of Moulamein. In the central Murray, the Murray River system receives inflow from the Murrumbidgee catchment via Billabong Creek and the Murrumbidgee River. The Murray River then flows into Mildura Weir surrounded by Mallee River Basin and Benanee Basin. The majority of the Central Murray is used for agricultural purposes with grazing being the dominant land use. The flat riverine plains make the region suitable for a variety of dryland and irrigated cropping enterprises. The Murray Irrigation Area also resides within Central
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Murray (Murray Riverina catchment) and is the largest irrigation scheme in New South Wales. Lower Murray The Lower Murray covers the area between the confluence of the Darling and Murray Rivers at Wentworth through to the Murray River outlet on the South Australian coast near Goolwa. The Lower Murray covers around 100,000 square kilometres with major tributaries including the Darling River, the Great Darling Anabranch and the Marne River. The Darling River delivers inflow to the Murray River and a component of the resources held in the Menindee Lakes Scheme are dedicated to meeting the Murray River system requirements. Lake Victoria which is located in the western Riverina region of south western New South Wales is a naturally occurring shallow freshwater lake of the Murray Catchment that is used as a re-regulating storage to transfer water to South Australia. Downstream of Lake Victoria, the Murray River flows into South Australia and turns south for its final 500 kilometres before it reaches Lake Alexandrina, and finally, the Murray Mouth. The main tributary in South Australia that feeds the Murray River is the Marne River. Accounting extent This report covers the extent illustrated in Figure 1, and includes the water features, licences, entitlements and management covered by the NSW Murray Regulated River Water Source managed under the rules stipulated in the Water Sharing Plan for the NSW Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources. While physical groundwater volumes that interact with the regulated river are not explicitly represented in the GPWAR statements (interactions form part of the unaccounted difference), supporting information for groundwater flows and management in the NSW Murray accounting extent for 2014-15 is provided in Appendix 1.
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Figure 1: Surface water geographical extent of the accounts
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Climate Overall the Murray catchment experienced drier than average climatic conditions in 2014-15. This was the third consecutive year of average or below average conditions. Annual rainfall totals varied across the catchment from 165 millimetres in the north-west through to 1,800 millimetres in the eastern part of the catchment (Figure 3 and Figure 4). Using the rainfall data at Tumbarumba (upper Murray), Berrigan (mid Murray) and Moulamein (lower Murray) as reference points shows that the annual rainfall was below average across the catchment. Average monthly rainfalls were at or below average with the exception of higher levels of rainfalls of up to three times the historic mean which occurred across the catchment in January and April (Figure 2 and Table 1). Figure 2: Monthly Rainfall Data and historical median deviations at Tumbarumba, Moulamein and Berrigan
Tumbarumba Median Moula mei n Me dia n Tumbarumba Median Deviation Berrigan Median Tumbarumba 2014-2015 Moulamein Median Deviation Moulamein 2014-2015 Berrigan 2014-2015 Berrigan Median Deviation 160 120 100 140 80 120 60 100 40 20 80 0
Rainfall (mm) 60 -20
40 (mm) Deviation Rainfall -40 -60 20 -80 0 -100 Jul Jul Jan Jan Jun Jun Oct Oct Apr Apr Feb Sep Feb Sep Dec Dec Aug Aug Nov Nov Mar Mar May May
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Table 1: 2014-15 monthly rainfall and historic monthly rainfall statistics at Tumbarumba, Berrigan and Moulamein1 Tumbarumba Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Annual 2014-15 72.8 18.4 48.2 45.0 74.6 72.8 149.2 54.2 17.4 86.2 87.6 67.0 793.4 Historic statistics
Mean 104.9 106.5 90.3 96.0 74.8 70.7 62.5 55.1 66.9 66.2 82.3 102.9 979.3
Median 93.6 104.1 87.9 89.2 68.4 62.7 55.5 51.2 51.4 59.1 71.8 90.9 969.8
Lowest 14.2 8.6 9.6 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 10.6 523.6
Highest 254.6 246.6 225.3 259.7 240.2 212.4 203.2 252.2 260.4 224.6 295.4 322.1 1,663.2
Highest year 1986 1939 1960 1976 2011 1919 1897 2011 1906 1974 1942 1923 1955-1956
Berrigan Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Annual 2014-15 12.3 2.1 52.9 16.1 33.0 36.2 74.4 40.8 0.4 55.3 24.6 28.4 376.5 Historic statistics
Mean 39.6 42.6 38.9 42.1 32.1 33.0 31.0 30.7 34.5 35.2 40.5 42.3 442.2
Median 34.7 39.2 32.5 36.1 26.7 22.8 20.2 19.3 24.5 26.4 28.2 38.5 425.3
Lowest 0.0 0.3 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 168.4
Highest 108.4 124.2 110.3 155.0 154.7 247.9 264.0 159.0 181.3 159.3 162.1 115.3 932.4
Highest year 1986 1889 1906 1975 1912 1930 1974 1969 1956 1939 1889 1931 1973-1974
Moulamein Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Annual 2014-15 18.2 9.0 24.4 3.0 19.2 6.2 73.0 6.2 2.0 52.0 10.4 25.0 248.6 Historic statistics
Mean 31.3 33.7 31.5 33.9 27.8 31.1 23.7 24.8 25.8 25.6 34.1 33.9 356.9
Median 29.1 28.0 24.9 27.5 19.2 20.0 12.7 13.9 15.7 18.4 30.0 27.1 342.6
Lowest 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 170.0
Highest 103.3 123.7 111.7 114.9 145.9 190.2 180.8 151.1 154.2 122.4 110.4 160.3 872.6
Highest year 1936 1958 1906 1973 1889 1930 1974 1946 1906 1974 1906 1923 1973-1974
1 Long term statistics are from the Bureau of Meteorology – climate data online, using the climatic stations ‘72043 – Tumbarumba post Office’, ‘74009 – Berrigan Post Office’ and ’75046 – Moulamein Post Office ’. Historic record statistics are 1886 to 2015 for Tumbarumba, 1875 to 2015 for Berrigan and 1888 to 2015 for Moulamein.
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Figure 3: Murray catchment annual rainfall for 2014-15
Figure 4: Average annual rainfall in the Murray catchment (1961-1990)
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Dam inflows and volume Consistent with the dry catchment conditions, 2014-15 inflow to Dartmouth Dam and Hume Dam (unregulated inflow) was significantly below average showing a trend of falling inflows over the previous 5 years (Figure 5 and Figure 6). For Menindee Lakes the gauging station, Darling River at Wilcannia indicated the 2014-15 annual flows were extremely low and a continuation of the previous year’s low flow volumes (Figure 7). Storage inflow in the NSW Murray was highest in the spring (2014) following winter rainfall and snowmelt. Flow in the Darling system was minimal with only one small event in March 2016 exceeding 1,500 megalitres per day. Lake Victoria is used as a re-regulating storage and received regular diverted inflows throughout the season (Figure 8 to Figure 11). The 2014-15 water year commenced with Hume Dam at 51 per cent (1,561,320 megalitres), Dartmouth Dam at 86 per cent (3,507,396 megalitres), Menindee Lakes at 21 per cent (366,032 megalitres) and Lake Victoria at 68 per cent (462,009 megalitres) of capacity (Figure 12 to Figure 15). High demands in the Murray meant that both Hume Dam and Menindee Lakes were drawn down during the year to 32 per cent (965,871 megalitres) and 5 per cent (88,671 megalitres) respectively. With water transferred from Dartmouth Dam to Hume Dam and dry catchment conditions the volume of water held in Dartmouth Dam fell finishing the year at 70 per cent of capacity (2,823,711 megalitres) while Lake Victoria finished the year at 66 per cent of capacity (447,073 megalitres). Figure 5: Long-term unregulated inflows to Hume Dam against mean and reporting year inflow2
Long Term unregulated 2014-15 unregulated ( 1,378,983 ML ) Mean unregulated ( 2,557,917 ML ) 8,000,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 5,000,000 4,000,000
Infl ow (ML)3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 0 1891-92 1895-96 1899-00 1903-04 1907-08 1911-12 1915-16 1919-20 1923-24 1927-28 1931-32 1935-36 1939-40 1943-44 1947-48 1951-52 1955-56 1959-60 1963-64 1967-68 1971-72 1975-76 1979-80 1983-84 1987-88 1991-92 1995-96 1999-00 2003-04 2007-08 2011-12
2 While the long term annual historical unregulated storage inflows for Hume Dam were obtained from the Murray Darling Basin Authority the 2011-12, 2012-13 , 2013-14 and 2014-15 unregulated inflows were derived by DPI Water undertaking a detailed backcalculated storage balance see Note 11.
8 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 6: Long-term inflows to Dartmouth Dam against mean and reporting year inflow3
Long Term Inf low 2014-15 inflow ( 591,352 ML) Mean inflow ( 888,522 ML) 3,000,000
2,000,000
Infl ow (ML)1,000,000
0 1891-92 1895-96 1899-00 1975-76 1979-80 1983-84 1987-88 1991-92 1995-96 1999-00 2003-04 2007-08 2011-12 1903-04 1907-08 1911-12 1915-16 1919-20 1923-24 1927-28 1931-32 1935-36 1939-40 1943-44 1947-48 1951-52 1955-56 1959-60 1963-64 1967-68 1971-72
Figure 7: Long-term inflows Wilcannia gauging station against mean and reporting year inflow
Long Term Inf low 2014-15 inflow ( 65,218 ML ) Mean inflow ( 1,902,561 ML ) 18,000,000 16,000,000 14,000,000 12,000,000 10,000,000
Infl ow (ML) 8,000,000 6,000,000 4,000,000 2,000,000 0 1895-96 1899-00 1903-04 1907-08 1911-12 1915-16 1919-20 1923-24 1927-28 1931-32 1935-36 1939-40 1943-44 1947-48 1951-52 1955-56 1959-60 1963-64 1967-68 1971-72 1975-76 1979-80 1983-84 1987-88 1991-92 1995-96 1999-00 2003-04 2007-08 2011-12
3 While the long term annual historical storage inflows for Dartmouth Dam and Hume Dam were obtained from the Murray Darling Basin Authority the 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 inflows were derived by DPI Water undertaking a detailed back-calculated storage balance see Note 11.
9 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 8: Daily inflows and rainfall at Hume Dam 2014-15
Rainfall at Hume Dam (mm) Hume Daily inflows (ML) 30,000 80 70 25,000 60 20,000 50 15,000 40 30 Flow (ML/d) 10,000 Rainfall (mm) 20 5,000 10 0 0 1-Jul-15 1-Jul-14 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-1 4 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
Figure 9: Daily inflows and rainfall at Dartmouth Dam 2014-15
Rainfall at Dartmouth Dam (mm) Dartmouth Daily Inflows (ML) 8,000 60 7,000 50 6,000 40 5,000 4,000 30 3,000 Flow (ML/d) 20 Rainfall (mm) 2,000 10 1,000 0 0 1-Jul-14 1-Jul-15 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-1 4 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
Figure 10: Flows at Wilcannia against rainfall 2014-15
Rainfall at Wilcannia (mm) Wilcannia Daily Flows (ML) 2,500 80
70 2,000 60
1,500 50 40 1,000 30 Rainfall (mm)
Flow (ML/d) 20 500 10
0 0 1-Jul-14 1-Jul-15 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-1 4 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
10 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 11: Daily inflows and rainfall at Lake Victoria 2014-15
Rainfall at Lake Victoria (mm) Lake Victoria Daily Inflows (ML) 9,000 35
8,000 30 7,000 25 6,000 5,000 20 4,000 15 Flow (ML/d) 3,000 Rainfall (mm) 10 2,000 1,000 5 0 0 1-Jul-15 1-Jul-14 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-1 4 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
Figure 12: Hume Dam 2014-15 behaviour (volume and percentage)
2500 80%
70% 2000 60%
1500 50% 965,871ML (32%) 1,561,320ML (51%) 40% Storage per cent full Volume (ML 1000) x 1000 30%
20% 500 1-Jul-14 1-Jul-15 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-14 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
Figure 13: Dartmouth Dam 2014-15 behaviour (volume and percentage)
3800
90% 3600
3400 3,507,396ML (86%) 80% 3200 2,823,711ML (70%) 3000 Storage per cent full Volume (ML 1000) x 70% 2800
2600 1-Jul-14 1-Jul-15 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-14 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
11 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 14: Combined Menindee 2014-15 behaviour (volume and percentage)
400
350 20% 300 366,032ML (21%)
250
200 10% 150 88,671ML (5%)
Volume (ML 1000) x 100 Storage per cent full
50
0 0% 1-Jul-14 1-Jul-15 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-14 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15 Figure 15: Lake Victoria 2014-15 behaviour (volume and percentage)
700 100%
600 90% 447,073ML (66%) 80% 500 70%
400 60% 462,009ML (68%) 50% 300 Storage per cent full Volume (ML 1000) x 40% 200 30% 20% 100 1-Jul-14 1-Jul-15 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-14 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
High flow events While there were no major high flow (flood) events in 2014-15 in the Murray River, during the early part of the 2014-15 an inflow event from the Ovens River resulted in higher flows in the Murray in the first few months downstream of Lake Mulwala (Figure 16). Consequently these higher flows combining with flows from the Murrumbidgee and releases from Lake Victoria also resulted in higher flows to South Australia in late July and August of 2014-15.
12 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 16: Flows in the Murray River 2014-15
D/S Yarrawonga Weir D/S Torrum barry Weir Swan Hill Below Rufus River 25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000 Flow (ML/day)
5,000
0 1-Jul-14 1-Jul-15 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-1 4 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
Surface water resources and management The NSW Murray regulated river water source was managed under the conditions set out in the Water Sharing Plan for the NSW Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003, for the entirety of 2014-15. Additionally, Menindee Lakes were controlled by DPI Water to meet Broken Hill water supplies and the NSW Lower Darling demand for the entirety of 2014-15, and therefore the resource was not available to supplement requirements in the NSW Murray (see note 8 for further details on storage management arrangements). The licence allocation accounting rules that were in place for the NSW Murray are summarised in Table 2. Table 2: Water Allocation Licence Accounting Rules 2014-15
Licence Category Account Limit Carryover Limit Annual Use Limit Maximum AWD
Domestic and Stock 100% 0% N/A 100% Domestic and Stock [Domestic] 100% 0% N/A 100% Domestic and Stock [Stock] 100% 0% N/A 100% Local Water Utility 100% 0% N/A 100% Conveyance 1 ML/share 0 ML/share N/A 100% General Security 1.1 ML/share 0.5 ML/share N/A 1.1 ML/share High Security 1 ML/share 0 ML/share N/A 1 ML/share High Security (Community and 1 ML/share 0 ML/share N/A 1 ML/share Education) High Security (Research) 1 ML/share 0 ML/share N/A 1 ML/share High Security (Town Water Supply) 1 ML/share 0 ML/share N/A 1 ML/share Supplementary Water N/A 0 ML/share N/A 1 ML/share
The carryover volume (including the balance of the environmental water allowance (EWA)) into the year amounted to 583,555 megalitres and the opening allocations on 1 July 2014 was 100 per cent for domestic and stock, local water utility and supplementary licence holders and 97 percent for high security licence holders. The opening announcement for general security and conveyance licence holders was 0.06 and 0.52 megalitres per share respectively with subsequent announcements throughout the year bringing the total for these licence categories to 0.61 and 0.74 megalitres per share respectively.
13 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Water availability4 for general security, high security and conveyance in the NSW Murray in 2014-15 was below the maximum allowable levels as defined under the water sharing plan with carryover plus available water determinations being approximately 91 per cent, 74 per cent and 97 percent of the total licensed entitlement respectively. Water availability for all other categories of licence was at maximum allowable levels (Figure 17). In the NSW Murray the combination of high levels of water availability and the climate condition that prevailed in 2014-15 corresponded to a high level of demand for water across the catchment with account usage, while less than the previous 2 years, still remaining high (Figure 19). Account usage (total for all licence categories) in 2014-15 was 1,281,659 including 11,848 megalitres obtained from supplementary flow access (Figure 18). This usage represents the fourth consecutive year of annual usages being above the average annual usage of 1,045,000 megalitres (Figure 20). In addition 887 megalitres was extracted under uncontrolled flow conditions. The requirement to provide a total minimum flow contribution of 1,850,000 megalitres per annum at the South Australian border under the Murray Darling Basin Agreement was met in 2014-15. No additional dilution flows were required to be delivered to South Australia in 2014-15. In 2014-15 a total of approximately 2,876,670 megalitres flowed to South Australia (see Note 17). Figure 17: NSW Murray Account Water Availability (Carryover + Available Water Determinations)[5][6][7]
Conveyance Domestic and Stock General Security High Security Local Water Utility 120
100
80
60
40
20 Water Availability (% of Entitlement) Water Availability 0 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
4 Water availability refers to the sum of water that was made available in accounts and does not take into account annual use limits. 5 Supplementary licences have been excluded. Each year of the plan this licence category has been granted an available water determination of 100 per cent, however access to this water is contingent on high flow events available. Actual usage information against this category of licence is available in note 3 of this GPWAR. 6 Includes all access licences issues under the water sharing plan and therefore held environmental water 7 At the commencement of the water sharing plan (2004-05) water held in general security accounts was allowed to be brought forward as an opening balance.
14 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 18: NSW Murray supplementary licence and uncontrolled flow usage since commencement of water sharing plan
160,000 Supplementary Uncontrolled Flow 140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
Us age (ML) 60,000
40,000
20,000
0 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Figure 19: NSW Murray total share component and usage since the introduction of the water sharing plan (excludes supplementary licences)
2,250,000
2,240,000
2,230,000
Share2,220,000 Component 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
2,000,000 1,800,000 1,600,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 1,000,000
Us age (ML) 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Conveyance Domestic and Stock General Security High Security Local Water Utility
15 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 20: Average Annual Account Usage vs Annual account Usage
Total Usage Moving Average Usage 2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
Us age1,000,000 (ML)
500,000
0 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Trading The dominant direction of trading continues to be out of the valley for the NSW Murray with a net volume of approximately 162,188 megalitres being trade to external valleys. This amount is less than the previous 2 years but consistent with the trend to trade out of the NSW Murray catchment (Figure 21). The water moving into the NSW Murray (net) in 2014-15 was from the Murrumbidgee water source, while the net trade out was made up of significant levels of trade to South Australia and Victoria (Figure 22). Permanent share assignments totalled 20,250 unit shares in 2014-15 with the majority being from general security licences (Figure 23). Environmental purchases of these share assignments accounted for approximately 17 per cent (by volume) of these transactions (Figure 24). Figure 21: Allocation assignments (trade) Out of the NSW Murray
Assignments In Assignments Out Net Assignments out of Murray 900,000 800,000 700,000 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000
Allocation Assignments (ML) Allocation Assignments 100,000 0 -100,000 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
16 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 22: Net volume of allocation assignment (trade) Out of NSW Murray by water source
Murrumbidgee Lower Darling Victoria South Australia 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 -50,000
Net Allocation Assignments Out (ML) -100,000 -150,000 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Figure 23: Total assignments of share component by licence category8
Conveyance General Security High Security Supplementary 120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000 Shares assigned Shares
20,000
0 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
8 Share assignment includes only dealings where the purchase price is greater than zero. Share assignments with purchase prices of zero are assumed to be a result of licence consolidation or movement of water between family members and as such are not indications of the trade market.
17 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 24: Share assignments purchases to environmental holders and non-environmental holders
Environmental Purchases Non Environmental Purchases 120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
Shares assigned 40,000
20,000
0 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Environmental Water Planned environmental water The Barmah-Millewa environmental water allowance (B-M EWA) is available to provide environmental benefits to the Barmah-Millewa forest but under specific circumstances (water restrictions) can be borrowed and made available to regulated Murray River access licence holders. In 2014-15 the total water available to the B-M EWA was 170,130 megalitres (including 97,480 megalitres carried forward from 2013-14) however in 2014-15 there was no water borrowed or used for environmental outcomes in Barmah-Millewa. Figure 25 provides a graphical representation of the behaviour of the B-M EWA since the commencement of the water sharing plan. In addition while up to 50,000 megalitres can be taken as overdraw from the B-M EWA it has not been required since the commencement of the water sharing plan. Figure 25: Barmah-Millewa Environmental Water Allowance summary since commencement of plan
350,000 Total Available Use Borrow Account Borrow Repay 300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000 Volume (ML) 100,000
50,000
0 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
An addition environmental water allowance (AEA) is also made available under the water sharing plan and is credited annually with a volume equivalent to 0.03 megalitres per share of the combined share component of NSW Murray high security licences. In 2014-15 a total of 22,502 megalitres was available and zero was used. Figure 26 shows the behaviour of the AEA since the commencement of the water sharing plan and shows that to date no usage of
18 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment this allowance has occurred. The AEA was spilled in 2010-11 as a result of Hume Dam spilling. For additional details on environmental provisions in the NSW Murray refer to Note 7. Figure 26: NSW Murray Additional Environmental Allowance summary since commencement of plan
30,000 Total Available Use Spill Forfeiture 25,000
20,000
15,000 Volume (ML) 10,000
5,000
0 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Held environmental water Total held environmental water in the NSW Murray catchment continued to increase during 2014-15. General security share component grew from 443,370 megalitres to 451,354 megalitres which included a decrease of 7,752 megalitres in the Murray Irrigation Limited general security holding. In other licence categories, regulated river conveyance share component increased from 31,860 to 32,940 megalitres, high security share component increased from 22,334 to 22,827 megalitres while supplementary share component remained unchanged at 100,211 megalitres (Figure 27). In 2014-15 the usage against held environmental water was 63,211 megalitres, being made up of 25,699 megalitres general security and 37,512 megalitres conveyance, well below the available water of 449,161 megalitres (11 per cent utilisation). In general since the commencement of the water sharing plan held environmental water usage has been restricted to general security and conveyance licences while utilisation has been low with the maximum being approximately 60 per cent in 2011-12 (see Figure 28 and Figure 29). In addition 16,579 megalitres was transferred to Snowy Hydro for use to improve river health and deliver environmental benefits in the Snowy and Murray Rivers (Figure 30). For additional details on Snowy Hydro transfers see Note 20. A detailed account balance for held environmental water is available in Note 6 of this GPWAR.
19 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 27: Held environmental water share component in the NSW Murray catchment9
General Security General Security(MIL) High Security Conveyance Supplementary 700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
Water Share100,000 Component (ML)
0 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Figure 28: Held Environmental usage by licence category since the commencement of the Plan
General Security General Security (MIL) High Security Conveyance Supplementary 250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000 Account Usage (ML)
50,000
0 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
9 General Security (MIL) refers to water held by the Commonwealth within Murray Irrigation Limited and hence is not a separate licence but form part of the MIL general security licence.
20 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 29: Held environmental water available against usage since the commencement of the plan10
600,000 Total Available Usage
500,000
400,000
300,000 Volume (ML) 200,000
100,000
0 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Figure 30: Held Environmental water transferred to Snowy Hydro since the commencement of the Plan
General Security 35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
Transferred (ML) 10,000
5,000
0 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
10 Supplementary licences have been excluded. Each year of the plan this licence category has been granted an available water determination of 100 per cent, however access to this water is contingent on high flow events available.
21 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Water Accounting Statements
22 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Significant water accounting policies The water accounting statements in this GPWAR have been prepared using an accrual basis of accounting. All figures are in megalitres (ML). The ‘Statement of Physical Flows’ has been excluded for this GPWAR as all transactions have been presented in the statements ‘Water Assets and Liabilities’ and ‘Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities’. A ‘Physical Flow Diagram’ that represents the physical movements of water has been included in order to provide a clearer depiction of those accounting processes associated with physical flow movement. For a general information on how to interpret the DPI Water water accounting statements refer to the Guide to General Purpose Water Accounting Reports available for download from the DPI Water website.
Quantification of data Data accuracy It is important to recognise that the data used to account for water movement and management in the reporting entity has been obtained from a variety of sources and systems. The data ranges from observed values where a high accuracy would be anticipated through to modelled results and estimates where accuracy can be highly variable depending on a range of factors. To address the inconsistencies in accuracy and prevent misuse of the data in the accounts, all figures in the water accounting statements will be accompanied by an assessment of accuracy (Table 3). Table 3: Water account data accuracy estimates key
Accuracy Description
A1 +/- 0% Data is determined rather than estimated or measured. Therefore the number contains no inaccuracies.
A +/- 10%
B +/- 25%
C +/- 50%
D +/- 100%
23 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
2014-15 Murray Physical Flows Mass Balance Diagram All figures in megalitres Weir Inflow Menindee Lakes 64,608 Major Storage 30/06/2014 380,778 Evaporation 30/06/2015 88,671 260,061 Outflow Rainfall Change: (292,107) 28,452 Inflow Flow Leaving to (123) Storage decrease Murrumbidgee Release River Inflow Lake Victoria 15,657 125,106 30/06/2014 459,869 Rainfall: 50,489 30/06/2015 447,073 Billabong Creek: 72,024 Unaccounted Difference Change: (12,796) Murrumbidgee River: 442,488 Victoria Tributaries: 2,619,534 1,154,808 Evaporation Rainfall Hume Reservoir 225,121 21,144 30/06/2014 1,534,232 Edward/Wakool River System 30/06/2015 965,871 Change: (568,361) Release Inflow River Darling 755,992 947,173 Darling River Inflow Evaporation End of System flow 25,641 188,822 to South Australia 30/06/2014 222,000 Release Inflow Murray River System 30/06/2015 190,000 Change: (32,000) 2,876,670 3,913,660 3,454,288 Rainfall Torrumbarry Weir Yarrawonga Weir 79,833 30/06/2014 36,817 30/06/2014 107,024 30/06/2015 36,817 30/06/2015 15,039 Evaporation Change: 0 Change: (91,985) 71,469 River Outflow Release Inflow Evaporation: 170,240 1,252,807 591,352 NSW Extraction: 1,282,547 Dartmouth Reservoir Victorian Extractions: 1,554,600 Rainfall Basic Rights: 2,118 30/06/2014 3,508,128 30/06/2015 2,823,709 48,505 Change: (684,419)
24 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
NSW Murray catchment
Statement of Water Assets and Water Liabilities As at 30 June 2015 SURFACE WATER ASSETS ( ) denotes negative 1. Surface Water Storage Accuracy Notes 30 June 2015 30 June 2014 Hume Dam A 8 965,871 1,534,232 Dartmouth Dam A 8 2,823,709 3,508,128 Menindee Lakes A 8 88,671 380,778 Lake Victoria A 8 447,073 459,869 Lake Mulwala (Yarrawonga Weir) A 8 15,039 107,023 Torrumbarry Weir A 8 36,817 36,817 River (Murray) B 9 190,000 222,000 Total Surface Water Storage (Asws) 4,567,180 6,248,847
Change in Surface Water Storage (1,681,668) (1,376,267)
2. Claims to Water Accuracy Notes 30 June 2015 30 June 2014 Intervalley Trade Account (IVT) A1 5 11,021 99,188 Total Surface Water Storage (Acl) 11,021 99,188
Change in Total Claims to Water (88,167) 82,040
SURFACE WATER LIABILITIES 3. Allocation Account Balance Accuracy Notes 30 June 2015 30 June 2014 Domestic and Stock (D&S) A1 1 (3) (7) General Security A1 1 499,383 486,279 High Security (HS) A1 1 (140) (188) Regulated River Conveyance A1 1 0 0 Total Allocation Accounts (Lsws) 499,241 486,085
Change in Allocation Account Balance 13,166 293,099
4. Environmental Provisions Accuracy Notes 30 June 2015 30 June 2014 Planned Environmental Water A1 7 Barmah-Millewa Allowance (BMA) 170,130 97,480 Additional Environmental Allowance 22,502 16,874 Total Environmental Provisions (Lep) 192,632 114,354
Change in Environmental Provisions 78,278 (1,074)
NET SURFACE WATER ASSETS Net Surface Water Assets (Asws + Acl - Lsws - Lep) 3,886,328 5,747,597
Change in Net Surface Water Assets (1,861,278) (1,586,252)
25 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
NSW Murray catchment
Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities For the year ended 30 June 2015 (1 of 3) 1. CHANGES IN SURFACE WATER STORAGE (Physical Water Balance) ( ) denotes negative Surface Water Storage Increases Accuracy Notes 2014-2015 2013-2014 Hume Dam Hume Dam - Murray Required Annual release A 11 714,600 795,900 Hume Dam - Natural A 11 1,486,881 2,373,250 Hume Dam - Dartmouth Release A 11 1,252,807 929,962 Rainfall B 12 79,833 103,498 Dartmouth Dam Inflow A 11 591,352 809,611 Rainfall B 12 48,505 65,137 Menindee Lakes Inflow A 11 64,608 136,475 Rainfall B 12 28,452 42,516 Lake Victoria Inflow A 11 947,173 1,189,710 Rainfall B 12 21,144 30,356 Murray River Rainfall C 13 50,489 65,115 Gauged Tributary Inflow A 14 3,134,046 3,774,459 Inflow from Storage Releases A 16 4,669,652 5,409,630 Inflow from Darling River A 14 25,641 239,692 Total Surface Water Storage Increases (Isws) 13,115,183 15,965,311
Surface Water Storage Decreases Accuracy Notes 2014-2015 2013-2014 Hume Dam Evaporation B 12 188,822 205,329 Storage Release A 16 3,913,660 4,350,252 Dartmouth Dam Evaporation B 12 71,469 77,459 Storage Release A 16 1,252,807 929,962 Menindee Lakes Evaporation B 12 260,061 631,243 Storage Releases A 16 125,106 418,250 Lake Victoria Evaporation B 12 225,121 232,946 Storage Releases A 16 755,992 1,059,378 Murray River Evaporation C 13 170,240 164,188 Diversions to Lake Victoria A 11 947,173 1,189,710 Diversions to Murrumbidgee A 17 15,657 13,001 End of System Flow to South Australia A 17 2,876,670 3,561,910 Basic Rights Extraction C 21 2,118 2,118 Victorian licensed extractions from river A 19 1,554,600 1,432,490 NSW Murray licenced extractions from river A 18 1,282,547 1,564,464 Total Surface Water Storage Decreases (Dsws) 13,642,043 15,832,700
Unaccounted Volume (Balancing Item) (Usws) D 23 1,154,808 1,508,878
Net Surface Water Storage Inflow (Isws - Dsws - Usws) (1,681,668) (1,376,267)
26 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
NSW Murray catchment
Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities For the year ended 30 June 2015 (2 of 3) 2. CHANGES IN CLAIMS TO WATER ( ) denotes negative Claims To Water Increases Accuracy Notes 2014-2015 2013-2014 IVT account A1 5 Bulk transfer: RAR to Murrumbidgee from Murray 0 0 Allocation account Trade into Murray 139,893 180,850 Net diversion to Murrumbidgee (Via Finley Escape) 9,882 1,389 Total Claims to Water Increases (lctw) 149,775 182,239
Claims To Water Decreases Accuracy Notes 2014-2015 2013-2014 IVT account A1 5 Bulk Transfer:RAR to Murray from Murrumbidgee 0 0 Bulk Transfer:To Murray via Balranald 148,299 40,282 Trade to Murrumbidgee from Murray System 94,248 59,917 Net Tagged Trade (4,605) 0 Total Claims to Water Decreases (Dctw) 237,942 100,199
Net Claims to Water Balance Increase (Ictw - Dctw) (88,167) 82,040
3. CHANGES IN ALLOCATION ACCOUNTS Allocation Account Increases Accuracy Notes 2014-2015 2013-2014 Available Water Determinations A1 2 Domestic and Stock 17,102 17,173 General Security 1,019,583 1,613,214 High Security 181,970 187,541 High Security (Community and Education) 47 47 High Security (Research) 800 800 High Security (Town Water Supply) 3,195 3,195 Local Water Utility 33,497 33,497 Conveyance 244,101 330,000 Internal Trading - Buyers A1 4 312,980 386,070 Allocation Account Water Traded In from External A1 4 127,129 84,525 Supplementary water demand A 22 11,848 137,103 Uncontrolled flow taken 887 0 Prior Year account Adjustments 0 10 Total Allocation Increases (Iaa) 1,953,139 2,793,164
27 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
NSW Murray catchment
Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities For the year ended 30 June 2015 (3 of 3) ( ) denotes negative Allocation Account Decreases Accuracy Notes 2014-2015 2013-2014 Account Forfeiture A1 1 Domestic and Stock 6,569 7,394 General Security 9,262 18,071 High Security 9,853 15,160 High Security (Community and Education) 17 19 High Security (Research) 800 800 High Security (Town Water Supply) 0 0 Local Water Utility 13,944 12,768 Conveyance (Main River) 7 0 Account Usage A 1,3 Domestic and Stock 10,522 9,762 General Security 878,738 933,943 High Security 101,858 102,845 High Security (Community and Education) 30 28 High Security (Town Water Supply) 3,195 3,195 Local Water Utility 17,423 18,284 Conveyance (Main River) 258,046 359,305 Supplementary water A 22 11,848 137,103 Uncontrolled flow allowance usage 887 0 Internal Trading - Sellers A1 4 312,980 386,070 Allocation Account Water Traded Out to External A1 4 287,317 463,420 Transfer to Snowy – Water Savings A1 20 16,579 31,881 Licenced Cancelled A 1 100 19 Prior Year Account Adjustments 0 0 Total Allocation Decreases (Daa) 1,939,974 2,500,065
Net Allocation Account Balance Increase (Iaa - Daa) 13,166 293,099
4. CHANGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROVISIONS Environmental Provisions Increases Accuracy Notes 2014-2015 2013-2014 Planned Environmental Water Balance Total Increases (Iep) A1 7 80,628 80,626
Environmental Provisions Decreases Accuracy Notes 2014-2015 2013-2014 Planned Environmental Water Balance Total Decreases (Dep) A1 7 2,350 81,700
Net Environmental Provisions Balance Increase (Iep - Dep) (78,278) (1,074)
Change in Net Surface Water Assets (lsws-Dsws-Usws+Ictw-Dctw-Iaa+Daa-lep+Dep) (1,861,278) (1,586,252)
28 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Note Disclosures
29 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Reconciliation and future prospect descriptions
Reconciliation of change in net water asset to net change in 2014-15 2013-14 physical water storage ML ML
CHANGE IN NET SURFACE WATER ASSETS (1,861,278) (1,586,252)
Non-physical adjustments
Net Change in Allocation Accounts 13,166 293,099
Net Change in Environmental Provisions 78,278 (1,074)
Net Change in Claims for Water: Intervalley 88,167 (82,040)
179,611 209,985
NET CHANGE IN PHYSICAL SURFACE WATER STORAGE (1,681,667) (1,376,267)
Reconciliation of closing water storage to total surface water 30 June 2015 30 June 2014 assets ML ML CLOSING WATER STORAGE
Surface Water Storage Hume Dam 965,871 1,534,232 Dartmouth Dam 2,823,709 3,508,128 Menindee Lakes 88,671 380,778 Lake Victoria 447,073 459,869 Less Victorian storage share (2,488,000) (3,181,000) Less South Australian storage share 0 (49,000)
TOTAL SURFACE WATER ASSETS 1,837,324 2,653,007
Notes: All figures can be derived from or found directly in the Water Accounting Statements of the General Purpose Water Accounting Report.
30 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Water assets available to settle water liabilities and future commitments within 12 months of reporting date
(ML) Note (ML)
TOTAL WATER ASSETS AS AT 30 June 2015 (WARP) 1,837,324
Plus: Water Asset increases within 12 months of reporting date (WAI) Snowy RAR 839,200 10 Minimum Useful Tributaries 50,000 (a) Minimum Storage Inflow 250,000 (b) 1,139,200
Less: Water assets not available to be accessed and taken or delivered
within 12 months of reporting date. (WANA) Menindee Lakes Volume 88,671 (c) Storage Net Evaporation (NSW Share) 130,000 (d) Murray Essential Requirements 2015-16 240,000 (e) Mandatory Reserve (NSW) 0 (f) Lower Darling Essential Requirements 2015-16 0 (g) Transmission Losses 395,000 (h) End of System Flows to South Australia (NSW) 925,000 (i) Conveyance Losses 2015-16 100,000 (j) Dead Storage (NSW Share) 97,000 8 1,975,671
Water assets available to be accessed and taken or delivered within 12 months 1,000,853 of reporting date.
Less: Water liabilities and future commitments expected to be settled
within 12 months of the reporting date.
Water Liabilities expected to be delivered within 12 months of
reporting date. (WLE) Surface Water Carryover 499,241 1 Environmental Provisions Carryover 192,632 7 691,873
Future Commitments expected to be delivered within 12 months of
reporting date. (FC) Indicative Allocations and Basic Rights (k) EWA Allowance Increase 17,500 (l) General Security 0 1 Conveyance 80,000 High Security 154,240 1 Domestic and Stock 17,173 1 Local Water Utility 33,497 1 Basic Rights 2,118 21 Lower Darling Commitments 2015-16 0 (m) 304,528 996,401
Surplus of available water assets over water liabilities and future commitments expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date. (SWA) (n) 4,452 SWA = (WARP + WAI - WANA - WL E – FC)
31 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Notes: (a) The proportion of the statistical long term minimal inflow sequence downstream of the storages that can be used to settle liabilities and future commitments. (b) The statistical long term annual minimal inflow sequence to storages. (c) Menindee Lakes is under NSW control with all water being used for Broken Hill Town Water supply or Lower Darling demand. Hence Menindee Lakes water is not available for Murray. (d) This is an estimate of the annual impact of the net effect of rainfall and evaporation on the storages. (e) The NSW Murray catchment puts aside sufficient amount of water asset to meet the essential requirements for two years. This figure represents the essential requirement in year two being made up of towns, high security, stock and domestic, minimum storage releases, and basic rights. (f) Water set aside as a minimum storage reserve in order to meet South Australian future requirements in 2016-17. (g) The NSW Lower Darling catchment puts aside sufficient amount of water asset to meet the essential requirements for two years. This figure represents the essential requirement in year two being made up of towns, high security, stock and domestic, minimum storage releases, basic rights and estimated loss to deliver them. This volume is zero when NSW is in control of Menindee Lakes. (h) This is the volume of water set aside to account for the losses encountered in the delivery of the water liabilities and future commitments. (i) This is the NSW share of the flow that is expected to be supplied to South Australia in 2015-16. (j) This is the volume of water set aside in order to deliver the essential requirements in 2015-16. (k) Indicative Allocation represents a proposed starting allocation for each licence category. Local water utilities, domestic and stock and sub categories of high security receiving a potential starting allocation of 100 per cent, with high security receiving 0.8 megalitres per share, general security receiving an increase of 0 megalitres per share and conveyance 0.2424 megalitres per share of entitlement. (l) The forecast EWA account increases in line with the rules as set out in the water sharing plan. (m) This is the Lower Darling commitments to be delivered in 2015-16. This is zero when NSW is in control of Menindee Lakes (n) Remaining uncommitted water that is set aside for future increases to allocation. This volume is minimal and more an indication of uncertainty about the data being used.
32 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Note 1 – Allocation accounts This note is reference for the volume held in the allocation accounts at the time of reporting and is also relevant for the various processes that occur to either increase or decrease an allocation account throughout the water year. The volume of water that is in the licence allocation accounts at the time of reporting is a net balance for the relevant licence category and represents that water that can be carried forward to the next water year as dictated by the carryover rules in place for that year or required under the water sharing plan. A negative number for the carryover figure indicates that more usage has occurred than has been allocated to the account, and the deficit must be carried forward to the next season. Water that is in the accounts at the end of a water year but is not permitted to be carried over is forfeited and has been represented as a decrease in water liability. The accounting presented is relevant to licence category and is therefore inclusive of licences held by environmental holders (these are also detailed separately in Note 6). Data type Derived from measured data Policy Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 Available on the DPI Water website Data accuracy A1 – Nil inaccuracy +/- 0% Providing agency DPI Water Data source WaterNSW/DPI Water – Water Accounting System (joint ownership) Methodology The carryover volume of water in the allocation account for each licence category is determined once all transactions and end of year forfeit rules have been applied. Below is list of typical transactions that can apply to an allocation account: • Available Water Determination (AWD) (detailed in Note 2) • Allocation account usage (detailed in Note 3) • Forfeiture due to: o No or limited carryover being permitted (End of Year Forfeit) o Account limit breaches o Evaporation reductions on carryover o Cancellation of licence • Trade of allocation water between accounts (detailed in Note 4) • Determined carryover volume • Transfer snowy water savings (detailed in Note 20)
33 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Additional information The tables on the following page provide a balanced summary of the water allocation accounts for each category of access licence. Below is a description of each of the table components. Table 4: Explanatory information for allocation account summary
Heading Description
Share This is the total volume of entitlement in the specific licence category on the specified date.
Opening balance The volume of water that has been carried forward from previous years allocation account.
AWD – Available water determination The total annual volume of water added to the allocation account as a result of allocation assessments. This figure includes additional AWD made as a result of a storage spill reset as defined in the water sharing plan. Licences New Increase in account water as a result of the issuing of a new licence.
Cancelled Decrease in account water as a result of a license cancellation where account balance has not been traded to another license. Assignments In Increase in account water as a result of temporary trade in.
Out Decrease in account water as a result of temporary trade out.
This is an adjust to account water as a result of Snowy water savings projects Transfer snowy water savings with all water held in assigned Snowy environmental licences on 31 January transferred to Snowy Hydro to be used in planning. Account usage Volume of water that is extracted or diverted from the river and is accountable against the access license allocation
Uncontrolled Flow Usage Volume of water that is extracted under high flow conditions that is not accountable against the licence. This differs from Supplementary water in that it becomes accountable once specific allocation levels are exceeded. Forfeits During Year Account water forfeited throughout the year as a result of the accounting rules specified in the water sharing plan. Forfeited water may occur due to account limits being reached, conversions between license categories and various types of other license dealings. It also includes any reductions on carryover volumes due to storage evaporation as required by the water sharing plan. End of year forfeit Account water that is forfeited at the end of the water year as a result of carryover rules that restrict the carry forward volume.
End of year balance Account balance that is available to be taken at the conclusion of the water year.
Carry forward This represents the account water that is permitted to be carried forward into the next water year as determined by the carryover rules.
( ) Negative figures are shown in red brackets
34 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Table 5: Allocation account balance summary for the NSW Murray regulated river 2014-15 Transfer Licences Assignments Uncontrolled During End of End of Share Opening Snowy Account Carry Category AWD Flow Year Year Year 30 June 15 Balance Water usage Forward New Cancelled In Out Usage Forfeit Balance Forfeit Savings
Domestic and Stock 13,781 (7) 13,793 0 12 4 0 0 8,780 0 0 4,999 5,002 (3)
Domestic and Stock [Domestic] 1,242 0 1,241 0 0 0 0 0 860 0 0 382 382 0
Domestic and Stock [Stock] 2,068 0 2,068 0 0 0 0 0 882 0 0 1,186 1,186 0
Local Water Utility 33,497 0 33,497 0 0 0 2,130 0 17,423 0 0 13,944 13,944 0
Conveyance 330,000 0 244,101 0 0 77,035 63,083 0 258,046 0 0 7 7 0
General Security11 1,673,190 486,269 1,019,583 0 88 324,372 426,175 16,579 878,738 887 0 508,645 9,262 499,383
High Security 187,747 (188) 181,970 0 0 38,697 108,909 0 101,858 0 0 9,713 9,853 (140)
High Security (Community and 47 0 47 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 0 17 17 0 Education)
High Security (Research) 800 0 800 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 800 800 0
High Security (Town Water Supply) 3,195 0 3,195 0 0 0 0 0 3,195 0 0 0 0 0
Supplementary Water 252,579 0 252,579 0 0 184 184 0 11,848 0 240,732 240,732 0
11 This licence category takes into consideration Snowy Water Savings that were transferred to Snowy Hydro to be used for improving river health and delivering environmental benefits in the Snowy and Murray Rivers (refer to Note 20 for more detail).
35 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Note 2 – Available water determination (AWD) (allocation announcement) This is the process by which the regulated surface water asset available for use within the regulated system is determined and shared. The process calculates the volume of water that is to be added to an individual’s licence allocation account. Announcements of allocations are made on a seasonal basis - usually corresponding with the financial year and are updated on a regular basis or following significant inflow events. Under the Water Management Act 2000 the announcements are termed available water determinations. Data type Derived from measured data. Policy Water Management Act 2000 (NSW). • Chapter 3 – Part 2 Access Licences. o Clause 59 – Available Water Determinations. Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 • Part 8 – Limits to the availability of water o Division 2 – Available Water Determinations. Available on the DPI Water website Data accuracy A1 – Nil inaccuracy +/- 0% Providing agency DPI Water. Methodology The AWD procedure itself is generally divided into two sections; the available water asset, and system commitments. Once the required system commitments have been allowed for, the remaining water asset is then available for distribution to the access licence categories in order of priority (see following table). Announcements are expressed as either a percentage of the share component for all access licences where share components are specified as megalitres per year, or megalitres per unit share for all regulated river (high security) access licences, regulated river (general security) access licences and supplementary water access licences. Table 6: Priority of access licence categories Licence Category AWD Priority General Security Low High Security High Conveyance Low Domestic and Stock12 Very High Local Water Utility Very High
12 Domestic and Stock is further broken down into three sub categories: Domestic and Stock, Domestic and Stock (Domestic) and Domestic and Stock (Stock). For the purposes of this report and the general purpose water account they were all treated as Domestic and Stock.
36 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Available Water Asset – this is calculated by summing the water currently available in storage, future (minimum) inflows to the system, and additional volumes due to recessions of inflows from the current levels to the minimum inflow levels. Also taken into consideration is the reduction of the total inflows to the system for those that arrive too late in the season to be useful. System Commitments – this is an assessment of the existing commitments that have to be delivered from the Available Water Asset in either the current or future years. Key components include: • essential supplies include things such as town water supplies, stock and domestic requirements, industrial use and permanent plantings (e.g. orchards, vineyards) and environmental allowances • undelivered account water is the water that has already been allocated to accounts but yet to be provided • end of system flow requirement is an estimate of the flow that to pass through the system as a result of operation of the system • losses which are estimated as the amount of water that will be lost by the system either through evaporation or in the process of delivering the water via transmission losses Available water determinations are limited to an equivalent volume of 100 per cent of share component (entitlement) for all categories other than general security. The sum of available water determinations for general security holders cannot exceed 1.1 megalitres per share. Additional information Table 8 presents the allocation summary report for 2014-15. Table 7 describes the terms used in the allocation summary report. Table 7: Allocation summary report notes Report Heading Description Opening Remaining allocation account balances at the conclusion of the previous season that is allowed to be carried forward to this season. Individual announcement Actual announcement made to each licence category Share component (Entitlement) Sum of the licensed volume of water within the licence category on the announcement date. Allocation announced volume Volume of water credited to accounts within a licence category as a result of the announcement made. Allocation cumulative announced Cumulative total of the announced volumes for the water year and licence volume category. Allocation announced volume % of This is the announced volume expressed as a percentage of the entitlement share applicable on the particular date. Allocation cumulative announced This is the cumulative total percent (of total entitlement) that has been issued volume % of share on the announcement date (inclusive) Account balance available Sum of water available in allocation accounts that has been made available to be taken during the season. Account balance not available Water allocated that is not accessible at this point in time. Account balance total Total balance of accounts (available plus not available) Account balance available % of share Account balance available expressed as a percentage of share component. Account balance total % of share Account balance expressed as a percentage of share component. Supplementary water Water that is not a stored source of water and is only made available if an uncontrolled flow event occurs.
37 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Table 8: Allocation announcements for the NSW Murray regulated river water source 2014-15 Allocation Account balance Cumulative Cumulative Individual Share Announced Announced Not Available Date announced Announced Available Total Total announcement component volume volume available % of volume volume (ML) (ML) % of share (ML) % of share (ML) share (ML) % of share DOMESTIC AND STOCK 1-Jul-14 Opening 13,793 (7) 0 (7) 0 0 1-Jul-14 AWD 100.0 % 13,793 13,793 13,793 100 100 13,787 0 13,787 100 100 DOMESTIC AND STOCK(DOMESTIC) 1-Jul-14 Opening 1,241 0 0 0 0 0 1-Jul-14 AWD 100.0 % 1,241 1,241 1,241 100 100 1,241 0 1,241 100 100 DOMESTIC AND STOCK(STOCK) 1-Jul-14 Opening 2,068 0 0 0 0 0 1-Jul-14 AWD 100.0 % 2,068 2,068 2,068 100 100 2,068 0 2,068 100 100 LOCAL WATER UTILITY 1-Jul-14 Opening 33,497 0 0 0 0 0 1-Jul-14 AWD 100.0 % 33,497 33,497 33,497 100 100 33,497 0 33,497 100 100 REGULATED RIVER (HIGH SECURITY) 1-Jul-14 Opening 187,595 (188) 0 (188) (0.1) (0.1) 1-Jul-14 AWD 0.97 ML per Share 187,595 181,970 181,970 97 97 181,783 0 181,783 96.9 96.9 REGULATED RIVER (HIGH SECURITY)(COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION) 1-Jul-14 Opening 47 0 0 0 0 0 1-Jul-14 AWD 100 % 47 47 47 100 100 47 0 47 100 100 REGULATED RIVER (HIGH SECURITY)(RESEARCH) 1-Jul-14 Opening 800 0 0 0 0 0 1-Jul-14 AWD 100 % 800 800 800 100 100 800 0 800 100 100 REGULATED RIVER (HIGH SECURITY)(TOWN WATER SUPPLY) 1-Jul-14 Opening 3,195 0 0 0 0 0 1-Jul-14 AWD 100 % 3,195 3,195 3,195 100 100 3,195 0 3,195 100 100
38 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Table 8: Allocation announcements for the NSW Murray regulated river water source 2014-15 (continued) Allocation Account balance Cumulative Cumulative Individual Share Announced Announced Not Available Date announced Announced Available Total Total announcement component volume volume available % of volume volume (ML) (ML) % of share (ML) % of share (ML) share (ML) % of share REGULATED RIVER (CONVEYANCE) 1-Jul-14 Opening 330,000 0 0 0 0 0 1-Jul-14 AWD 0.5242 ML per Share 330,000 172,986 172,986 52.4 52.4 172,986 0 172,986 52.4 52.4 14-Jul-14 AWD 0.0121 ML per Share 330,000 3,993 176,979 1.2 53.6 176,979 0 176,979 53.6 53.6 1-Aug-14 AWD 0.0103 ML per Share 330,000 3,399 180,378 1.0 54.7 180,378 0 180,378 54.7 54.7 15-Aug-14 AWD 0.02 ML per Share 330,000 6,600 186,978 2.0 56.7 186,978 0 186,978 56.7 56.7 1-Sep-14 AWD 0.0121 ML per Share 330,000 3,993 190,971 1.2 57.9 190,971 0 190,971 57.9 57.9 12-Sep-14 AWD 0.0303 ML per Share 330,000 9,999 200,970 3.0 60.9 200,970 0 200,970 60.9 60.9 1-Oct-14 AWD 0.0242 ML per Share 330,000 7,986 208,956 2.4 63.3 208,956 0 208,956 63.3 63.3 15-Oct-14 AWD 0.0182 ML per Share 330,000 6,006 214,962 1.8 65.1 214,962 0 214,962 65.1 65.1 17-Nov-14 AWD 0.0232 ML per Share 330,000 7,656 222,618 2.3 67.5 222,618 0 222,618 67.5 67.5 12-Dec-14 AWD 0.0155 ML per Share 330,000 5,115 227,733 1.6 69.0 227,733 0 227,733 69.0 69.0 15-Jan-15 AWD 0.0333 ML per Share 330,000 10,989 238,722 3.3 72.3 238,722 0 238,722 72.3 72.3 2-Feb-15 AWD 0.0 ML per Share 330,000 0 238,722 0.0 72.3 238,722 0 238,722 72.3 72.3 16-Feb-15 AWD 0.0057 ML per Share 330,000 1,881 240,603 0.6 72.9 240,603 0 240,603 72.9 72.9 16-Mar-15 AWD 0.0106 ML per Share 330,000 3,498 244,101 1.1 74.0 244,101 0 244,101 74.0 74.0
39 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Table 8: Allocation announcements for the NSW Murray regulated river water source 2014-15 (continued) Allocation Account balance Cumulative Cumulative Individual Share Announced Announced Not Available Date announced Announced Available Total Total announcement component volume volume available % of volume volume (ML) (ML) % of share (ML) % of share (ML) share (ML) % of share REGULATED RIVER (GENERAL SECURITY) 1-Jul-14 Opening 1,672,367 502,062 0 502,062 30.0 30.0 1-Jul-14 AWD 0.06 ML per Share 1,672,367 100,353 100,353 6.0 6.0 602,415 0 602,415 36.0 36.0 14-Jul-14 AWD 0.03 ML per Share 1,672,367 50,183 150,535 3.0 9.0 652,598 0 652,598 39.0 39.0 1-Aug-14 AWD 0.03 ML per Share 1,672,367 50,171 200,706 3.0 12.0 702,768 0 702,768 42.0 42.0 15-Aug-14 AWD 0.05 ML per Share 1,672,367 83,632 284,338 5.0 17.0 786,401 0 786,401 47.0 47.0 1-Sep-14 AWD 0.03 ML per Share 1,672,367 50,172 334,510 3.0 20.0 836,573 0 836,573 50.0 50.0 12-Sep-14 AWD 0.08 ML per Share 1,672,806 133,839 468,349 8.0 28.0 970,411 0 970,411 58.0 58.0 1-Oct-14 AWD 0.06 ML per Share 1,672,806 100,380 568,729 6.0 34.0 1,070,791 0 1,070,791 64.0 64.0 15-Oct-14 AWD 0.05 ML per Share 1,672,806 83,655 652,384 5.0 39.0 1,154,446 0 1,154,446 69.0 69.0 17-Nov-14 AWD 0.06 ML per Share 1,672,806 100,395 752,779 6.0 45.0 1,254,841 0 1,254,841 75.0 75.0 12-Dec-14 AWD 0.04 ML per Share 1,672,806 66,904 819,683 4.0 49.0 1,321,745 0 1,321,745 79.0 79.0 15-Jan-15 AWD 0.03 ML per Share 1,673,460 50,204 869,887 3.0 52.0 1,371,949 0 1,371,949 82.0 82.0 2-Feb-15 AWD 0.01 ML per Share 1,673,460 16,743 886,630 1.0 53.0 1,388,692 0 1,388,692 83.0 83.0 16-Feb-15 AWD 0.06 ML per Share 1,673,460 100,417 987,047 6.0 59.0 1,489,110 0 1,489,110 89.0 89.0 16-Mar-15 AWD 0.02 ML per Share 1,673,460 33,473 1,020,520 2.0 61.0 1,522,582 0 1,522,582 91.0 91.0 SUPPLEMENTARY WATER 1-Jul-14 Opening 252,579 0 0 0 0 0 1-Jul-14 AWD 1.0 ML per Share 252,579 252,579 252,579 100 100 252,579 0 252,579 100 100
40 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Note 3 – Allocation account usage This is the volume of water that is extracted, diverted or measured as usage and is accountable against an access licence issued under the water sharing plan. Data type Measured/administration data Policy Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 Data accuracy A – Estimated in the range +/- 10% Providing agency DPI Water, Murray Darling Basin Authority Data source WaterNSW/DPI Water – Water Accounting System (Joint ownership of system). MDBA: Murray MDBA Monthly Report Methodology Usage information is determined by either on-farm meters that measure extraction, gauges on diversion works or orders/releases when the volume cannot be effectively metered, such as an environmental watering event. Meter readings are collected for individual licence holders at intervals during the year and converted via a calibration factor to a volume of water extracted. Water diverted from the river is measured by recording the height at either the gauge or weir with the volume diverted being derived by passing these heights through a rating table. With potentially multiple categories of access licences being extracted through the same pumps additional information and methodologies are required to separate use under the various licence categories. Below is a description of these: • Based on periods of announcement – during periods of supplementary water announcements extractions can be debited against the supplementary water licences • Usage based on water orders – users place orders for water against an access licence and usages are debited against accounts in proportion to the orders placed. • Licence category apportionment – if no water orders are available water extracted is apportioned against categories of access licence in order of priority as set out in the table below. The prioritising is based on the nature of and rules around each of the licence categories. Victorian account usage obtained from the Murray Darling Basin Authority monthly reports. The following table provides the order in which extractions are apportioned to access licence categories in the water accounting system. This is a generic list where not all categories will necessarily appear in this GPWAR. There are also various sub categories of licence associated with some of the categories.
41 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Table 9: Licence category metered usage apportionment table Priority Surface water
1 Supplementary
2 Uncontrolled Flow
3 Domestic and Stock
4 Regulated River High Security
5 Regulated River General Security
6 Conveyance
7 Local Water Utility
8 Major Water Utility
Table 10: Account usage summary 2014-15
Account usage (ML) Licence category NSW Murray Victoria
Domestic and Stock 8,780
Domestic and Stock [Domestic] 860
Domestic and Stock [Stock] 882
Local Water Utility 17,423
Conveyance 258,046
General Security 878,738
High Security 101,858
High Security (Community and Education) 30
High Security (Research) 0
High Security (Town Water Supply) 3,195
Supplementary Water 11,848 Total Usage 1,564,464 1,554,600
42 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Note 4 – Account Water Trading (allocation assignments) This represents the temporary trading (allocation assignments) of water between allocation accounts within the regulated NSW Murray water source and between the NSW Murray licence holders and holders in external water sources. Data type Administration Policy Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 • Part 10 Access licence dealing rules o Clause 51 Rules relating to constraints within a water source o Clause 55 Rules for water allocation assignment between water sources o Clause 56 Rules for interstate assignment of water allocations o Available on the DPI Water website Data accuracy A1 – Nil inaccuracy +/- 0% Providing agency DPI Water Data source WaterNSW/DPI Water – Water Accounting System (joint ownership of system). Methodology Trading is permitted between certain categories of access licences and between certain water sources. This is detailed in the water sharing plan or stipulated under the licence holder’s conditions. The net internal trade for each licence category is zero for a water year. As such, trades occur as both a water liability decrease (sellers of water) and a water liability increase (buyers of water). Trade between water sources will either increase the committed liability for the year (trade into the Murray) or decrease the committed liability for the year (trade out of the NSW Murray). The imbalance created from trading to and from the Murray water source is monitored and managed with the intervalley trade account (see note 5). Additional information The following table shows the internal and external trading figures between licence categories and water sources. All figures represent a volume in megalitres.
43 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 31: NSW Murray catchment allocation assignment summary 2014-15
Trade To/Buyer NSW Murray Murrumbidgee Murray Trade Report 2014-15 South Totals Domestic General High General High Victoria Conveyance Supplementary Australia and Stock Security Security Security Security Local Water 1,965 165 2,130 Utility Conveyance 1,016 29,319 30,438 2,310 63,083
Murray General Security 59,355 126,694 10,226 22,614 1,511 138,720 67,055 426,175 High Security 4 15,769 55,476 12,990 10,142 351 6,725 7,451 108,909 Supplementary 184 184
General Security 64,322 7,656 Internal Trade = 313,164 ML 71,978
Trade From/Seller Murrumbidgee High Security 18,424 1,684 20,108 Trade out of Murray = 287,317 ML South Australia 545 7,114 558 8,217
Trade into Murray = 127,129 ML Victoria 350 21,057 5,418 26,826
Totals 4 77,035 324,372 38,697 184 63,194 1,862 145,445 76,816 727,609
44 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Note 5 - Intervalley Trade Account (IVT) The intervalley trade account provides ongoing tracking of valley debts and claims for water due to the temporary trading of account water between the southern connected valleys of the Murray Darling Basin. For the NSW Murray this is presented in the accounting statements as an asset account whereby a positive balance is indicative of a claim to water (NSW Murray owed water), and a negative balance indicative of a future obligation (NSW Murray owes water). Data type Derived from measured data Policy Water Act 2007 (Federal) The Murray Darling Basin Agreement (Schedule 1) – Transferring Water Entitlements and Allocations (Schedule D) Water Management Act 2000 (NSW) Dealings with access licences (Division 4)
- 71G Assignment of water allocations between access licences - 71I Interstate assignment of water allocations Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 Part 10 Access licence dealing rules
- Clause 55 Rules for water allocation assignment between water sources - Clause 56 Rules for interstate assignment of water allocations Available on DPI Water website at www.water.nsw.gov.au Data accuracy A1 – Nil inaccuracy +/- 0% Providing agency WaterNSW, DPI Water Data Sources WaterNSW – Provided spreadsheet DPI Water – Water Accounting System – HYDSTRA Methodology: The balance of the IVT account is calculated by adjusting the carried forward balance of the IVT account from the previous year and applying a series of transactions (described in the additional information section below). A positive balance indicates that the Murrumbidgee owes water to the Murray System while a negative balance indicates that Murray system owes water to the Murrumbidgee System. Additional information The IVT trade balance summary table presented in Table 11 provides information compiled from the best information available at the time of publication. These figures may change in the future as updated information becomes available. All figures are in megalitres.
45 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Table 11: Murray- Murrumbidgee inter-valley trade account summary
Murrumbidgee IVT Account Adjustments Inter-valley Trading Water Decreases Increases IVT Year Starting Closing Ending Balance Via Via Net Into Out of Balance 30 June Net Into Snowy Balranald Tagged Finley Borrow Murrumbidgee Murrumbidgee Murray (4) (3) Trade (6) (1) (2) (5) 2004-05 0 11,805 3,779 (8,026) 0 4,185 0 12,211 0 2005-06 0 16,646 21,748 5,102 0 20,282 0 10,162 (5,018) 2006-07 (5,018) 1,209 97,195 95,986 20,000 70,968 0 0 0 2007-08 0 2,729 141,825 139,096 0 63,500 0 728 76,324 2008-09 76,324 17,223 406,976 389,753 200,000 44,981 0 6,245 227,341 2009-10 227,341 55,659 166,443 110,784 200,000 119,567 0 5,318 23,876 2010-11 23,876 130,929 180,031 49,102 0 57,751 0 12,766 27,993 2011-12 27,993 85,062 151,880 66,818 78,000 12,083 0 965 5,693 2012-13 5,693 179,426 234,574 55,148 (39,000) 87,542 200 5,049 17,148 2013-14 17,148 59,917 180,850 120,933 0 40,282 0 1,389 99,188 2014-15 98,188 94,248 139,893 45,645 0 148,299 (4,605) 9,882 11,021
Table 11 - IVT accounting descriptions 1. The volume of water traded into the Murrumbidgee Valley from the NSW Murray, NSW Lower Darling, Victoria or South Australia will result in the Murray IVT being decreased. 2. The volume of water traded out of the Murrumbidgee Valley to the NSW Murray, NSW Lower Darling, Victoria or South Australia will result in the Murray IVT being increased. 3. The Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) requests that NSW deliver a proportion of the water that was traded to users outside of the Murrumbidgee. NSW supplies the requested volume and accounts for it by calculating the resulting addition volume of water passing the Murrumbidgee River at Balranald. The accounted volume supplied is agreed between WaterNSW and MDBA and the Murray IVT account is decreased accordingly. 4. On occasion Snowy Hydro Limited may be requested to transfer a portion of either the Murrumbidgee or Murray Required Annual Release (RAR) to assist with the settlement of the IVT account when it gets too far out of balance (although there is no legal obligation on them to perform such releases). These are often referred to as "notional" releases. The following points illustrate this process: o Excessive Trade from Murrumbidgee to Murray creates a need to transfer Murrumbidgee RAR via the Murray development thus decreasing the Murray IVT account (reducing Murrumbidgee debt to Murray). o Excessive trade from Murray to Murrumbidgee creates a need to transfer Murray RAR via the Murrumbidgee development thus increasing the Murray IVT account (reducing Murray debt to Murrumbidgee). 5. Tagged trading is a dealing that occurs when a licence holder within a valley nominates to extract their allocation for that licence from a different water source. Any water delivered to a point of extraction within the Murrumbidgee to meet allocation associated with another water source therefore results in a decrease to the Murray IVT.
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6. During periods of high summer demand transfers of water can occur from the Murray to the Murrumbidgee via Murray Irrigation Limited (MIL) infrastructure to bypass delivery constraints that can occur in the Yanco Creek System and the Coleambally Irrigation channel network. Water passed into the Murrumbidgee via MIL, subject to MIL ability to deliver via their channel system, can help to meet the demands in Billabong Creek. The net change in the IVT as a result is calculated by assessing the difference between the flow diverted from MIL to Billabong Creek (via Finley escape) and the water that leaves the Murrumbidgee via the Billabong Creek at Darlot for the corresponding period (i.e. estimating volume extracted by users on Billabong Creek). This figure is presented as ‘Finley Borrow’ in Table 11.
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Note 6 – Held environmental water This represents that environmental water that is held as part of a licensed volumetric entitlement. These licences are either purchased on the market by environmental agencies or issued as a result of water savings achieved through investment by those relevant agencies. These licences are held within the same licence categories as all other water access licences hence are subject to the same operating rules. Therefore they are subject to the following key rules: • Available Water Determinations (AWD) for their share of the entitlement to be added to accounts • Carryover rules hence the forfeiting of unused water that cannot be carried over • Provide water orders prior to use. These licences are used to provide environmental benefit and outcomes to the catchment by either providing water to, or supplementing water requirements of, a specific environmental events or incidents. Data Type Measured Policy Water Management Act 2000 • Dealings with access licences (Division 4) o 71G Assignment of water allocations between access licences Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 Available on the DPI Water website Data accuracy A1 – Estimated in the range +/- 10% Providing agency DPI Water Data source WaterNSW/DPI Water – Water Accounting System (Joint ownership of System). Methodology The water held for the environment represents a volume of water in corresponding allocation accounts. This allocation account represents the sum of the remaining volume of held environmental water at the conclusion of the water year once all transactions and forfeit rules have been applied to the accounts. These environmental balances are at the licence category level and represent the water that can be carried forward for use in the next year. Below is list of typical transactions that can apply to an environmental allocation account: • AWD (including pro rata of AWD for new licences) • Licensed extractions • Forfeiture due to: o Carryover rules o Account spillage as a result of AWD o Licence conversions o Excess orders (where water order debiting is in place)
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• Trade of allocation water between accounts In addition the trade and purchase of environmental water is tracked to capture the movement of environmental entitlement both in number of entitlements, and volume. Additional information The table on the following page provides a summary of held environmental water for 2014- 15. Table 12: Explanatory information for Environmental Account Summary Heading Description Share This is the total volume of entitlement in the specific licence category. Opening balance The volume of water that has been carried forward from previous years allocation account. AWD – Available water determination The total annual volume of water added to the allocation account as a result of allocation assessments. This figure includes additional AWD made as a result of a storage spill reset as defined in the water sharing plan. Licences New Increase in account water as a result of the issuing of a new licence. Cancelled Decrease in account water as a result of a licence cancellation where account balance has not been traded to another licence. Assignments In Increase in account water as a result of temporary trade in.
Out Decrease in account water as a result of temporary trade out.
Account usage Volume of water that is extracted or diverted from the river and is accountable against the access licence allocation Forfeits During Year Account water forfeited throughout the year as a result of the accounting rules specified in the water sharing plan. Forfeited water may occur due to account limits being reached, conversions between licence categories and various types of other licence dealings. It also includes any reductions on carryover volumes due to storage evaporation as required by the water sharing plan. End of year forfeit Account water that is forfeited at the end of the water year as a result of carryover rules that restrict the carry forward volume.
End of year balance Account balance that is available to be taken at the conclusion of the water year. Carry forward This represents the account water that is permitted to be carried forward into the next water year as determined by the carryover rules.
( ) Negative figures are shown in red brackets
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Table 13: NSW Murray regulated water source environmental account balance summary 2014-15 13 Licences Assignments Transfer Forfeit Share End of End of Opening Snowy Account Carry Licence Category as at AWD Year Year Balance Water usage During Forward14 30 June 15 New Cancelled In Out Balance Forfeit Savings Year
Regulated River (Conveyance) 32,940 0 23,567 0 0 77,035 63,083 0 37,512 0 7 7 0
Regulated River (General Security) 283,428 74,205 170,665 0 0 66,251 174,987 16,579 25,699 0 93,856 1,001 92,855
Regulated River (General Security) - within MIL15 167,926 59,406 99,714 0 0 0 94,267 0 0 0 64,853 0 64,853
Regulated River (High Security) 22,827 0 21,605 0 0 59 21,663 0 0 0 1 1 0
Supplementary Water 100,211 0 100,211 0 0 0 0 0 0 100,211 100,211 0
Table 14: NSW Murray regulated water source environmental holding summary 2014-15 Number of licences Share Licence Category 30 June 14 30 June 15 Change 30 June 14 30 June 15 Change
Regulated River (Conveyance) 2 2 0 31,860 32,940 1,080 Regulated River (General Security) 24 24 0 267,692 283,428 15,736 15 Regulated River (General Security) - within MIL 1 1 0 175,678 167,926 -7,752 Regulated River (High Security) 14 14 0 22,334 22,827 493 Supplementary Water 5 5 0 100,211 100,211 0
13 Does not include allocation assignments to CEWH from other MIL Holders in 2014-15. 14 Carry forward volume uses actual opening balances from 01/07/2014, not potential carryover. 15 Water held by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) that form part of the Murray Irrigation Limited (MIL) general security licence.
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Note 7 – Environmental provisions There a number of planned environmental provisions allowed for within the regulated NSW Murray water source, implemented under the water sharing plan, with the aim of enhancing environmental benefits. A long-term extraction limit A long term extraction limit is set in place that ensures the growth in diversions is contained and the requirements set out under schedule F of the Murray Darling Basin agreement are maintained. If long term average annual diversions exceed this limit, provisions are in place to implement a reduction in the available water determinations until the average diversions are bought back under the required limit. Barmah-Millewa Environmental Water Allowance (B-M EWA) and Overdraw An environmental water allowance and overdraw availability has been established for the Barmah-Millewa forest and other wetlands and to increase the frequency of high flows during spring and early summer in the Murray River. These rules are designed to complement those applied by Victoria. The B-M EWA provides a volume of up to 75,000 megalitres each year to build up a reserve of planned environmental water, up to a maximum of 350,000 megalitres, for the maintenance of the Barmah-Millewa forest. In addition under certain conditions water in the B-M EWA account can be borrowed by regulated Murray water source access licences holders with the borrow being paid back when sufficient water becomes available. The Barmah-Millewa overdraw provides a volume of up to 50,000 megalitres per water year to provide water to Barmah-Millewa forest provided that sufficient water reserves are available to NSW so as not to constrain Available Water Determinations to any of the licence categories under the Plan. Water in either of the B-M EWA or overdraw accounts is made available from Hume Dam to provide environmentally beneficial outcomes for the Barmah-Millewa forest, in accordance with any relevant inter-state agreements. For details on rules relating to the management of these accounts in relation to crediting of water, carryover and forfeit rules refer to water sharing plan. Murray Additional Environmental Allowance (AEA) Releases from the Murray AEA may be made for any environmental purpose consistent with objectives as set out in the water sharing plan. The allowance may be credited annually with up to 0.03 megalitres while accumulating a maximum of up to 0.15 megalitres per share of high security entitlement. For details on rules relating to the management of this account refer to water sharing plan. Adaptive Environmental Water Access Licences Two access licences with a total share component of 32,027 unit shares were established as consequence of the Murray Irrigation Limited privatisation arrangements (30,000 megalitres conveyance licence) and water savings resulting from works installed to regulate inflows to Moira Lake (2,027 megalitres high security licence). These licences form part of the held environmental entitlement described in Note 6.
Data type Measured/Administration
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Policy Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 • Part 3 Environmental Water Provisions Available on the DPI Water website Data accuracy A1 – Nil inaccuracy +/- 0% Providing agency DPI Water Data source WaterNSW/DPI Water – Water Accounting System (Joint ownership of System). WaterNSW annual compliance report (internal document) Additional information Performance against long term extraction limit Performance against long term extraction limit is to be undertaken at the end of each water year, using the hydrologic computer model that is approved by DPI Water for assessing long-term water extraction from the water source. For more detail on this refer to the water sharing plan. Environmental Water Allowance and Overdraw No B-M EWA or Overdraw was used in 2014-15 to meet environmental requirements. In addition conditions did not allow water to be borrowed for the B-M EWA for use by regulated licence holders in the NSW Murray water source. Barma-Millewa Overdraw has not been required since commencement of the water sharing plan in 2004-05. Murray Additional Environmental Allowance No AEA was used in 2014-15 or has been required to meet environmental requirements since the commencement of the water sharing plan in 2004-05.
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Table 15: Barma-Millewa Environmental Allowance Borrow Account Evaporation Account Borrow Borrow Water Year Credits Spill Use Borrow Available Carryover Carryover Forfeit Balance Repay Account 2004-05 175,000 175,000 50,000 0 0 0 225,000 50,000 0 225,000 0 2005-06 225,000 225,000 75,000 0 256,450 0 43,550 50,000 275,000 0 43,550 2006-07 0 43,550 47,500 0 0 0 91,050 91,050 0 91,050 0 2007-08 91,050 91,050 21,500 0 0 0 112,550 21,500 0 112,550 0 2008-09 112,550 112,550 17,500 0 0 0 130,050 17,500 0 130,050 0 2009-10 130,050 130,050 50,000 0 0 0 180,050 50,000 0 180,050 0 2010-11 180,050 180,050 50,000 0 134,500 720 94,830 48,500 228,550 0 94,830 2011-12 0 94,830 75,000 0 139,800 0 30,030 0 0 0 30,030 2012-13 0 30,030 75,000 0 0 850 104,180 0 0 0 104,180 2013-14 0 104,180 75,000 79,180 0 2,520 97,480 0 0 0 97,480 2014-15 0 97,480 75,000 0 0 2,350 170,130 0 0 0 170,130
Table 16: Additional Environmental allowance AWD reached Account Water Year CarryOver HS Share Credit Use Spill Balance 0.97ML/Share Limit Forfeit 2004-05 0 179,478 Yes 5,384 0 0 0 5,384 2005-06 5,384 180,065 Yes 5,402 0 0 0 10,786 2006-07 10,786 181,031 Yes 5,431 0 0 0 16,217 2007-08 16,217 181,103 No 0 0 0 0 16,217 2008-09 16,217 183,504 Yes 5,505 0 0 0 21,722 2009-10 21,722 183,534 Yes 5,506 0 0 0 27,228 2010-11 27,228 187,541 Yes 5,626 0 28,131 4,723 0 2011-12 0 187,541 Yes 5,626 0 0 0 5,626 2012-13 5,626 187,392 Yes 5,622 0 0 0 11,248 2013-14 11,248 187,541 Yes 5,626 0 0 0 16,874 2014-15 16,874 187,595 Yes 5,628 0 0 0 22,502
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Note 8 – Surface water storage This is the actual volume of water stored in the individual surface water storages at the date of reporting. The volumes provided represent the total volume of water in the storage, including dead storage which is the volume of water which can’t be accessed under normal operating conditions e.g. volume below low level outlet. It is assumed that the dead storage can be accessed if required via alternative access methods e.g. syphons. The responsibility of operating Menindee Lakes is shared between the DPI Water and the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). It falls under the DPI Water’s control when the storage volume falls below 480,000 megalitres until such time as it rises above 640,000 megalitres at which time it falls under MDBA control until it falls back below 480,000 megalitres. Data type Derived from measured data Policy Not applicable Data accuracy A – Estimated in the range +/- 10% Providing agency DPI Water Data source DPI Water – HYDSTRA Methodology Storage volumes are calculated by processing a gauged storage elevation through a rating table that converts it to a volume. Additional information Table 17: Storage summary table Name Capacity (ML) Dead storage (ML) % change 2014-15
Hume Dam 3,005,156 1,790 19
Dartmouth Dam 4,056,896 91,190 6
Menindee Lakes 1,730,886 215,690 16
Lake Victoria 677,000 100,000 2
Lake Mulwala 117,500 NA 78
Torrumbarry Weir 36,810 NA - 0
For plots of storage behaviour for 2014-15, including volumes and percentages, see Figure 12, Figure 13, Figure 14 and Figure 15 earlier in this report.
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Note 9 – River channel storage The volume of water stored in the river channel on the day of reporting. Policy Not applicable Data type Derived from measured data Data accuracy B – Estimated in the range +/- 25% Providing agency Murray darling Basin Authority Data sources Murray MDBA Monthly Summary Spreadsheet Methodology Calculated as part of the MDBA Murray Flow Model using the following methodology. For each river section S(n): V = Q x T The river channel storage will be equal to the sum of all river section volumes. River channel storage = ∑ S(n) V
Table 18: Summary of river channel storage calculation components Symbol Variable Unit Q Average flow in the river section. Calculated by averaging the daily flows at ML/d the upstream and downstream river gauges. V Volume in each river section. ML T Average travel time for a parcel of water to travel through the river section. days
Assumptions and approximations: • Travel times are estimated to the nearest day. • Daily flow change between gauging sites assumed to be linear.
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Note 10 - Snowy required annual release Snowy Hydro Limited operates under a May to April accounting year which is different to the water accounting period being considered in this report. Hence this note will cover both the Snowy RAR and those adjusted to represent the reporting period. Snowy Hydro Limited provides an annual fixed minimal accountable release, known as the Required Annual Release (RAR) to the Murray (1,062,000 megalitres per year). However, in years of severe drought when the current inflow sequence is worse (drier) than the historical dry sequence, Snowy Hydro delivery of the RAR could put the Snowy Scheme at risk of running out of water. In those years the RAR may be reduced by the Dry Inflow Sequence Volume (DISV) being the measure of the cumulative difference between the historic dry sequence and the current inflow sequence. Any shortfall in the delivery of the DISV will be repaid in the future when annual inflows improve. Further adjustments to the RAR can also be made each year as a result of pre-releases made in the previous year or for water savings in the Murray that have been dedicated to Snowy River environmental flows. The RAR and those items that adjust it are monitored continually and updated whenever changes in the catchment dictate it. The Delivered RAR is assessed as being the sum of: • Actual Releases from Murray 1 Power Station • Total Montane Release Montane release is environmental water to support the high altitude streams that have been impacted by the Snowy Mountains Scheme. It is diverted to Hume Dam catchment with the majority lost before reaching the Dam (hence not separated out in statements for the Hume Dam inflows). Hence the figure used for the accountable portion of Hume Dam inflows in the accounting statements excludes Montane releases. Policy Snowy Water Licence 2010 Data type Derived from measured data Data accuracy A1 – Nil inaccuracy +/- 0% Providing agency DPI Water Data sources Snowy Mountains Authority Water Operations Report Methodology Snowy Accounting Year (May – April) RAR deliverable for Snowy–Murray Development is calculated as being: • Annual Fixed RAR • plus DISV as at 1 March (previous water year) • less Water savings Allocated to Snowy Tumut • less Pre Release (previous water year) The Adjusted RAR for Snowy–Murray Development is calculated as being: • RAR Deliverable
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• less DISV on 1 March (water year) • less RAR Permitted shortfalls and relaxations • less Murray-Murrumbidgee Intervalley Transfer Settlement Total RAR Delivered = Adjusted RAR plus Pre Release (next water year) plus Above Target Release less Relaxation Volume Payback Reporting Period (July – June) RAR Inflow to Hume = Delivered RAR Less Montane release (July – June) Additional Information The following tables provide detail into the calculation of the Snowy-Murray RAR as well as the water delivered under RAR for the July-June water year. Table 19: Snowy-Murray RAR summary table Snowy-Murray RAR 2014-15 Summary 1 May 2014 to 30 April 2015 Component Volume (ML) Annual Fixed RAR 1,062,000 Annual Allocation Water Savings 2013-14 -115,000 DISV 1 March 2014 0 Pre Releases for 2014-15 -168,000 Total RAR 2014-15 (as at 1 May 2015) 779,000 DISV 1 March 2015 -18,000 Intervalley Transfer to Murray 0 Relaxation Volume Call Out from 2013-14 0 Within Year Release for Above Target Water 2014-15 0 Adjusted RAR Target Release 2014-15 761,000 Pre Release for 2015-16 2,000 Above Target Release 0 Relaxation Volume 0 Total RAR Delivered 763,000 Snowy-Murray RAR Accounting to 1 July 2015 Component Volume (ML) Annual Fixed RAR 1,062,000 Annual Allocation Water Savings 2014-15 -100,000 DISV 1 March 2015 0 Pre Release for 2015-16 -2,000 Relaxation Volume 0 Snowy licence Shortfall Payback 0 Total RAR 2015-16 (as at 1 May 2015) 960,000 DISV 1 July 2015 0 Estimate 2015-16 RAR (as at 1 July 2015) 760,000 RAR Delivered 1 May 2015 to 30 June 2015 -120,800 Outstanding RAR to be Delivered (as at 1 July 2015) 839,200
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Annual Snowy-Murray RAR Delivery Summary 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2015 Component Volume (ML) 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014 RAR Delivered 816,600 Montane release -20,700 RAR Inflow to Hume 795,900 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 RAR Delivered 727,600 Montane release -13,000 RAR Inflow to Hume 714,600
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Note 11 – Storage inflow Storage inflow refers to the volume of water flowing into the major headwater storages – Hume Dam, Dartmouth Dam, Menindee Lakes and Lake Victoria. Policy Not applicable Data type Derived from measured data Data accuracy A – Estimated in the range +/- 10% Providing agency DPI Water Data sources DPI Water: HYDSTRA, Integrated Quantity and Quality Model (IQQM) Methodology In most of the major storages in NSW there is no direct measurement of inflows. However, it is possible to calculate inflows by using a mass balance approach (based on balancing the change in storage volume) where inflow is the only unknown. This is referred to a backcalculation of inflows. The backcalculation figures were derived using a one day time step with the inflow calculated according to the equation below. The daily inflows are then summed to provide an annual inflow figure. I = ΔS + O + Se + ((E * Kp – R) * A)/100 Table 20: Components for backcalculation of inflow Symbol Variable Unit I Inflow ML/day ΔS Change in storage volume ML O Outflow ML/day Se Seepage ML/day R Rainfall mm/day E Evaporation mm/day Kp Pan evaporation factor A Surface area - derived from height to surface areas lookup curve ha For plots of daily storage inflows refer to Figure 8, Figure 9, Figure 10 and Figure 11 earlier in this report. Assumptions and approximations: • Constant storage specific pan evaporation factors are applied (one annual factor). • Seepage was assumed to be zero
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Note 12 – Storage evaporation and storage rainfall This refers to the volume of water effective on Hume Dam, Dartmouth Dam, Menindee Lakes and Lake Victoria that is either lost as a result of evaporation, or gained as a result of rainfall. Data type Derived from measured data Policy Not applicable Data accuracy B – Estimated in the range +/- 25% Providing agency DPI Water, Murray Darling Basin Authority, WaterNSW Data source HYDSTRA, Bureau of Meteorology website, CAIRO Methodology In order to calculate rainfall and evaporation firstly the daily time-series of storage surface area is computed via a height to area lookup curve as defined in HYDSTRA. Daily rainfall and evaporation data is then applied to the area time-series to achieve a volume in megalitres which is then aggregated to an annual figure. A pan factor is applied to the evaporation data. Rainfall: Volume (ML) = Rainfall (mm) x Area (m2) x 10-6 Evaporation: Volume (ML) = Pan Evaporation (mm) x Pan Factor x Area (m2) x 10-6 Additional information Table 21: Summary of storage evaporation and rainfall 2014-15 Storage Rainfall (ML) Evaporation (ML) Hume Dam 78,833 188,822 Dartmouth Dam 48,505 71,469 Menindee Lakes 28,452 263,587 Lake Victoria 21,144 225,121
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Note 13 – River evaporation and river rainfall This refers to the volume of water effective on the accounted river reach that is either lost as a result of evaporation, or gained as a result of rainfall. Data type Derived from measured data Policy Not applicable Data accuracy C – Estimated in the range +/- 50% Providing agency DPI Water Data source DPI Water: HYDSTRA, ARCGIS QLD Department of Natural Resources: SILO Methodology The volume applied for evaporation and rainfall on the regulated river is achieved by first calculating a daily time-series of river area. This is achieved by breaking the river up into reaches and utilising the cross sections recorded at river gauging locations to determine the average width of the river with a given daily flow. River length is then determined between two gauging locations using ARCGIS and as such an area for each reach can be defined. Area (m2) = Average W (m) x L (m) Where W is the daily width determined from the gauging cross sections and L is the length as determined through ARCGIS analysis. With daily area determined, various climate stations are then selected based on their proximity to each river reach. Rainfall and evaporation data is then extracted from SILO and applied to the area time-series to achieve a volume in megalitres which is then aggregated to an annual figure. Rainfall: Volume (ML) = Rainfall (mm) x Area (m2) x 10-6 2 -6 Evaporation: Volume (ML) = ET0 (mm) x Kc x Area (m ) x 10
Where ET0 = reference evapotranspiration from SILO and Kc = crop factor for open water (1.05) Additional Information Table 22: Rainfall and evaporation summary table
NSW Murray River - Rainfall and Evaporation 2013-14 2014-15
Total Rain 65,115 50,489 Total Murray River System Total Evaporation 164,188 170,240
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Note 14 – Gauged tributary inflow The inflow into the regulated river that occurs downstream of the headwater storages that is measured at gauging stations. Policy Not applicable Data type Measured data Data accuracy A – Estimated in the range +/- 10% Providing agency DPI Water Data sources DPI Water: HYDSTRA MDBA: Murray MDBA Monthly Report Methodology The flows are obtained by measuring river heights at gauging stations along the river, and then passing these heights through a rating table that converts them to a daily flow volume. Additional information The total gauged inflow for 2014-15 is the sum of the inflows for the gauged tributaries defined in the table below. Table 23: Summary of NSW Murray gauged tributary inflow 2014-15
Station code Station name Volume (ML)
Victoria Murray Gauged Tributary Inflows
Kiewa River 437,397
Ovens River 886,484
Goulburn, Broken & Campaspe Rivers 1,076,523
Torrumbarry Return Flow 219,130
Total Victorian gauged tributary inflow 2,619,534
NSW Murray Tributary Inflows
410003 Murrumbidgee River at Balranald 442,488
410134 Billabong Creek at Darlot 72,024
425007 Darling River at Burtundy 25,641
Total NSW gauged tributary inflow 540,153
Total Murray Gauged Tributary Inflow 3,159,687
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Table 24: NSW daily tributary inflow to Murray 2014-15
Billabong Ck @ Darlot Murrumbidgee Rv @ Balranald Darling River @ Burtundy 6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
Flow (ML/d) 2,000
1,000
0 1-Jul-14 1-Jul-15 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-1 4 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
Figure 32: Victorian daily tributary inflow to Murray 2014-15
Kiewa River Goulburn River Broken Creek Campaspe Riverr Ovens River 25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000 Flow (ML/d)
5,000
0 1-Jul-14 1-Jul-15 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-1 4 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
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Note 15 – Ungauged runoff estimate
The inflow into the river that occurs downstream of the headwater storages that is not measured. Policy Not applicable Data type Estimated Data accuracy C – Estimated in the range +/- 50 per cent Providing agency DPI Water Data sources NA Methodology For the purpose of this account it was assumed that ungauged runoff was minimal and therefore assumed to be zero.
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Note 16 – Dam releases, river inflow from dam releases The volume of water released from Hume Dam, Dartmouth Dam and Lake Victoria storages. In the accounting process this release is represented as both a decrease in asset (of the dam) and an equal increase in asset (of the river). It should be noted that the volume entering the Murray as a result of Menindee Lakes is provided as a gauged tributary inflow recorded at the Darling River at Burtundy and can be seen in Note 14. Policy Not applicable Data type Measured data Data accuracy A – Estimated in the range +/- 10% Providing agency Murray Darling Basin Authority Data sources Murray Darling Basin Authority – provided spreadsheets Methodology The flows are obtained by measuring river heights at a gauging station downstream of the dam wall, and then passing these heights through a rating table that converts them to a daily flow volume. The releases have been represented in the Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities as both a decrease in water asset (water leaving the dam) and an equal volume of increase in water asset (water released increasing the volume of the river). It would have been also possible to account this as a transfer in asset whereby the volumes would not appear in the statements. Additional information Figure 33: Hume Dam releases 2014-15
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000 Storage Release (ML/d) 5,000
0 1-Jul-14 1-Jul-15 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-1 4 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
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Figure 34: Dartmouth Dam releases 2014-15
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
Storage Release (ML/d) 2,000
1,000
0 1-Jul-15 1-Jul-14 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-1 4 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
Figure 35: Lake Victoria Dam releases 2014-15
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
Storage Release (ML/d) 2,000
1,000
0 1-Jul-14 1-Jul-15 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-1 4 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
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Note 17 – End of system / Flow leaving This refers to flow that leaves the entity and does not return to the entity. For the NSW Murray the end of system represents the flow to South Australia. Flows leaving are represented by water diverted from the Murray to Murrumbidgee via Finley Escape. A minimum flow contribution of 1,850,000 megalitres per year is required to be provided to the South Australian Border as per the Murray Darling Basin Agreement. In addition when defined storage volume triggers are exceeded South Australia is entitled to additional dilution flows of 3,000 megalitres per day, 1,500 megalitres of which is from NSW resource. For more details refer to Water Sharing Plan Data type Derived from measured data Policy Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 • Appendix 5 - Operational guidelines for delivering flows prescribed by the Murray Darling Basin Agreement Data accuracy A – Estimated in the range +/- 10% Providing agency Murray Darling Basin Authority Data source MDBA: Murray MDBA Monthly Report MDBA: Website Methodology Summation of flows at gauging site/s measuring the volume of water that leaves the entity at end of system locations or via regulated effluents. For the NSW Murray reporting entity the end of system flow is derived using the following methodology: • Flow at Murray River @ D/S Rufus River (4260200) plus • Diversion to Mulleroo Creek D/S Offtake (Above Lock 7) (414211A) less • Lindsay River Allowance (250 ML/day) The gauges used record a time series of heights which are then converted to a volume of water based on a derived ‘height to flow’ relationship (rating table). Additional Information Table 25: End of System Flows
Station name 2014-15 outflow (ML)
NSW Murray Flow to South Australia 1,087,710
Victoria Murray Flow to South Australia 1,788,960
Total Murray River Flow to South Australia 2,876,670 Finley escape 15,657
67 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 36: End of system flow to South Australia 2014-15
Flows to South Australia Daily Flow Requirement to SA 20,000 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 Flow (ML/day) 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 1-Jul-15 1-Jul-14 1-Jan-15 1-Jun-15 1-Oct-1 4 1-Apr-15 1-Sep-14 1-Feb-15 1-Dec-14 1-Aug-14 1-Nov-14 1-Mar-15 1-May-15
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Note 18 – NSW Extractions from river This is the actual volume of water directly pumped or diverted from the regulated river by licence holders. Occasionally (generally in the case of environmental water) volumes are ordered against a licence account for in-stream benefits or to pass through end of system target points. As such the volume reported to be physically extracted from the accounted river extent will not always be equal to the amount of water debited against accounts for usage, which has been described in Note 3. The volume stated for extractions from river excludes basic rights extractions, which is reported as a separate line item and detailed in Note 21. Data type Measured data Policy Not applicable Data accuracy A – Estimated in the range +/- 10% Providing agency DPI Water Data source WaterNSW/DPI Water – Water Accounting System (Joint ownership of system). Methodology For the purposes of this GPWAR extraction from the river is considered to be the total volume metered and debited to the allocation accounts minus any licenced account water that can be identified as being used within the system, or ordered to be passed through the system. These volumes are generally associated with environmental water orders and have already been accounted for in other line items. Additional information Table 26: Reconciliation of physical extraction to account usage (ML) NSW Murray Licenced extractions from River 16 1,281,659 plus Licenced flow leaving System17 0 plus In stream licenced usage 18 0 equals Total account usage 19 1,281,659
16 Direct licenced extractions from the river excluding basic rights usage estimate 17 Licenced water ordered to leave the accounted NSW Murray extent for environmental benefits 18 Water ordered and used within the accounted system for environmental benefit (not extracted from the river) 19 The total amount of water accounted for usage against the allocation accounts
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Note 19 – Victoria extractions The volume of water extracted from the accounted river extent by Victorian licence holders. While detailed information is not available within this account, it is necessary to include the bulk figures extracted to maintain the integrity of the river physical mass balance. Total volumes extracted in megalitres have been provided as a total for all licence categories. Data type Measured data Policy Water Amendment Act 2008 Available at the Australian Government ComLaw webpage (http://www.comlaw.gov.au) Data Accuracy A – Estimated in the range +/- 10% Providing Agency Murray Darling Basin Authority Data Source Murray MDBA Monthly Summary Spreadsheet Methodology N/A
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Note 20 – Snowy water savings transfer This represents the water transfer annually to Snowy Hydro for use to improve river health and deliver environmental benefits in the Snowy and Murray Rivers. The licensed entitlement, held by the NSW government, was created as a result of water savings projects. These licences are subject to the same rules and regulations as all other access licences within the same category. Data Type Administration Policy Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed (SWIOID) Snowy Water Licence (October 2011) Available on the DPI Water website Data accuracy A1 – Nil inaccuracy +/- 0% Providing agency DPI Water Data source WaterNSW/DPI Water – Water Accounting System (joint ownership of system). Methodology The water is transferred to an account that is managed by Snowy Hydro for use in the following season. The volume of account water transferred each year is all the account water in the allocation accounts of the water savings licences as at 31 January each year. With the accounting process to reduce the NSW required annual release in the following year by the equivalent amount; Snowy Hydro can then incorporate this into their annual operating plan for the following year. Any water crediting these water accounts after 31 January via AWD or allocation trade must be allowed to be carried over and becomes part of the water that is transferred in the following year. It is import to note that the transfer of water on 31 January should not result in any reduction in the total volume of water that these licenses are entitled to as a result of accounting rules around carryover and limits. As such accounting adjustments are required to ensure this. For this report figures quoted are the result of detailed reworking of the individual water allocation accounts and therefore may not match those quoted in other sources which do not include future adjustments that are made.
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Note 21 – Basic rights extractions This is the non-licensed right to extract water to meet basic requirements for household purposes (non-commercial uses in and around the house and garden) and for watering of stock. It is available for anyone who has access to river frontage on their property. This water cannot be used for irrigating crops or garden produce that will be sold or bartered, for washing down machinery sheds or for intensive livestock operations. In times of limited supply, there may be restrictions on taking water for domestic and stock use. Data Type Estimated Policy Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 • Part 4 Basic Landholder Rights o Clause 18 Domestic and stock rights Available on the DPI Water website Data accuracy C – Estimated in the range +/- 50% Providing agency DPI Water Data source Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 Methodology The estimation of domestic and stock rights uses a series of estimates for water usage, stocking rates, population and property shape based on local knowledge to calculate riparian (stock and domestic) requirements in megalitres per year. The annual extraction for Domestic and Stock rights in the water accounts is assumed to be the estimated figure stated in the Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 (2,118 megalitres).
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Note 22 – Supplementary/Uncontrolled Flow (UCF) extractions This is the volume of water extracted or diverted under supplementary access licences and uncontrolled flow rules during announced periods of supplementary water. Supplementary flow events are announced periodically during the season when high flow events occur with the period of extraction and volume of water to be extracted determined based on the rules as set out in the water sharing plans. It is important to note that supplementary access licences differ from other categories of access licence in that the volume of water in the account refers to an annual upper limit for extractions and its provision is totally reliant on the occurrence of high flow events. Uncontrolled flow refers to a specific volume of non-debit water that is pumped or diverted from the river by general security licence holders under specific licence and river flow conditions defined in the water sharing plan. The Water Sharing Plan also defines rules by which the non-debit uncontrolled flow that has been taken is to be debited back to the general security licence accounts. Data type Measured data Policy Water Sharing Plan for the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources 2003 Part 8 Limits to the availability of water Division 2 - Available water determinations
- Clause 39 (10) Available water determinations for general security water - Clause 40 Available water determinations for supplementary water access licences Part 9 Rules for managing access licences Division 3 - Extraction conditions
- Clause 49 Extraction under supplementary water access licences Refer to applicable Water Sharing Plan on DPI Water website Data accuracy A - Estimated in the range +/- 10% Providing agency DPI Water Data source WaterNSW/DPI Water – Water Accounting System (Joint ownership of system). Methodology Supplementary and uncontrolled flow water extraction and diversion data is collected by either on farm meters that measure extraction or gauges on diversion works. Meter readings are collected for individual licence holders at intervals during the year and converted via a calibration factor to a volume of water extracted. Water diverted from the river is measured by recording the height at either the gauge or weir with the volume diverted being derived by passing these heights through a rating table. However, with supplementary and uncontrolled flow water being extracted through the same pumps as those extracting water under other categories of access licences additional information is required to separate out supplementary and uncontrolled flow extraction. Basically licence holders provide notification of their intention to pump prior to pumping or diverting water during the declared
73 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment supplementary event and provide meter readings both at the commencement and conclusion of pumping. This enables the supplementary and uncontrolled flow extraction to be assessed independent of other categories of access licences. Additional information Table 27: NSW Murray Supplementary and Uncontrolled Flow events summary 2014-15 Event Period: 22-Jul-2014 to 31-Aug-2014 Licence Categories: REGULATED RIVER (GENERAL SECURITY), SUPPLEMENTARY WATER Event Limit: 100.00% or 1.0000 ML per Share Announcement Date: 21-Jul-14
Catchment Section Start Date End Date Supplementary General Usage Security UCF WAKOOL RIVER Ewakool, Stoney Xing To Murray Jn 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 434.4 89
Event Period: 17-Jul-2014 to 05-Sep-2014 Licence Categories: REGULATED RIVER (GENERAL SECURITY), SUPPLEMENTARY WATER Event Limit: 100.00% or 1.0000 ML per Share Announcement Date: 11-Jul-14
Catchment Section Start Date End Date Supplementary General Usage Security UCF GOL GOL NORTH CREEK Gol Gol North Creek 17-Jul-14 21-Aug-14 0 0 RUEL LAGOON Ruel Lagoon 17-Jul-14 21-Aug-14 0 0 WASHPEN CREEK Washpen Creek 17-Jul-14 21-Aug-14 0 0 MURRAY-TRIB Lara Creek 17-Jul-14 21-Aug-14 0 0 GOL GOL CREEK Gol Gol Creek 17-Jul-14 21-Aug-14 0 0 LAKE BENANEE Lake Benanee 17-Jul-14 21-Aug-14 0 0 DRY LAKE Dry Lake 17-Jul-14 21-Aug-14 0 0 MURRAY RIVER Wakool To Euston Weir 17-Jul-14 21-Aug-14 186 62 TALLYS LAKE Tally'S Lake 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 0 0 MURRAY RIVER Euston Weir To Mildura 17-Jul-14 21-Aug-14 67 25 BURONGA BILLABONG Buronga Billabong 17-Jul-14 31-Aug-14 0 0 TUCKERS CREEK Tuckers Creek 17-Jul-14 31-Aug-14 0 0 MURRAY-TRIB Unnamed Watercourse 17-Jul-14 31-Aug-14 0 0 MURRAY RIVER Mildura To S.A. 17-Jul-14 31-Aug-14 0 58 LAKE VICTORIA Lake Victoria 17-Jul-14 31-Aug-14 0 0 SALT CREEK Salt Creek 17-Jul-14 31-Aug-14 0 0 FRENCHMANS CREEK Frenchmans Creek 17-Jul-14 30-Aug-14 0 0 DARLING RIVER WENT. 66 16 POOL Wentworth Weir Pool 17-Jul-14 21-Aug-14 MURRAY RIVER Barmah To Torrumbarry 22-Jul-14 9-Aug-14 23 0 MURRAY RIVER Torrumbarry To Wakool Jn 22-Jul-14 13-Aug-14 1,294 1,064 LITTLE MURRAY RIVER Little Murray 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 0 52
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BARBERS CREEK Barbers Creek 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 0 0 MERRAN CREEK Cuttings To Franklings Bridge 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 0 0 COOBOOL CREEK Coobool Creek 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 0 0 WADDY CREEK Waddy Creek 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 0 0 GUM CREEK Gum Creek 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 0 0 LARRYS CREEK Larrys Creek 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 0 0 MULLIGANS CREEK Mulligans Creek 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 108 0 ST HELENA CREEK St Helena Creek 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 87.2 0 NIEMUR RIVER O/T To Moulamein Rd 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 48.5 0 WAKOOL RIVER Brassi Rd To Wakool Rd 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 71.9 49 BOOKIT CREEK Bookit Creek 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 0 0 MERRIBIT CREEK Merribit Ck 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 64.1 0 PORTHOLE CREEK Porthole Creek 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 0 0 GULPA CREEK Gulpa Creek 22-Jul-14 9-Aug-14 0 254 EDWARD RIVER O/T To Toonalook 22-Jul-14 9-Aug-14 0 0 EDWARD RIVER Toonalook To Stevens 22-Jul-14 9-Aug-14 0 0 EDWARD RIVER Stevens To Moulamein 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 594 93 DEEP CREEK Deep Creek 22-Jul-14 9-Aug-14 0 0 EDWARD RIVER Moulamein To Liewah 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 206 338 MERANGATUK CREEK Merangatuk Ck 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 0 0 EDWARD RIVER Liewah To Wakool Junction 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 436 0 WAKOOL RIVER O/T To Brassi Rd 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 0 0 COLLIGEN CREEK Weir To Werai Station 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 0 0 NIEMUR RIVER Mallan School To Wakool Confluence 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 0 0 YALLAKOOL CREEK Eyallakool 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 19.2 0 COLLIGEN CREEK O/T To Weir 22-Jul-14 9-Aug-14 7,451 0 NIEMUR RIVER Moulamein Rd To Mallan School 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 70 28 WAKOOL RIVER Wakool Rd To Moulamein Rd 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 24 23 WAKOOL RIVER Moulamein Rd To Gee Gee 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 0 0 WAKOOL RIVER Gee Gee To Coonamit 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 47.5 0 WAKOOL RIVER Coonamit To Stoney Xing 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 71.4 0 MERRAN CREEK Franklings Bridge To Moulamein Rd 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 221.8 193 MERRAN CREEK Moulamein Rd To Station 409036 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 257.6 17 MERRAN CREEK Station 409036 To Wakool Confluence 22-Jul-14 12-Aug-14 0 0 EDWARD RIVER-TRIB Unnamed Watercourse 22-Jul-14 10-Aug-14 0 304
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Figure 37: NSW Murray supplementary and uncontrolled flow usage by river section 2014-15
Colligen Creek - Offtake To Weir 7,451 0 Murray River - Torrumbarry To Wakool Jn 1,294 1,064 Edward River - Stevens To Moulamein 594 93 Edward River - Liewah To Wakool Junction 436 0 Wakool River - Stoney Xing To Mur ray Jn 434 89 Merran Creek - Moulamein Rd To Station 409036 258 17 Merran Creek - Franklings Bridge To Moulamein Rd 222 193 Edward River - Moulamein To Liewah 206 338 Murray River - Wakool To Euston Weir 186 62 Mulligans Creek - Mulligans Creek 108 0 St Helena Creek - St Helena Creek 87 0 Wakool River - Brassi Rd To Wakool Rd 72 49 Wakool River - Coonamit To Stoney Xing 71 0 Niemur River - Moulamein Rd To Mallan School 70 28 Murray River - Euston Weir To Mildura 67 25 Darling River Went. Pool - Wentworth Weir Pool 66 16 Merribit Creek - Merribit Ck 64 0 Niemur River - Offtake To Moulamein Rd 49 0 Wakool River - Gee Gee To Coonamit 48 0 Wakool River - Wakool Rd To Moulamein Rd 24 23 Murray River - Barmah To Torrumbarry 23 0 Yallakool Creek - Yallakool Ck 19 0 Edward River - Unnamed Watercourse (Off… 0 304 Gulpa Creek - Gulpa Creek 0 254 Supplementary Usage Murray River - Mildura To South Australia 0 58 General Security - Uncontrolled Flow Usage Little Murray River - Little Murray 0 52 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 Total Supplementary Usage = 11,848 megalitres Usage (ML) Total Uncontrolled Flow Usage = 2,664 megalitres
76 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Figure 38: Total monthly supplementary and uncontrolled flow usage in the NSW Murray 2014-15
Supplementary Uncontrolled Flow 10,000 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000
Monthly Supplementary Usage(ML) 1,000 0 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
77 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Note 23 – Unaccounted difference In theory if all the processes of a water balance could be accurately accounted for the unaccounted difference would be zero. In reality due to the large uncertainties in many of the volumes presented in the accounts, the various sources from which the data has been obtained and the fact that not all processes of the water cycle have been accounted, the statements are not balanced at the end of the accounting process. In order to balance the accounts a final balancing entry is required, and this is termed the unaccounted difference. As technology progresses and accuracy improves in the account estimates, it is anticipated that relatively, this figure should reduce in future accounts. Data type Not applicable Policy Not applicable Data accuracy D – Estimated in the range +/- 100% Providing agency Not applicable Data source Not applicable Methodology The unaccounted difference is equal to the amount required to obtain the correct volume in river at the end of the reporting period, after all the known physical inflows and outflows have been accounted. The double-entry accounting process attempted to represent the physical movement of water by creating a river asset. The opening and closing balance of the river volume was estimated according to Note 9. Surface Water Unaccounted difference UVSW = Rs – Rc + RI - Ro Where: UVSW = Unaccounted difference for Surface Water Rs = Opening river volume estimate Rc = Closing river volume estimate Ro = Physical outflows from the river (e.g. extractions) RI = Physical inflows to the river (e.g. runoff, return flows, dam releases)
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Appendix 1 - Groundwater
79 | DPI Water, April 2016 General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2014-2015 – NSW Murray Catchment
Groundwater Management Groundwater management for the area bounded by the NSW Murray surface water accounting extent is covered by seven water sharing plans20 and all or part of 9 of the groundwater sources within these plans (detailed in Table 28 below). The Water Sharing Plans provide long term average annual extraction limits for each water source within the plans which determine the maximum volume of water that may be extracted under access licences and pursuant to domestic and stock rights and native title rights from each groundwater source on a long-term average annual basis. Groundwater sources often cross multiple surface water catchment areas and hence only part of them reside in the NSW Murray. The percentage of the groundwater source within the catchment can be seen in Table 29. Table 28: NSW Murray groundwater water sharing plan summary Water sources applicable for the Date commenced Expires Water sharing plan NSW Murray Catchment Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling Upper Darling Alluvial 4 October 2012 30 June 2023 Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012 Water Sharing Plan for the Lower Murray- Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Lower Darling Alluvial 30 January 2012 30 June 2022 Sources 2011 Water Sharing Plan for the Lower Murray Lower Murray 1 November 2006 30 June 2017 Groundwater Source Water Sharing Plan for the Lower Murray Lower Murray Shallow 1 April 2012 30 June 2022 Shallow Groundwater Source 2012 Water Sharing Plan for the Murray Upper Murray 30 January 2012 30 June 2022 Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011 Adelaide Fold Belt MDB NSW Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock Kanmantoo Fold Belt MDB 16 January 2012 30 June 2022 Groundwater Sources 2011 Lachlan Fold Belt MDB NSW Murray Darling Basin Porous Rock Western Murray Porous Rock 16 January 2012 30 June 2022 Groundwater Sources 2011
A spatial representation of the areas covered by each of the water sharing plans can be seen in Figure 39 below. This shows that a number of groundwater water sharing plans overlay the same surface area due to the varying depths of the aquifers within the catchment.
20 By the 4th October 2012 the last of the groundwater plans were implemented for the NSW Murray catchment. Up until this date those not yet covered by a plan continued to operate under the Water Act 1912. Water sharing plan status is shown at time of publication.
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Figure 39: NSW Murray surface water catchment – groundwater water sharing plans
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Groundwater Availability In 2014-15, all groundwater licences in the NSW Murray were granted an equivalent allocation of 1 megalitre per share, with the exception of Supplementary access licences (in the Lower Murray Groundwater Source). In the Lower Murray Groundwater Source supplementary licences received an available water determination (AWD) of 0.2 megalitres per share. Under the terms set out in the Water Sharing Plan for the Lower Murray Groundwater Source the available water determination for supplementary licences is reduced each year by 0.2 megalitres per share commencing in 2011-12. This means the AWD will be zero for these licences by 2015-16. The purpose of this licence category was to reduce entitlements to a sustainable level over time allowing affected users to adapt to these changes.
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Table 29: NSW Murray surface water catchment groundwater sources summary table Groundwater Source Long Term Annual Licence Category Share % of Share Water Source Metered Extraction Limit (ML) Component % within the Usage (ML/Year)21 Announced NSW Murray 2014-15 (Total for water source) 2014-15 Surface Water accounting extent Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012 22 Domestic and Stock Rights 2,283 N/A N/A Upper Darling Alluvial (Groundwater 17,120 Local Water Utility 220 100 3 0 Source) Salinity and water table management 3,300 100 0 Water Sharing Plan for the Lower Murray-Darling Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011 Domestic and Stock Rights22 730 N/A N/A Lower Darling Alluvial 1,529 100 Aquifer 928 100 0 Water Sharing Plan for the Lower Murray Groundwater Source Domestic and Stock Rights22 1,525 N/A N/A Local Water Utility 12 100 10 Aquifer 84,432 100 58,244 Lower Murray 83,700 78 Aquifer [Research] 0 100 0 Aquifer [Town Water Supply] 67 100 28 Supplementary 47,782 20 7,679 Water Sharing Plan for the Lower Murray Shallow Groundwater Source 2012 Domestic and Stock Rights22 988 N/A N/A Aquifer 58,704 100 5,034 Lower Murray Shallow 81,893 78 Aquifer [Town Water Supply] 87 100 11 Salinity and water table management 20,010 100 0 Water Sharing Plan for the Murray Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2011 Domestic and Stock Rights22 402 N/A N/A Local Water Utility 59 100 33 Upper Murray 14,109 76 Aquifer 41,066 100 9,397 Aquifer [Town Water Supply] 92 100 36
21 Extraction limits stated may exclude water for basic rights, and water allocated to supplementary licences. Check with the relevant water sharing plan for details. 22 Domestic and Stock Rights are not a licenced entitlement and therefore do not have an allocation announcement associated with them. The value in the table for share is that volume estimated in the water sharing plans for each of the water sources
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Table 28: NSW Murray surface water catchment groundwater sources summary table (continued) Groundwater Source Long Term Annual Licence Category Share % of Share Water Source Metered Extraction Limit (ML) Component % within the Usage (ML/Year)23 Announced NSW Murray 2014-15 (Total for water source) 2014-15 Surface Water accounting extent Water Sharing Plan for the NSW Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater Sources 2011 Domestic and Stock Rights24 2,143 N/A N/A Adelaide Fold Belt MDB 26,018 100 Aquifer 2,161 100 0 Domestic and Stock Rights24 8,154 N/A N/A Kanmantoo Fold Belt MDB 121,524 Aquifer 750 100 72 0 Local Water Utility 5 100 0 Domestic and Stock Rights24 74,311 N/A N/A Local Water Utility 2,371 100 88 Lachlan Fold Belt MDB 875,652 Aquifer 68,119 100 5 4,368 Aquifer (Town Water Supply) 467 100 32 Salinity and Water Table Management 236 100 0 Water Sharing Plan for the NSW Murray Darling Basin Porous Rock Groundwater Sources 2011 Domestic and Stock Rights24 26,747 N/A N/A Local Water Utility 0 100 0 Western Murray Porous Rock 530,486 92 Aquifer 21,564 100 3,164 Salinity and Water Table Management 13,985 100 0
23 Extraction limits stated may exclude water for basic rights, and water allocated to supplementary licences. Check with the relevant water sharing plan for details. 24 Domestic and Stock Rights are not a licenced entitlement and therefore do not have an allocation announcement associated with them. The value in the table for share is that volume estimated in the water sharing plans for each of the water sources
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Physical Groundwater Flows The following section provides information on physical groundwater flows. For the NSW Murray groundwater sources there are no planning models available, and there is insufficient monitoring bore data (no Victorian data available) to estimate a complete budget, therefore DPI Water’s soil water budget accounting method was applied to obtain an estimate of the potential recharge for 2014-15. This method uses daily grid physical and climatic information to estimate a recharge via a basic book keeping technique that tracks the balance between the inflow of water from precipitation and the outflow of water by evapotranspiration, stream flow and drainage (potential groundwater recharge). A detailed description of this method is available in ‘General Purpose Water Accounting Reports - Groundwater methodologies’ (referred to as method C) and can be accessed via the DPI Water website. This method provided the information for a comparison of both the potential annual recharge deviation from the historical long term mean (Figure 40) and the annual potential recharges (see Figure 41). This indicates that for 2014-15 potential recharge was about average across the majority of the catchment with the exception of the upper Murray where recharge was lower than average an indication of the dry conditions that prevailed during the water year. It is important to note that the data presented is modelled data and hence its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Care should be taken if using this data outside the context of this report. Figure 40: Potential recharge deviation non-modelled areas 2014-15
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Figure 41: NSW Murray catchment, non-modelled areas annual potential recharge (1971-72 to 2014-15)
1971-72 to 2013-14 Potential Recharge 2014-15 Potential Recharge Mean 4,500,000 4,000,000 3,500,000 3,000,000 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000
Potential Recharge (ML) Potential Recharge 1,000,000 500,000 0 1971-72 1973-74 1975-76 1977-78 1979-80 1981-82 1983-84 1985-86 1987-88 1989-90 1991-92 1993-94 1995-96 1997-98 1999-00 2001-02 2003-04 2005-06 2007-08 2009-10 2011-12 2013-14
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