RIVER MURRAY WEEKLY REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING WEDNESDAY, 23RD NOVEMBER 2016

Trim Ref: D16/40427 Rainfall and inflows Rainfall fell across most of the southern Murray–Darling Basin late this week (see Map 1). The highest totals were recorded along the ranges in Victoria including 61 mm at Woods Point and 55 mm at Mt Buller AWS. Other notable totals in Victoria included 24 mm at Shepparton, 20 mm at Mildura and 16 mm at Swan Hill AWS. In the highest totals included 38 mm at Station, 27 mm at , 25 mm at and , 20 mm at and 19 mm at Pooncarie. In South the highest totals included 12 mm at Blanchetown and 11 mm at Berri and Renmark airport.

Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall week ending 23rd November 2016 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology) Given the relatively warm and dry conditions leading up to the rain at the end of the week, the runoff responses in the upper Murray tributaries were modest. The flow in the Mitta Mitta River at Hinnomunjie increased from 800 ML/day to 3,000 ML/day, while the upper Murray at Biggara increased from 1,100 ML/day to 3,000 ML/day (on Thursday 24 November). On the Ovens River, the flow at Rocky Point increased from 2,000 ML/day to 3,600 ML/day.

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River operations • Update to the River Murray System annual operating plan for 2016-17 published • Widespread ‘blackwater’ event continues • Releases from Hume increase to meet downstream demands

This week MDBA published on its website an update, as at the end of October 2016, to the River Murray System annual operating plan for 2016-17. This plan provides context and describes how the River Murray system may be operated under a number of inflow scenarios from November 2016 to May 2017. There has been a significant turnaround in conditions from the time of preparation of the original operating plan, with the Murray–Darling Basin receiving record rainfall between June and October 2016 following a relatively dry 2015-16 water year. MDBA total storage increased by 103 GL this week, with the active storage now 7,093 GL (83% capacity). Since the 1 May 2016, active storage has increased 4,860 GL. This is similar to the increase in volume observed during the same period following drought breaking rains and flooding in 2010 (Figure 1).

MDBA Active Storage : June 2000 to present Long-term Average Active Storage Active Storage Maximum Active Storage (at full supply level) 10000

9000

8000

7000

6000

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3000 Endof Month Storage (GL) 2000

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0 Jun 2000 Jun 2001 Jun 2002 Jun 2003 Jun 2004 Jun 2005 Jun 2006 Jun 2007 Jun 2008 Jun 2009 Jun 2010 Jun 2011 Jun 2012 Jun 2013 Jun 2014 Jun 2015 Jun 2016 Jun 2017 Jun

Figure 1 – MDBA active storage: June 2000 to present The storage volume at Dartmouth Reservoir continues its steady rise, increasing by 12 GL this week to 2,945 GL (76% capacity). Releases remain at the minimum of 200 ML/day at Colemans gauge. At Hume Reservoir, the storage peaked at 2,990 GL (99.5% capacity) on 18 November. Reduced inflows and higher releases to supply downstream demands reduced the storage to 2,963 GL (99%) by the end of the week. However, rainfall recorded on 22 and 23 November has increased inflows and reduced downstream demands and will increase the storage level again in the coming days. Whilst it is possible that wetter conditions would result in Hume reservoir remaining relatively full in December, the Bureau of Meteorology’s climate outlook for December indicates that drier than average conditions are more likely across the Basin. At Yarrawonga Weir, diversions at the major irrigation off-takes increased in response to the hot weather. The diversions at Canal and Yarrawonga Main Channel reached 5,400 ML/day and

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1,800 ML/day respectively. The release downstream of the weir is currently 14,600 ML/day. Flows in the range 14,000–15,000 ML/day are expected to be maintained until the end of November. Reaches of the River Murray system between Barmah-Millewa Forest and into South Australia are continuing to experience hypoxic ‘blackwater’. Blackwater occurs naturally when there is rapid breakdown of leaf litter from inundated areas. Breakdown of leaf litter is an important ecological process which provides nutrients for the growth of aquatic organisms. However, this process can result in very low levels of dissolved oxygen resulting in fish deaths. The MDBA, together with New South Wales and Victorian agencies, will continue to monitor dissolved oxygen levels. More information on blackwater can be found on the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder web page. Flows are receding throughout the Edward- River system. At the and Gulpa Creek Offtakes the flows are falling and are currently 1,740 and 780 ML/day respectively. Downstream of the Millewa Forest at Toonalook, the flow has reduced from 6,600 ML/day to 5,800 ML/day. Dissolved oxygen levels at Toonalook have been around 4.5mg/L (around 50% saturation) during the week. Around 2,400 ML/day is being released from Edward Escape to provide oxygenated water for refuge and dilution in the Edward River near Deniliquin. At Stevens Weir, the gates have been returned to the water and the weir pool is being gradually raised to supply water to Wakool Main Canal and manage flows into the and and Colligen creeks. The release downstream of the weir has eased from 8,000 ML/day to 6,000 ML/day. On the Wakool River at Stoney Crossing, the flow has receded from 38,400 ML/day last week to 24,600 ML/day this week. Dissolved oxygen levels at Stoney Crossing remain low at around 1mg/L (around 12% saturation). At McCoys Bridge on the Goulburn River, the flow is around 1,500 ML/day and is expected to continue receding to around 950 ML/day by the end of the month. The flow at Torrumbarry Weir has been steadily falling since late October and is now 17,000 ML/day. The flow is expected to reduce to around 10,000 ML/day by mid-December. Diversions into National Channel are expected to continue at close to 2,000 ML/day to meet irrigation demand and environmental orders in Gunbower Creek. Downstream of Torrumbarry at Barham, the dissolved oxygen level has been steady at around 4 mg/L (around 45% saturation). The flow at Swan Hill has been slowly receding from a peak of 27,400 ML/day on 25 October to the current flow of 21,100 ML/day. The flow is expected to continue receding until mid-December. At Balranald, on the , the flow has also been slowly receding from a peak of 28,600 ML/day on 9 November. The flow is now 22,100 ML/day. See the latest Flood Warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology. DO levels in the Murrumbidgee River upstream of Balranald have improved significantly and are currently 5.5 mg/L (around 65% saturation) at Redbank Weir and 8.4mg/L (around 100% saturation) at Maude Weir. However, water returning from the Lowbidgee floodplain is continuing to affect DO levels at Balranald which remain close to 0 mg/L. On the Murray, DO levels at Boundary Bend (downstream of the junction with the Murrumbidgee River) are around 1mg/L (around 12% saturation). At Euston, the flow peak has been very broad. Flows are gradually receding, currently 115,000 ML/day, with the river level now 37cm below the level recorded at the peak. However this is still around 3m above the weir pool’s normal full supply level. The flow is expected to fall below 100,000 ML/day in the coming week. At Mildura, the water level is continuing to rise and is currently 36.46m AHD (around 2m above the weir pool’s normal full supply level). The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting that the river will peak in the coming days with minor flooding. See the latest Flood Warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology. The volume in storage at the Menindee Lakes has increased by 119 GL this week to 1,227 GL (71% capacity). Upstream of the Lakes at Wilcannia the flow peaked around 28,000 ML/day during the week. With Lakes Wetherell and Pamamaroo surcharged above their full supply levels, the majority of the inflows to the Lakes are currently filling Lakes Menindee and Cawndilla (Photo 1). The release at

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Weir 32 remains at around 700–750 ML/day. This release includes a small volume of environmental water to assist with maintenance of a fish-breeding event in the lower .

Photo 1 – Around 22,000 ML/day is currently being diverted at Menindee inlet (left) to fill Lake Menindee (right) (Photos courtesy: Barry Philp, WaterNSW) The flow at Wentworth is currently 103,000 ML/day and rising. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts that the river level will peak over the coming weekend, with moderate flooding. See the latest Flood Warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology. The storage in Lake Victoria decreased by 4 GL this week to 632 GL (93% capacity). Releases from the lake have been increased to around 5,500 ML/day to help provide oxygenated water for fish refuge in the . The flow to South Australia is currently around 88,000 ML/day. The peak flow to South Australia is forecast to arrive in late November–early December. See DEWNR’s latest high flow advice. The level in the Lower Lakes is currently around 0.73 m AHD and barrage releases have averaged around 50,000 ML/day during the last week. Recent substantial barrage releases have significantly improved conditions at the Murray Mouth. Dredging operations are continuing, although at a reduced effort, with one dredge continuing to operate between the Tauwitchere and Goolwa channels.

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MDBA is a major sponsor of this year’s Massive Murray Paddle. Participants are currently 265 km into the trip, paddling past . MDBA paddlers have reported that conditions are a lot tougher than they anticipated with plenty of blisters and tired muscles! The Paddle is a 5 day adventure race that raises funds to assist local community-driven programs along the Murray. Participants will paddle 404 km, starting at Yarrawonga on Monday 21 November and finishing at Swan Hill on Friday 25 November.

Photo 2 – Massive Murray Paddle passing the wharves at Echuca (Photo courtesy: Tom Zouch, MDBA)

For media inquiries contact the Media Officer on 02 6279 0141

DAVID DREVERMAN Executive Director, River Management

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Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 23 Nov 2016 Change in Full Current Total Full Supply Dead Active MDBA Storages Supply Storage Current Storage Storage Volume Storage Storage Level Level for the Week (m AHD) (GL) (m AHD) (GL) % (GL) (GL) (GL) Dartmouth Reservoir 486.00 3 856 470.95 2 945 76% 71 2 874 +12 Hume Reservoir 192.00 3 005 191.79 2 963 99% 23 2 940 -24 Lake Victoria 27.00 677 26.63 632 93% 100 532 -4 Menindee Lakes 1 731* 1 227 71% (480 #) 747 +119 Total 9 269 7 767 84% - - 7 093 +103 Total Active MDBA Storage 83% ^

Major State Storages Burrinjuck Reservoir 1 026 998 97% 3 995 -7 Blowering Reservoir 1 631 1 577 97% 24 1 553 +0 Eildon Reservoir 3 334 2 654 80% 100 2 554 +8 * Menindee surcharge capacity – 2050 GL ** All Data is rounded to nearest GL ** # NSW has sole access to water when the storage falls below 480 GL. MDBA regains access to water when the storage next reaches 640 GL. ^ % of total active MDBA storage Snowy Mountains Scheme Snowy diversions for week ending 22 Nov 2016 Active Storage Weekly Change From 1 May Storage Diversion (GL) This Week (GL) (GL) 2016 Lake Eucumbene - Total 2 210 n/a Snowy-Murray +24 725 Snowy-Murray Component 999 n/a Tooma- +5 298 Target Storage 1 450 Net Diversion 19 427 Murray 1 Release +32 1 086 Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) * From 1 July From 1 New South Wales This Week Victoria This Week 2016 July 2016 Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) 21.3 198 Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) 7.8 36 Wakool Sys Allowance 0.0 0 Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) 11.4 94 Western Murray Irrigation 1.0 4 Sunraysia Pumped Districts 4.2 19 Licensed Pumps 4.6 44 Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) 0.6 5 Lower Darling 0.1 2 Licensed pumps - LMW 8.4 88 TOTAL 27.0 248 TOTAL 32.4 242 * Figures are derived from actual and estimates where data is unavailable. Please note that not all data may have been available at the time of creating this report. ** All data above is rounded to nearest 100 ML for weekly data and nearest GL for cumulative data**

Flow to South Australia (GL) Entitlement this month 180.0 * * Flow to SA will be greater than normal entitlement Flow this week 572.5 (81 800 ML/day) for this month due to unregulated flows. Flow so far this month 1,522.7

Flow last month 1,366.3 Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C) Current Average over the last week Average since 1 August 2016 Swan Hill 90 90 160 Euston 190 190 - Red Cliffs 220 220 150 Merbein 240 230 150 Burtundy (Darling) 300 290 780 Lock 9 220 220 150 Lake Victoria 180 190 170 Berri 290 250 180 Waikerie 250 230 200 Morgan 240 220 200 Mannum 230 220 210 Murray Bridge 230 220 230 Milang (Lake Alex.) 350 360 620 Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) 330 310 330 Meningie (Lake Alb.) 1 700 1 720 1 760 Goolwa Barrages 2 480 4 170 1 540

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River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 23 Nov 2016

Average Minor Flood Average Flow Gauge Height Flow Trend Flow last Stage this Week Week River Murray (m) local (m) (m AHD) (ML/day) (ML/day) (ML/day) - - - 7 340 F 5 820 6 050 4.0 2.33 208.85 9 930 R 9 260 10 940 Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) 4.2 1.72 218.61 1 370 R 1 400 1 730 Heywoods 5.5 3.03 156.66 15 500 F 14 710 13 730 Doctors Point 5.5 3.29 151.76 19 140 R 17 710 17 740 Albury 4.3 2.33 149.77 - - - - 4.6 3.61 129.63 18 830 S 17 130 18 030 Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) 6.4 2.19 117.23 14 590 R 15 230 17 800 Tocumwal 6.4 3.07 106.91 17 210 S 18 350 20 320 Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) 7.3 4.64 83.19 17 050 F 19 730 24 630 Swan Hill 4.5 3.47 66.39 21 120 F 21 870 23 180 Wakool Junction 8.8 9.58 58.70 59 760 F 67 110 91 600 Euston Weir (d/s) 9.1 8.67 50.51 115 470 F 123 790 131 460 Mildura Weir (d/s) - - 110 600 F 108 900 95 480 Wentworth Weir (d/s) 7.3 7.88 32.64 103 050 R 96 150 80 270 Rufus Junction - 7.92 24.85 88 170 R 81 790 66 160 Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) - 3.19 - 50 400 R 48 590 45 430

Tributaries Kiewa at Bandiana 2.8 2.07 155.30 2 120 R 1 760 2 500 Ovens at Wangaratta 11.9 8.91 146.59 3 010 R 3 100 4 110 Goulburn at McCoys Bridge 9.0 1.78 93.20 1 450 F 1 600 1 540 Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) 5.5 3.82 83.60 6 020 F 6 840 9 220 Edward at Liewah - 5.79 61.17 9 690 F 10 990 13 470 Wakool at Stoney Crossing - 6.53 60.02 24 650 F 30 370 45 280 Murrumbidgee at Balranald 5.0 6.72 62.68 22 110 S 23 400 26 910 Barwon at Mungindi 6.1 3.54 - 920 S 990 1 510 Darling at Bourke 9.0 5.01 - 7 790 F 9 600 21 820 Darling at Burtundy Rocks - 0.95 - 800 R 770 770

Natural Inflow to Hume 10 260 15 160 (i.e. Pre Dartmouth & Snowy Mountains scheme)

Weirs and Locks Pool levels above or below Full Supply Level (FSL) Murray FSL (m AHD) u/s d/s FSL (m AHD) u/s d/s Yarrawonga 124.90 -0.16 - No. 7 Rufus River 22.10 n/a -28.25 No. 26 Torrumbarry 86.05 -0.01 - No. 6 Murtho 19.25 +0.77 +3.44 No. 15 Euston 47.60 +2.99 - No. 5 Renmark 16.30 +0.12 +3.13 No. 11 Mildura 34.40 +2.06 +5.66 No. 4 Bookpurnong 13.20 +0.91 +4.24 No. 10 Wentworth 30.80 n/a +5.24 No. 3 Overland Corner 9.80 -0.05 +3.52 No. 9 Kulnine 27.40 n/a +4.13 No. 2 Waikerie 6.10 +0.78 +3.60 No. 8 Wangumma 24.60 -3.29 n/a No. 1 Blanchetown 3.20 +0.22 +2.44

Lower Lakes FSL = 0.75 m AHD Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD) 0.73 Barrages Fishways at Barrages Dual Level (m Vertical Slot Vertical Openings AHD) No. Open Rock Ramp 1 Vertical Slot 2 Slots Goolwa 128 openings 0.57 40 - Open Open - Mundoo 26 openings 0.58 6 - - - Open Hunters Creek - - - - Open - - Boundary Creek 6 openings - All closed - Open - - Ewe Island 111 gates - 35 - - - Open Tauwitchere 322 gates 0.57 100 Open Open Open - AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level

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Week ending Wednesday 23 Nov 2016

State Allocations (as at 23 Nov 2016) NSW - Murray Valley Victorian - Murray Valley High security 100% High reliability 100%

General security 100% Low reliability 0%

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

General security 100% Low reliability 0%

NSW - Lower Darling South Australia – Murray Valley

High security 100% High security 100%

General security 100%

NSW : http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/water-management/water-availability VIC : http://nvrm.net.au/seasonal-determinations/current SA : http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/river-murray

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