River Murray weekly report
For the week ending Wednesday, 10th February2018
Trim Ref:D16/4359
Rainfall and inflows
Rainfall cleared to the east and north of the Murray–Darling Basin during the week before dry and warm conditions returned. Weekly rainfall totals were highest in the north, with patchy rain also falling in the east, mostly over the tablelands and ranges. Central and western parts of the Basin experienced a mostly dry week (Map 1).
Weekly rainfall totals were highest in Queensland’s Maranoa and Warrego catchments and included 112 mm in Havelock, 92 mm at Nive Downs, 91 mm at Munnaweena and 72 mm at Balmacarra. Totals in northern NSW included 43 mm at Garrah and 39 mm at Burren Junction.
Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall week ending 10th February 2016 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology)
Flows along the upper Murray tributaries receded this week following the peaks of the previous week. On the upper Mitta Mitta River, the flow at Hinnomunjie bridge decreased from 550 to 300 ML/day. On the upper Murray, the flow at Biggara fell from 550 to 350 ML/day. On the Ovens River, the flow at Wangaratta peaked at 650 ML/day on 3 February and has since receded to 300 ML/day.
River Operations
MDBA total storage decreased by 81 GL this week, with the active storage now 3,080 GL (37% capacity).
At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume decreased by 30 GL to 1,753 GL (46% capacity). The release from Dartmouth, measured at Colemans, continues to be decreased.The current release is 4,500 ML/day and a flow of about 3,500 ML/day is planned for one week’s time. This reduction is in response to the recent rainfall and its effect on system demands and the projected storage level at Hume Reservoir. The demand for water is now expected to be less than previously planned for, meaning less water is required for transfer from Dartmouth Reservoir during the coming months. More information on Dartmouth releases is available in the attached flow advice.
The storage volume at Hume Reservoirdecreased by 32 GL to 1,098 GL (37% capacity). Releases were increased a little during the week as downstream demands required. The current release is targeting a flow of 14,000 ML/day at Doctors Point (downstream of the Kiewa River junction). A slight reduction to the release is likely during the coming days.
At Lake Mulwala, diversions to the major irrigation offtakes have increased as the drier weather returned. The total diversion through Yarrawonga Main Channel and Mulwala Canal increased from 2,200 to 3,600 ML/day; with approximately 1,200 ML/day of this water bypassing the Barmah Choke via the Edward Escape for use further downstream.
At Yarrawonga weir, releases have been maintained in the range of 9,500 to 10,300 ML/day throughout the summer. These rates are close to the downstream channel capacity through the Barmah Choke and have been continued to ensure current and projected system demands are met downstream. Recent rainfall and the resulting reduction in diversions and transmission losses mean that Yarrawonga releases can now be decreased. Over the coming weeks, a gradual easing of flows is planned, with flows less than 9,000 ML/day now likely towards the end of the month.
In the Edward-Wakool system, the higher than normal summer flows through the Gulpa offtake have now ceased. These higher flows have been made using environmental water to assist a bird breeding event in the Reed Beds wetland of Millewa Forest. The flow rate is now back to around 350 ML/day; while flows through the Edward offtake continue at around 1,550 ML/day. Downstream at Stevens Weir, the release remains close to the channel capacity of 2,700 ML/day. However the release is now planned to be reduced with a flow around 2,300 ML/day expected later this week. Further downstream along the Edward River, flows at both Moulamein and Liewah remain steady at just under 2,600ML/day.
Inflows to the Murray at Rice’s Weir on the Broken Creek receded to 300 ML/day. At McCoys Bridge on the Goulburn River, the flow has also slowly receded. The flow is now back to around 800ML/day. Flows between 700 and 800 ML/day are expected during the coming week.
At Torrumbarry weir, diversions to National Channel were reduced to around 1,400 ML/day following the recent rain. However without further rain, diversions are likely tostart increasing again during the coming week. The flow downstream of Torrumbarry remained fairly steady this week between 7,200 and 7,600 ML/day. Similar flows are expected over the coming days.
On the MurrumbidgeeRiver at Balranald, flows have continued to increase following an irrigation rejection through much of the NSW Riverina due to the previous week’s rain. The current flow is close to a peak at around 3,000 ML/day. The flow is expected to recede to around 300 ML/day by the end of February.
At Eustonweir, the pool level is currently at 47.65 m AHD, or 5 cm above FSL. Flows downstream of Euston averaged 10,000 ML/day.Slightly higher rates are possible during the coming days due to the continuing arrival of higher flows from both the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers upstream.
On the Darling River system, recent rain in the northern Basin has generated small flow pulses along several tributaries. These flows are now arriving at Bourke on the Darling River however, high transmission losses resulting from hotsummer temperatures and a mostly dry river channel mean that very little, if any, of this water is expected to reach the Menindee Lakes.Storage at the Menindee Lakes continues to fall away slowly, with the volume now down to 60 GL (3% capacity). Releases from Weir 32 were effectively ceased by Water NSW in December 2015.
Downstream at the junction of the Darling and the Murray, the weir pool at Wentworthweir remains above Full Supply Level (FSL) to assist water users on the lower Darling arm of the weir pool. The downstream flow rate is currently 7,400 ML/day and this should increase towards 8000 ML/day in the coming week.
The weir pools at Locks, 9, 8 and 7 continue to be held below FSL as part of an on-going weir pool variability trial. Preliminary observations of these trials have shown encouraging results. Fringing vegetation along the river banks has responded to the changes with a flush of growth that will boost the ecology of the riverine environment (Image 1).
Image 1 - Vegetation growth along the River Murray banks upstream of Lock 8 resulting from the current weir pool variability trial. Water staining on the tree trunks indicates the range of water levels during the trial.Photo: Scott Jaensch, NSW DPI Water.
At Mullaroo Creek, the commissioning process continues at the recently completed off-take regulator. As part of this process, the level in the Lock 7 weir pool will be further reduced from its current level of 50 cm below FSL. During the coming week, the level will be progressively lowered to as much as 70cm below FSL while flow rates downstream of the Mullaroo Creek regulator are measured. The results from this operation will inform operators of the weir pool level required to maintain the normal operating minimum flow rate into Mullaroo Creek (400 ML/day). More information is available in the attached flow advice.
The storage volume at Lake Victoria decreased by 18 GL to a total storage volume of 423 GL (62% capacity).The flow to South Australia has been increased to a target of 9,700 ML/day. This increase will provide for the delivery of additional environmental water into the lower Murray system.
Rainfall over South Australia’s lower Murray valley and the Lower Lakes has resulted in a lake level rise. The 5-day average level of Lake Alexandrina increased by a further 2 cm to 0.61 m AHD. This improvement, combined with increasing flows into South Australia means that beneficial releases into the Coorong through the barrage gates can now be re-commenced. A flow rate of around 500 ML/day is now planned to begin before the end of the week.
As a result of recent rain, salinity in Lake Alexandrina has improved slightly at Milang, falling by about 50 EC. However, salinities in Lake Alexandrina are still 40 to 70 EC higher at Milang and Poltalloch than they were this time last year. At Lake Albert, the recent rain has had a more significant positive impact. The salinity has decreased by around 200 EC following the rain and is now about 500 EC less than it was this time last year.
For media inquiries contact the Media Officeron 02 6279 0141
DAVID DREVERMAN
Executive Director, River Management
Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 10 Feb 2016
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 / 446.14 / 1 753 / 45% / 71 / 1 682 / -30
Hume Reservoir / 192.00 / 3 005 / 179.70 / 1 098 / 37% / 23 / 1 075 / -32
Lake Victoria / 27.00 / 677 / 24.77 / 423 / 62% / 100 / 323 / -18
Menindee Lakes / 1 731* / 60 / 3% / (- -) # / 0 / -2
Total / 9 269 / 3 334 / 36% / - - / 3 080 / -81
Total Active MDBA Storage / 37% ^
Major State Storages
Burrinjuck Reservoir / 1 026 / 546 / 53% / 3 / 543 / +3
Blowering Reservoir / 1 631 / 472 / 29% / 24 / 448 / -5
Eildon Reservoir / 3 334 / 1 430 / 43% / 100 / 1 330 / -21
*Menindee surcharge capacity – 2050 GL ** All Data is rounded to nearest GL **
# NSW takes control of Menindee Lakes when storage falls below 480 GL, and control reverts to MDBA when storage next reaches 640 GL
^ % of total active MDBA storage
Snowy Mountains Scheme Snowy diversions for week ending 09 Feb 2016
Storage / Active Storage (GL) / Weekly Change (GL) / Diversion (GL) / This Week / From 1 May 2015Lake Eucumbene - Total / 2 009 / -33 / Snowy-Murray / +14 / 428
Snowy-Murray Component / 1 031 / -11 / Tooma-Tumut / +3 / 144
Target Storage / 1 460 / Net Diversion / 11 / 284
Murray 1 Release / +18 / 620
Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) *
New South Wales / This Week / From 1 July 2015 / Victoria / This Week / From 1 July 2015Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) / 5.8 / 275 / Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) / 4.8 / 159
Wakool Sys Allowance / 0.0 / 51 / Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) / 5.1 / 334
Western Murray Irrigation / 1.0 / 14 / Sunraysia Pumped Districts / 4.1 / 79
Licensed Pumps / 3.2 / 129 / Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) / 0.3 / 25
Lower Darling / 0.2 / 8 / Licensed pumps - LMW / 11.2 / 228
TOTAL / 10.2 / 477 / TOTAL / 25.5 / 825
* Figures derived from estimates and monthly data. 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 the delivery of additional environmental water. / Entitlement this month / 194.0 *
Flow this week / 58.9 / (8 400 ML/day)
Flow so far this month / 82.1
Flow last month / 218.8
Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C)
Current / Average over the last week / Average since 1 August 2015Swan Hill / 90 / 90 / 80
Euston / - / - / -
Red Cliffs / 100 / 100 / 130
Merbein / 100 / 100 / 130
Burtundy (Darling) / 1 460 / 1 450 / 1 120
Lock 9 / 110 / 110 / 130
Lake Victoria / 210 / 200 / 210
Berri / 200 / 200 / 220
Waikerie / 250 / 250 / 280
Morgan / 270 / 290 / 280
Mannum / 320 / 340 / 320
Murray Bridge / 410 / 430 / 340
Milang (Lake Alex.) / 830 / 820 / 780
Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) / 800 / 810 / 630
Meningie (Lake Alb.) / 2 020 / 2 070 / 2 070
Goolwa Barrages / 1 530 / 1 500 / 1 140
River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 10 Feb 2016
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 / - / - / - / 4 670 / R / 2 980 / 4 140
Jingellic / 4.0 / 1.78 / 208.30 / 4 870 / F / 3 430 / 5 310
Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) / 4.2 / 2.55 / 219.44 / 4 640 / R / 4 980 / 6 310
Heywoods / 5.5 / 3.21 / 156.84 / 13 600 / S / 12 560 / 11 190
Doctors Point / 5.5 / 2.93 / 151.40 / 14 100 / R / 13 230 / 11 880
Albury / 4.3 / 1.96 / 149.40 / - / - / - / -
Corowa / 4.6 / 2.88 / 128.90 / 13 390 / R / 12 080 / 12 070
Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) / 6.4 / 1.60 / 116.64 / 9 790 / S / 9 800 / 9 710
Tocumwal / 6.4 / 2.20 / 106.04 / 9 830 / R / 9 870 / 10 120
Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 2.38 / 80.93 / 7 260 / F / 7 430 / 6 650
Swan Hill / 4.5 / 1.44 / 64.36 / 7 660 / S / 7 280 / 6 500
Wakool Junction / 8.8 / 3.45 / 52.57 / 9 870 / R / 9 470 / 8 890
Euston Weir (d/s) / 9.1 / 1.90 / 43.74 / 10 070 / R / 9 980 / 8 970
Mildura Weir (d/s) / - / - / 8 730 / F / 8 420 / 7 820
Wentworth Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 2.91 / 27.67 / 7 350 / R / 7 010 / 7 060
Rufus Junction / - / 3.98 / 20.91 / 9 690 / R / 8 100 / 7 280
Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) / - / 0.71 / - / 5 360 / R / 5 860 / 5 680
Tributaries
Kiewa at Bandiana / 2.8 / 0.93 / 154.16 / 440 / R / 530 / 610
Ovens at Wangaratta / 11.9 / 7.84 / 145.52 / 310 / F / 410 / 430
Goulburn at McCoys Bridge / 9.0 / 1.40 / 92.82 / 800 / F / 840 / 870
Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) / 5.5 / 2.39 / 82.16 / 2 600 / S / 2 620 / 2 660
Edward at Liewah / - / 3.03 / 58.41 / 2 560 / S / 2 560 / 2 570
Wakool at Stoney Crossing / - / 1.48 / 54.97 / 560 / S / 570 / 590
Murrumbidgee at Balranald / 5.0 / 3.22 / 59.18 / 2 980 / R / 2 450 / 1 610
Barwon at Mungindi / 6.1 / 3.57 / - / 1 060 / R / 540 / 710
Darling at Bourke / 9.0 / 4.16 / - / 590 / R / 490 / 100
Darling at Burtundy Rocks / - / 0.62 / - / 0 / F / 0 / 0
Natural Inflow to Hume / 2 310 / 4 010
(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 / -0.13 / - / No. 7 Rufus River / 22.10 / -0.52 / +1.69
No. 26 Torrumbarry / 86.05 / +0.00 / - / No. 6 Murtho / 19.25 / +0.05 / +0.24
No. 15 Euston / 47.60 / +0.05 / - / No. 5 Renmark / 16.30 / +0.01 / +0.27
No. 11 Mildura / 34.40 / -0.04 / +0.24 / No. 4 Bookpurnong / 13.20 / +0.04 / +0.94
No. 10 Wentworth / 30.80 / +0.09 / +0.27 / No. 3 Overland Corner / 9.80 / +0.01 / +0.23
No. 9 Kulnine / 27.40 / -0.06 / -0.71 / No. 2 Waikerie / 6.10 / +0.03 / +0.11
No. 8 Wangumma / 24.60 / -0.80 / -0.25 / No. 1 Blanchetown / 3.20 / -0.09 / -0.04
Lower LakesFSL = 0.75 m AHD
Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD) / 0.61Barrages Fishways at Barrages
Openings / Level (m AHD) / No. Open / Rock Ramp / Vertical Slot 1 / Vertical Slot 2 / Dual Vertical SlotsGoolwa / 128 openings / 0.60 / All closed / - / Open / Open / -
Mundoo / 26 openings / 0.59 / All closed / - / - / - / Closed *
Hunters Creek / - / - / - / - / Open / - / -
Boundary Creek / 6 openings / - / All closed / - / Open / - / -
Ewe Island / 111 gates / - / All closed / - / - / - / Open
Tauwitchere / 322 gates / 0.58 / All closed / Closed / Open / Open / -
* Mundoo Barrage Dual Vertical Slot under construction at this time
AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level
GPO Box 1801 Canberra ACT 2601Telephone: 02 6279 0100Facsimile: 02 6248 8053
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Email: Web: ABN 13679821382
Week ending Wednesday 10 Feb 2016
State Allocations (as at 10 Feb 2016)
NSW - Murray Valley / Victorian - Murray ValleyHigh security / 97%
General security / 19%
/ High reliability / 98%
Low reliability / 0%
NSW – MurrumbidgeeValley / Victorian- GoulburnValley
High security / 95%
General security / 35%
/ High reliability / 87%
Low reliability / 0%
NSW - Lower Darling / South Australia – MurrayValley
High security / 75%
General security / 0%
/ High security / 100%
NSW : /
VIC : /
SA : /
Flow advice
9 February 2016
Mitta Mitta flow reduces
Landholders and river users, including pumpers, on the Mitta Mitta River are advised to take into account the forecast releases of water from Dartmouth Dam and make any necessary adjustment to their river activities.
The current decrease in releases will continue, from a flow of 4,500 megalitres per day (ML/day) on Wednesday 10 February, to 500 ML/day on 1 March 2016.
Recent rainfall, along with an improved rainfall outlook for the coming months issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, means the demand for water is expected to be lower than previously planned. Releases in autumn are now forecast to remain at low levels.
The releases from Dartmouth Dam, may vary from those forecast and flows on the Mitta Mitta may increase at any time if there’s rainfall in the catchment downstream of the dam.
Forecast Mitta Mitta flows 10 February – 10 March 2016
Date / Releases fromDartmouth Dam / Colemans Gauge / Tallandoon Gauge
Flow
(ML/day) / Height
(m) / Flow
(ML/day) / Height
(m)
Wednesday 10 February / Flows decreasing / 4,500 / 2.16 / 4,700 / 2.55
Thursday 18 February / Flows decreasing / 3,000 / 1.90 / 3,100 / 2.22
Tuesday 1 March / Flows steady / 500 / 1.17 / 600 / 1.39
Thursday 10 March / Flows steady / 500 / 1.17 / 500 / 1.38
A further flow advice will be issued when there is a significant change to releases.
Landholders and river users on the Mitta Mitta are advised to regularly check the current flows and forecasts on the MDBA website for more information on releases from Dartmouth Dam:
Live river data for Dartmouth Dam, the Mitta Mitta and other sites on the Murray system can be seen at:
Summary information about the River Murray system is available in the River Murray weekly report at:
ENDS
For more information, contact the MDBA Media office ator 02 6279 0141
Follow us on Twitter@MD_Basin_Auth or Facebook @Murray-DarlingBasinAuthority
Media Release
10 February2016
Upcoming changes in mid-Murrayweirpools
Landholdersand riverusersonthe RiverMurrayareremindedtotakeintoaccount changesto weir poollevels over coming months at locks7,8and 9 betweenWentworthandtheSouthAustralianborder, and atlock15 at Robinvale.
The MDBAhasbeenvaryingthesepoollevelssinceAugust2015 aspart ofatrial torestore amorenaturalwettinganddryingcycle. Historically,weirpoollevelshavebeenkept at areasonablyconstant height.
Starting 11 February the Lock 7 weir pool level is planned to be slowly lowered from the current level of around 50 cm below full supply level (FSL) to around 65 to 70cm below FSL over about one week. This will help to test operations of the recently completed regulator and fishway at the Mullaroo Creek off-take, which diverts water from Lock 7 weir pool through to the Lindsay River.
After this brief event, the Lock 7 pool level will return to around 50cmbelowFSL before being gradually raised to FSL during autumn.
The Lock8 weirpoollevelwill remainup to80cm belowFSLoverFebruary, and will be gradually raised to FSL during autumn.
The Lock9 weirpoolleveliscurrently10cmbelowFSLandwillremainat thisleveloverFebruaryandintoautumn.
The Lock15 weir pool level is currently at FSLand willbe graduallylowered to30cm belowFSLin late autumn.
Thetablebelowoutlinesthe planonamonth-by-monthbasis.Theseareindicativewaterlevelsonly;actualriveroperationsmaydiffer.
Weir poollevelrelative tofull supplylevel(metres)
Month / Lock7 / Lock8 / Lock9 / Lock15February / -0.50* / -0.80 / -0.10 / +0
March / -0.25 / -0.60 / -0.10 / +0
April / -0.25 / -0.25 / -0.10 / -0.20
May / +0 / +0 / +0 / -0.30
June / +0 / +0.40 / +0 / -0.30
* Starting 11 February the Lock 7 weir pool level is planned to be slowly lowered from around
50 cm below full supply level (FSL) to around 65 to 70cm below FSL for about one week.
GPO Box 1801 Canberra ACT 2601Telephone: 02 6279 0100Facsimile: 02 6248 8053
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Email: Web: ABN 13679821382
Thetrial to restore a more natural wetting and drying cycle isbeingconductedbythe MDBAincooperationwith theNSWDepartment ofPrimaryIndustries,WaterNSW, SAWaterand theMalleeCatchmentManagementAuthority.
The MDBAwillissue a revised flowadviceifthereareanysignificantchangestothe plan,whichwillalsobeavailableon the MDBAwebsite
Riveruserswantingmoreinformationonriverheightscancontact theMDBAon
(02) 62790100or receiveupdatesat the RiverMurrayweeklyreport
Liveriverdataforthe RiverMurraysystem canbeseenat:
ENDS
Formoreinformation, contact theMDBAMediaofficeator 0262790141.
FollowusonTwitter:@MD_Basin_Auth
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