RIVER MURRAY WEEKLY REPORTFOR THE WEEK ENDING WEDNESDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2023Trim Ref: D17/54251

Rainfall and inflows from last weekA very slow moving trough system triggered thunderstorm activity over much of the Murray-Darling Basin. Rainfall was generally patchy, with areas of moderate to heavy rainfall recorded across much of New South Wales, the Victorian ranges and the western edge of the Murray-Darling Basin in South Australia (Map 1). This week’s highest total of 92 mm was recorded in New South Wales at Condobolin.

Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall map week ending 29 November 2017 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).

Sporadic rainfall over the upper Murray produced fluctuating flows in the upper tributaries, although average flows were low and similar to flows at the end of last week. Biggara, on the upper Murray, averaged around 600 ML/day, while on the upper Mitta Mitta River the flow at Hinnomunjie averaged just above 600 ML/day. Downstream of Hume Reservoir, inflows from the Kiewa River (measured at Bandiana) have receded back to near 800 ML/day, while the Ovens River at Wangaratta has fallen to around 1,200 ML/day.

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Forecast rainfall for this weekend

Map 2 – Forecast rainfall map, 29 November to 6 December 2017 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is forecasting heavy rainfall across all of Victoria, most of New South Wales and South Australia (Map 2). The current (as of 29 November) BoM 8 day forecast has widespread totals above 50 mm, with over 150 mm expected over north-east Victoria and southern New South Wales. The majority of the rain is forecast to fall on Friday and Saturday with significant tributary streamflow increases anticipated. The BoM has issued Flood Watches for the Murrumbidgee and upper Murray and Mitta Mitta Rivers, as well as across much of Victoria including the Kiewa, Ovens and King, Goulburn, Campaspe, Loddon and Avoca Rivers. For up-to-date information, please keep abreast of any BoM Flood Watches and Warnings. For information on how to plan and prepare for a flood and staying safe during a flood, contact the Victorian or New South Wales local State Emergency Service.

River operations

MDBA active storage fell by 79 GL this week to 6,123 GL (71% active storage).

The storage volume at Dartmouth Reservoir increased by 1 GL to 3,369 GL (87% capacity). The release from Dartmouth Reservoir, measured at Coleman’s, was at 3,000 ML/day earlier this week for hydroelectricity generation purposes before it was returned to 200 ML/day. As of Wednesday, the release was increased to 1,000 ML/day for hydroelectricity generation and is expected to reduce back towards 200 ML/day during Friday.

At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume decreased by 67 GL to 2,261 GL (75% capacity). Based on the current rainfall forecast, inflows upstream of Hume are expected to increase substantially in the coming week. The current available airspace is just under 750GL and will provide an important mitigating function. The MDBA will continue to closely monitor updated rainfall forecasts, actual rainfall

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Heavy rainfall forecast for Friday and Saturday Significant tributary streamflow increases possible Locks 7 & 8 weir pools to gradually lower

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and inflows as the event unfolds to determine if higher releases for ‘airspace management’ at Hume Reservoir are required. Airspace management releases can be made to provide flood protection provided filling of the reservoir is assured. If the flow at Doctors Point is expected to rise above 25,000 ML/day, subscribers to WaterNSW’s EWN will receive a notification of this and any further changes to the release from Hume Dam.

Earlier in the week the release from Hume was increased to 16,500 ML/day as downstream irrigation demands increased. However, with the heavy rainfall forecast and a subsequent reduction in irrigation demand, the release has been stepped down over the last couple of days to 11,500 ML/day and will be reduced further in the coming days.

Downstream at Lake Mulwala, diversion to Mulwala Canal peaked at 2,500 ML/day before reducing to 1,700 ML/day and is expected to reduce significantly in the next few days. Likewise, diversion to Yarrawonga Main Channel peaked near 1,550 ML/day and has since fallen to around 800 ML/day and will reduce further as the rain arrives.

The release from Yarrawonga Weir was gradually reduced to 12,000 ML/day earlier in the week as the downstream watering of the Barmah-Millewa forest reduces. However, the reduced irrigation demand in anticipation of the widespread heavy rainfall has resulted in excess water in the pool. As a result, the release from Yarrawonga Weir has been increased to 13,500 ML/day to maintain the weir pool level within optimal range. A further increase to around 18,000 ML/day is expected for Friday and may rise more over the weekend.

A combined total of around 1,850 ML/day continues to enter the Edward-Wakool system from the Edward and Gulpa Creek offtakes. These flows are combining with declining return flows from the Millewa forest to deliver a flow at Toonalook on the Edward River of around 3,700 ML/day. This flow rate is expected to continue to fall during the coming days before increasing later in the week. Flows have receded in the Yallakool and Colligen Creeks, with about 430 ML/day entering the Yallakool Creek (Photo 1) and around 350 ML/day into the Colligen Creek. The downstream release from Stevens Weir has reduced from 2,900 ML/day to around 2,500 ML/day, but is expected to increase again in the coming days.

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Photo 1: Flows through the Yallakool Creek offtake regulator have fallen over the last few days, but may rise again in the coming week (Source: Digby Jacobs, MDBA)

Back on the Murray, the flow at Barmah has averaged close to 10,000 ML/day this week. Downstream inflows to the Murray from the Goulburn River, measured at McCoys Bridge, have receded from 4,500 ML/day to below 2,000 ML/day as the tail-end of an environmental pulse reaches the Murray. This flow will continue to recede in the short-term. Similarly, the environmental pulse in the Campaspe River is coming to a close with flows falling from 1,500 ML/day to near 500 ML/day. These environmental pulses were aimed at triggering native fish spawning.

National Channel diversions from Torrumbarry weir pool have been at 1,500 ML/day over the past week but are expected to fall as irrigation demand decreases. The flow downstream of Torrumbarry Weir peaked near 13,500 ML/day a few days ago, as the Goulburn and Campaspe pulses moved downstream. The flow has since receded to 12,500 ML/day and will decline further over the next few days. Downstream, the flow at Swan Hill (Photo 2) is around 13,100 ML/day and expected to peak in the next couple of days as these pulses continue to move through the system.

Photo 2: Competitors in the Massive Murray Paddle arriving at the finish in Swan Hill (Source: Adam McLean, MDBA)

The Murrumbidgee River at Balranald has receded to 500 ML/day and may fall further this week. However, given the rainfall forecast higher flows are likely in the coming weeks.

At Euston, the weir pool level is 3 cm above Full Supply Level (FSL). The release is currently around 12,700 ML/day and is expected to begin increasing over the weekend. Downstream, return flows from

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Hattah Lakes continue to enter the Murray via the Messengers (Photo 3) and Oateys regulators to Chalka Creek (south and north respectively). These flows provide connectivity between the lakes and the River Murray, and also provide valuable food and nutrients to the Murray. Total return flows have averaged around 1,000 ML/day this week.

Photo 3: Return flows from the Hattah Lakes entering the Murray downstream of the Messengers Regulator. These return flows are not only providing connectivity between the Murray and the Lakes, but are also providing food and beneficial nutrients to the Murray (Source: Peter Shaw, MDBA)

At Menindee Lakes, the storage volume reduced by 22 GL this week to 502 GL (29% capacity). The release at Weir 32 is currently targeting 700 ML/day, which is above the minimum release of 300 ML/day, to maintain river heights in the lower Darling during the Murray Cod nesting season. Releases may fall towards 300 ML/day from early-mid December as the combined volume of the Menindee Lakes approaches 480 GL.

Operations at Lock 9 continue to target Full Supply Level (FSL). Lock 9 is currently closed for essential maintenance and is expected to be reopened in a fortnight.

The weir pool level at Lock 8 has targeted around 30 cm above FSL since mid-September but will gradually be returned towards FSL in the coming week. The higher pool has helped maintain a spring flow in the upper Potterwalkagee Creek system for the benefit of native fish.

At Lock 7, a pool level of around 50 cm above FSL has also been targeted since mid-September to provide additional water into the Lindsay River (Photo 4) for pumping into Lake Wallawalla but will be reduced towards FSL over the next fortnight.

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Photo 4: Higher flows in the Lindsay River are expected to gradually decline in the coming week (Source: Irene Wegener, CEWO)

The Lake Victoria storage volume increased by 8 GL to 665 GL (98% capacity). If heavy rainfall does eventuate, Lake Victoria is likely to fill in the coming weeks. This would result in higher flows to South Australia, of which the flow for this week has risen from around 10,100 ML/day to about 12,800 ML/day. Further rises are expected next week as more environmental water released from Hume and Eildon reservoirs passes across the South Australia border.

At the Lower Lakes, the 5-day average water level in Lake Alexandrina has increased to 0.82 m AHD. Releases through the barrages have been increased to above 3,000 ML/day and continue to be prioritised to Goolwa and Tauwitchere in an effort to maintain suitable conditions for black bream spawning. All fishways at the barrages remain open.

For media inquiries contact the Media Officer on 02 6279 0141

ANDREW REYNOLDSExecutive Director, River Management

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Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 29 Nov 2017

MDBA StoragesFull

Supply Level

Full Supply Volume

Current Storage

LevelCurrent Storage Dead

StorageActive

Storage

Change in Total

Storage for the Week

  (m AHD) (GL) (m AHD) (GL) % (GL) (GL) (GL)Dartmouth Reservoir 486.00 3 856 478.26 3 369 87% 71 3 298 +1Hume Reservoir 192.00 3 005 187.98 2 261 75% 23 2 238 -67Lake Victoria 27.00 677 26.91 665 98% 100 565 +8Menindee Lakes   1 731*   502 29% (480 #) 22 -22Total   9 269   6 797 73% - - 6 123 -79Total Active MDBA Storage             71% ^                   

Major State StoragesBurrinjuck Reservoir   1 026   642 63% 3 639 +7Blowering Reservoir   1 631   911 56% 24 887 -37Eildon Reservoir   3 334   2 382 71% 100 2 282 -14

* 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 28 Nov 2017 Storage Active Storage

(GL)Weekly Change

(GL) Diversion (GL) This Week From 1 May 2017

Lake Eucumbene - Total 1 721 +7 Snowy-Murray +6 521Snowy-Murray Component 742 +1 Tooma-Tumut +0 158Target Storage 1 450   Net Diversion 6 363      Murray 1 Release +10 714

Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) *New South Wales This Week From 1 July

2017 Victoria This Week From 1 July 2017

Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) 18.6 341 Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) 6.3 114Wakool Sys Allowance 0.0 16 Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) 7.2 188Western Murray Irrigation 0.8 7 Sunraysia Pumped Districts 4.3 37Licensed Pumps 4.9 83 Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) 1 14Lower Darling 5.8 33 Licensed pumps - LMW 4.6 111TOTAL 30.1 480 TOTAL 23.4 464

* 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)* Flow to SA will be greater than normal entitlement for this month due to environmental flows.

Entitlement this month 180.0 *  Flow this week 76.7 (11 000 ML/day)Flow so far this month 280.8Flow last month 235.1

Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C)  Current Average over the last week Average since 1 August 2017Swan Hill 100 90 110Euston - - -Red Cliffs 130 120 170Merbein 180 120 150Burtundy (Darling) 730 740 740Lock 9 140 140 180Lake Victoria 180 200 230Berri 260 260 300Waikerie 330 320 370Morgan 330 330 380Mannum 370 410 430Murray Bridge 460 460 480Milang (Lake Alex.) 710 700 620Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) 600 580 590Meningie (Lake Alb.) 1 550 1 530 1 530

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Goolwa Barrages 850 860 1 300

River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 29 Nov 2017

 

Minor Flood Stage Gauge Height Flow Trend Average Flow

this Week

Average Flow last

WeekRiver Murray (m) local (m) (m AHD) (ML/day)   (ML/day) (ML/day)Khancoban - - - 4 550 R 1 860 2 690Jingellic 4.0 1.56 208.08 3 370 R 3 210 3 830Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) 4.2 1.50 218.39 810 F 1 760 910Heywoods 5.5 2.69 156.32 11 810 F 13 680 13 220Doctors Point 5.5 2.79 151.26 12 560 F 14 940 14 200Albury 4.3 1.79 149.23 - - - -Corowa 4.6 3.29 129.31 16 240 S 14 990 15 190Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) 6.4 1.97 117.01 13,500 R 12 460 14 690Tocumwal 6.4 2.63 106.47 12 210 F 12 950 14 760Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) 7.3 3.79 82.33 12 470 F 12 790 9 880Swan Hill 4.5 2.28 65.20 13 070 R 11 730 9 560Wakool Junction 8.8 4.38 53.50 14 060 R 13 210 12 260Euston Weir (d/s) 9.1 2.42 44.26 12 740 R 12 510 12 910Mildura Weir (d/s)   - - 13 170 F 13 480 12 660Wentworth Weir (d/s) 7.3 3.29 28.05 13 170 F 13 810 13 960Rufus Junction - 4.28 21.21 11 820 R 9 950 9 330Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) - 0.93 - 9 040 R 8 400 8 750               Tributaries              Kiewa at Bandiana 2.8 1.26 154.49 820 R 1 130 1 230Ovens at Wangaratta 11.9 8.28 145.96 1 190 R 1 160 1 480Goulburn at McCoys Bridge 9.0 2.07 93.49 1 990 F 3 410 1 460Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) 5.5 2.34 82.11 2 520 F 2 670 2 890Edward at Liewah - 2.91 58.29 2 400 F 2 420 2 580Wakool at Stoney Crossing - 1.76 55.25 1 410 R 1 220 1 250Murrumbidgee at Balranald 5.0 0.92 56.88 510 F 770 2 530Barwon at Mungindi 6.1 3.22 - 140 F 400 180Darling at Bourke 9.0 4.08 - 260 R 220 310Darling at Burtundy Rocks - 0.86 - 530 S 520 570               Natural Inflow to Hume           4 280 5 360

(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/sYarrawonga 124.90 -0.11 - No. 7 Rufus River 22.10 +0.50 +1.95No. 26 Torrumbarry 86.05 -0.00 - No. 6 Murtho 19.25 -0.00 +0.39No. 15 Euston 47.60 +0.03 - No. 5 Renmark 16.30 -0.03 +0.44No. 11 Mildura 34.40 -0.02 +0.48 No. 4 Bookpurnong 13.20 +0.04 +1.24No. 10 Wentworth 30.80 +0.02 +0.65 No. 3 Overland Corner 9.80 +0.06 +0.50No. 9 Kulnine 27.40 +0.02 +0.46 No. 2 Waikerie 6.10 +0.05 +0.37No. 8 Wangumma 24.60 +0.31 +0.74 No. 1 Blanchetown 3.20 -0.07 +0.18

Lower Lakes FSL = 0.75 m AHDLake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD) 0.82

Barrages Fishways at Barrages

  OpeningsLevel (m AHD) No. Open Rock Ramp

Vertical Slot 1 Vertical Slot 2

Dual Vertical Slots

Goolwa 128 openings 0.83 2 - Open Open -Mundoo 26 openings 0.78 All closed - - - OpenHunters Creek - - - - Open - -Boundary Creek 6 openings - 1 - Open - -Ewe Island 111 gates - All closed - - - OpenTauwitchere 322 gates 0.84 6 Open Open Open -

AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level

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Week ending Wednesday 29 Nov 2017

State Allocations (as at 1 Dec 2017)NSW - Murray Valley Victorian - Murray Valley

High security 97%General security 39%

High reliability 100%Low reliability 0%

NSW – Murrumbidgee Valley Victorian - Goulburn ValleyHigh security 95%General security 33%

High reliability 100%Low reliability 0%

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

High security 100%

NSW : http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/water-management/water-availabilityVIC : http://nvrm.net.au/seasonal-determinations/currentSA : http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/river-murray

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