River Murray weekly report
For the week ending Wednesday, 14 June2018
Trim Ref:D17/22574
Rainfall and inflows
At the start of the week a low pressure system developed off the coast of New South Wales and moved slowly northeast. A coastal trough, associated with this low pressure system, lingered along the central and north coast in New South Wales for most of the week andbrought moderate rainfall to northeastern areas of the Murray-Darling Basin.
Towards the end of the week, an inland trough developed over northwestern New South Wales, producing some rainfall in the Upper Western region. Little to no rainfall was recorded in Northern Victoria, Central New South Wales or South Australia for the week.
Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall map week ending 14 June 2017. Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Total in Storage
Total MDBA storage increased by 48 GL this week, with the active storage now 5,576 GL (65% capacity).
River operations
At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume decreased by 1GL to 3,009 GL (78% capacity). Mostly due to continuing operational releases, measured at Colemans, of 200ML/day.
At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume increased by 36 GL to 2,039 GL (68% capacity). Inflows this week have averaged around 8,000 ML/day. The majority of these inflows are due to higher releases downstream of Khancoban Pondage from the Snowy Hydro Scheme for the purposes of electricity generation. Releases from Hume Reservoir were 2,500 ML/day over the weekend before decreasing to the current rate of 1,500 ML/day. These releases remain above the normal minimum of 600 ML/day as additional water is delivered on behalf of environmental water holders to maintain higher base flows in the Murray for the benefit of native fish.
At Lake Mulwala, the pool level is currently 124.76 m AHD. The pool is expected to remain steady over the coming week. The release downstream of Yarrawonga Weir has decreased to around 3,500 ML/day and will remain at this rate for about a week to assist with hydrometric work to be undertaken on the Edward River at Moulamein later in the month. The flow will increase early next week to 4,000 ML/day and vary between 4,200 ML/day and 3,800 ML/day in the coming weeks.
Inflows to the Edward-Wakool system decreased over the past week in response to lower flows in the Murray. Flows through the Edward River and Gulpa Creek offtakes are currently around 500 ML/day and 170 ML/day respectively. With the offtake gates currently open, inflows to the Edward-Wakool system can be expected to fluctuate over winter in response to the changes in river levels downstream of Yarrawonga Weir. Flow downstream of Stevens Weir increased to over 800 ML/day this week before decreasing to the current flow of 380 ML/day. The weir pool is currently around 3.9 m (local gauge) and will vary between 3.8 m and 4.0 m over winter to provide connectivity for fish in the Colligen and Yallakool Creeks and downstream in the Wakool River. Visit the WaterNSW website for more information.
Photo 1 – Lake Buffalo on the Ovens River. (Photo courtesy Alex Burgess-Norris MDBA)
On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge is currently 950 ML/day, which is above the minimum flow rate(350 ML/day)to provide flows for the environment. An environmental flow pulse in the Goulburn River is planned to commence over the coming week. Water for the increased flow is due to be released from Goulburn Weir from June 20, peaking at about 9,500 ML/day (4.30m) at Murchison on June 30. More information can be found on the Goulburn Broken CMA website. On the Campaspe River, the flow at Rochester is around 40 ML/day.
At Torrumbarry, the weir pool level has remained at 85.7 m AHD, or 35 cm below the full supply level (FSL) this week. In the coming weeks, as part of the weir pool variability program, the pool level will continue to be varied, with the level falling as much as 50 cm below FSL. Visit the MDBA website for more information. Diversions to National Channel continued at around 420 ML/day to supply higher flows along Gunbower Creek for the benefit of native fish. Release downstream of Torrumbarry Weir has decreased slightly and is currently 3,300 ML/day.
Inflow from the Murrumbidgee River averaged 600 ML/day this week and is currently around 530 ML/day. Planning is currently underway to deliver a ‘river fresh’ along the Murrumbidgee River and Yanco Creek systems starting in early July. A flow rate of around 20,000 ML/day at Wagga Wagga is planned to improve the health of wetlands along the mid-Murrumbidgee River and to deliver instream benefits throughout the system. This event would deliver significant inflows, at within-channel rates, to the Murray later in July and into August. Further environmental benefits will accrue as the flows are passed down the Murray to South Australia.
At Euston Weir, the pool level has remained around the FSL (47.60 m AHD). The pool level is expected to be varied over the coming weeks, with the level planned to decrease as much as 40 cm below FSL. The release downstream of the weir has decreased slightly this week to and is currently around 5,300 ML/day.
Downstream of Euston at Hattah Lakes, planning is underway to deliver water to refill the lakes and wetlands commencing in early July. This aims to help build upon the ecological outcomes resulting from the natural flooding that occurred in 2016, and continue to improve the ecological health of this lake system.
On the Darling River, the total storage volume in the Menindee Lakes decreased by 1 GL this week and is currently 776 GL (45% capacity). Inflows to the lakes have increased slightly this week, with the daily flow, measured at Wilcannia, just under 600 ML/day. Releases from Menindee Lakes to the lower Darling River at Weir 32 are continuing around 400 ML/day. This is above the normal minimum of 200 ML/day at this time of year. The additional water is being released on behalf of environmental water holders to benefit native fish in the lower Darling River. Releases from Cawndilla outlet to the Great Darling Anabranch have continued at 100 ML/day this week for the benefit of native fish. The delivery of water to the Great Darling Anabranch will cease later in June.
At the junction of the Darling and Murray rivers at Wentworth flow has reduced to around 5,700 ML/day. Downstream of the weir, inflows from the Great Darling Anabranch are continuing to slowly recede and are currently around 600 ML/day.
At Locks 9, 8 and 7, the pool levels are currently 9, 12 and 19 cm below FSL respectively. Pool levels are expected to be varied over the coming weeks. Weir pool variability helps to restore a more natural wetting and drying cycle to riverbanks and adjacent wetlands within the influence of the weir pool.
AtLake Victoria, the storage volume is rising and is currently 426 GL (63% capacity). Over the coming months MDBA will manage the filling of Lake Victoria so that the storage volume peaks as late in the year as possible. This strategy aims to encourage the growth of foreshore vegetation and helps protect against erosion impacts on aboriginal cultural heritage, whilst maximising the storage available to help supply flow to South Australia during next summer and autumn.
Photo 2 – Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) boat undertaking ‘run of river’ salinity monitoring coming into Lock 5. (Photo courtesy Scott Jenke SA Water)
Flow to South Australia has remained steady at 4,000 ML/day this week, the flowwill increase to around 7,000 ML/day early next week following completion of ‘run of river’ salinity monitoring being undertaken from the SA border to the Lower Lakes. The flow downstream at Lock 1 is currently 3,460 ML/day.
At the Lower Lakes, the 5-day average water level in Lake Alexandrina remained steady at 0.68 m AHD. Releases through the barrages averaged around 2,000 ML/day this week via gates at Goolwa and Tauwitchere barrages.
For media inquiries contact the Media Officeron 02 6279 0141
ANDREW REYNOLDS
Acting Executive Director, River Management
Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 14 Jun 2017
MDBA Storages / Full Supply Level / Full Supply Volume / Current Storage Level / Current / Storage / Dead Storage / Active Storage / Change in Total Storage for the Week(m AHD) / (GL) / (m AHD) / (GL) / % / (GL) / (GL) / (GL)
Dartmouth Reservoir / 486.00 / 3 856 / 472.10 / 3 009 / 78% / 71 / 2 938 / -1
Hume Reservoir / 192.00 / 3 005 / 186.64 / 2 039 / 68% / 23 / 2 016 / +36
Lake Victoria / 27.00 / 677 / 24.79 / 426 / 63% / 100 / 326 / +14
Menindee Lakes / 1 731* / 776 / 45% / (480 #) / 296 / -1
Total / 9 269 / 6 250 / 67% / - - / 5 576 / +48
Total Active MDBA Storage / 65% ^
Major State Storages
Burrinjuck Reservoir / 1 026 / 639 / 62% / 3 / 636 / -5
Blowering Reservoir / 1 631 / 1 213 / 74% / 24 / 1 189 / +18
Eildon Reservoir / 3 334 / 2 192 / 66% / 100 / 2 092 / +2
*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 13 Jun 2017
Storage / Active Storage (GL) / Weekly Change (GL) / Diversion (GL) / This Week / From 1 May 2017Lake Eucumbene - Total / 1497 / -53 / Snowy-Murray / +37 / 231
Snowy-Murray Component / 753 / -37 / Tooma-Tumut / +8 / 12
Target Storage / 1 240 / Net Diversion / 29 / 219
Murray 1 Release / +40 / 251
Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) *
New South Wales / This Week / From 1 July 2016 / Victoria / This Week / From 1 July 2016Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) / -2.0 / 900 / Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) / 0 / 240
Wakool Sys Allowance / -0.1 / 35 / Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) / 0.3 / 424
Western Murray Irrigation / 0.1 / 25 / Sunraysia Pumped Districts / 0.3 / 97
Licensed Pumps / 0.6 / 253 / Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) / 3.4 / 44
Lower Darling / 0.9 / 117 / Licensed pumps - LMW / 1.5 / 305
TOTAL / -0.5 / 1330 / TOTAL / 5.5 / 1110
* 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 unregulated flows. / Entitlement this month / 90.0 *
Flow this week / 27.8 / (4 000 ML/day)
Flow so far this month / 58.9
Flow last month / 221.2
Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C)
Current / Average over the last week / Average since 1 August 2016Swan Hill / 100 / 100 / 120
Euston / - / - / -
Red Cliffs / 170 / 170 / 170
Merbein / 180 / 180 / 170
Burtundy (Darling) / 660 / 650 / 590
Lock 9 / 230 / 230 / 220
Lake Victoria / 240 / 240 / 200
Berri / 370 / 360 / 290
Waikerie / 430 / 440 / 360
Morgan / 480 / 470 / 360
Mannum / 550 / 530 / 370
Murray Bridge / 520 / 500 / 330
Milang (Lake Alex.) / 560 / 560 / 510
Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) / 550 / 550 / 400
Meningie (Lake Alb.) / 1 750 / 1 720 / 1 770
Goolwa Barrages / 610 / 680 / 1 110
River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 14 Jun 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 / - / - / - / 6 700 / F / 6 060 / 6 410
Jingellic / 4.0 / 2.04 / 208.56 / 7 140 / R / 6 770 / 7 270
Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) / 4.2 / 1.34 / 218.23 / 500 / S / 510 / 790
Heywoods / 5.5 / 1.60 / 155.23 / 1 740 / F / 2 390 / 2 040
Doctors Point / 5.5 / 1.66 / 150.13 / 1 860 / F / 2 690 / 2 630
Albury / 4.3 / 0.82 / 148.26 / - / - / - / -
Corowa / 4.6 / 1.08 / 127.10 / 3 290 / S / 3 190 / 3 380
Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) / 6.4 / 0.63 / 115.67 / 3 340 / F / 3 750 / 4 110
Tocumwal / 6.4 / 1.32 / 105.16 / 3 550 / S / 3 590 / 3 810
Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 1.36 / 79.91 / 3 300 / S / 3 490 / 3 360
Swan Hill / 4.5 / 0.91 / 63.83 / 3 810 / F / 3 820 / 3 630
Wakool Junction / 8.8 / 2.38 / 51.50 / 4 720 / R / 4 610 / 4 790
Euston Weir (d/s) / 9.1 / 1.24 / 43.08 / 5 300 / R / 5 310 / 5 590
Mildura Weir (d/s) / - / - / 6 080 / F / 6 010 / 6 500
Wentworth Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 2.79 / 27.55 / 5 690 / S / 5 210 / 6 230
Rufus Junction / - / 2.98 / 19.91 / 3 530 / F / 3 550 / 3 930
Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) / - / 0.61 / - / 3 460 / S / 3 540 / 4 370
Tributaries
Kiewa at Bandiana / 2.8 / 0.98 / 154.21 / 490 / F / 570 / 820
Ovens at Wangaratta / 11.9 / 8.01 / 145.69 / 630 / F / 690 / 860
Goulburn at McCoys Bridge / 9.0 / 1.50 / 92.92 / 950 / S / 980 / 990
Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) / 5.5 / 0.70 / 80.47 / 380 / F / 630 / 350
Edward at Liewah / - / 0.96 / 56.34 / 460 / F / 470 / 600
Wakool at Stoney Crossing / - / 1.51 / 55.00 / 640 / R / 650 / 760
Murrumbidgee at Balranald / 5.0 / 0.92 / 56.88 / 530 / F / 600 / 740
Barwon at Mungindi / 6.1 / 3.37 / - / 420 / F / 440 / 530
Darling at Bourke / 9.0 / 4.18 / - / 740 / S / 800 / 740
Darling at Burtundy Rocks / - / 0.80 / - / 300 / S / 300 / 300
Natural Inflow to Hume / 1 130 / 2 480
(i.e. Pre Dartmouth & Snowy Mountains scheme)
Weirs and LocksPool 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 / -0.14 / - / No. 7 Rufus River / 22.10 / -0.19 / +0.67
No. 26 Torrumbarry / 86.05 / -0.35 / - / No. 6 Murtho / 19.25 / +0.02 / -0.01
No. 15 Euston / 47.60 / -0.01 / - / No. 5 Renmark / 16.30 / +0.00 / +0.08
No. 11 Mildura / 34.40 / +0.03 / +0.08 / No. 4 Bookpurnong / 13.20 / +0.00 / +0.46
No. 10 Wentworth / 30.80 / +0.01 / +0.15 / No. 3 Overland Corner / 9.80 / +0.02 / +0.16
No. 9 Kulnine / 27.40 / -0.09 / -0.12 / No. 2 Waikerie / 6.10 / +0.02 / +0.02
No. 8 Wangumma / 24.60 / -0.12 / -0.12 / No. 1 Blanchetown / 3.20 / -0.10 / -0.14
Lower LakesFSL = 0.75 m AHD
Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD) / 0.68Barrages Fishways at Barrages
Openings / Level (m AHD) / No. Open / Rock Ramp / Vertical Slot 1 / Vertical Slot 2 / Dual Vertical SlotsGoolwa / 128 openings / 0.72 / 2 / - / Open / Open / -
Mundoo / 26 openings / 0.69 / All closed / - / - / - / Open
Hunters Creek / - / - / - / - / Open / - / -
Boundary Creek / 6 openings / - / 1 / - / Open / - / -
Ewe Island / 111 gates / - / All closed / - / - / - / Open
Tauwitchere / 322 gates / 0.73 / 3 / Open / Open / Open / -
AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level
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Week ending Wednesday 14 Jun 2017
State Allocations 2016-17 water year (as at 14 Jun 2017)
NSW - Murray Valley / Victorian - Murray ValleyHigh security / 100%
General security / 100%
/ High reliability / 100%
Low reliability / 5%
NSW – MurrumbidgeeValley / Victorian- GoulburnValley
High security / 100%
General security / 100%
/ High reliability / 100%
Low reliability / 0%
NSW - Lower Darling / South Australia – MurrayValley
High security / 100%
General security / 100%
/ High security / 100%
NSW : /
VIC : /
SA : /
Winter environmental flow good for fish food and bank plants
Water bugs and plants that provide food and shelter for native fish and other aquatic animals will benefit from an environmental flow along the lower Goulburn River planned for mid-June.
“As much of the rain and run-off into the Goulburn River is now captured in the dams and used to supply towns, industry and farms, the amount of water flowing down the river in winter and spring has reduced,” Goulburn Broken CMA Environmental Water Manager Simon Casanelia said.
“It also means the river flows higher and faster in the hotter months of the year when communities require more water, which is the opposite of what would happen if there were no dams and weirs.
“These changes have affected the health and survival of native plants and animals, so we’re giving nature a helping hand and delivering environmental water at this time of the year to mimic more natural flow conditions.”
Water for the increased flow is due to be released from Goulburn Weir from June 20, peaking at about 9,500 ML/day (4.30m) at Murchison on June 30.
The increase in river flow and height is well below minor flood level (9m at Murchison and 9.5m at Shepparton). In the event of heavy rain, the timing and size of the environmental flow could change or not go ahead at all.
The graph below shows how the river height and flows will change during this period:
Mr Casanelia said the environmental flow would also help bank-stabilising plant growth on the lower banks of the lower Goulburn River.
“Recent monitoring shows that the river banks held up fairly well during the natural floods we experienced late last year. This was due to the ‘right’ types of native plants starting to establish and spread thanks to environmental flows delivered during the past few years.
The extra water will also improve water quality and provide food and shelter for waterbugs and native fish.
“Improved water quality will help crayfish, shrimps, water bugs and native fish continue to recover after the naturally occurring blackwater event that occurred earlier this year after a summer storm.”
Environmental flows are planned by the Goulburn Broken CMA in consultation with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office and managed by Goulburn-Murray Water in line with the Victorian Environmental Water Holder’s Seasonal Watering Plan 2016-17. Timing of the environmental flows take into consideration delivery orders by irrigators and other water users and feedback from the community via the Goulburn Broken CMA’s environmental water advisory groups.
Environmental watering is only one way of protecting and improving rivers and wetlands. Fencing and revegetation, erosion control, pest control, returning logs to rivers for fish and bug habitat, and installation of fishways to allow fish to pass through dams and weirs also help. Find out more about these activities at
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