River Murray weekly report
For the week ending Wednesday, 22February2019
Trim Ref:D17/10104
Rainfall and inflows
Rain in the Murray-Darling Basin this week mostly fell across southeast Queenslandand northeast New South Wales (Map 1). Little or no rain was recorded across the western parts of the Basin.
In Queensland, the highest weekly totals included 65 mm at Jandowae, 55 mm at Warwick and 53 mm at Ripple Downs in the Darling Downs, 60 mm at Roma in the Maranoa catchment and 54 mm at Derbyshire Downs in the Warrego catchment. The highest totals in NSW included 45 mm at Guyra and 43 mm at Glen Innes airport AWS on the northern tablelands, 46 mm at Woolbrook and 35 mm at Pindari Dam on the northwest slopes and 37 mm at Pallamallawa on the northwest plains. Notable totals in Victoria included 22 mm at Mount Hotham AWS in the upper northeast.
Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall for the week ending 22 February 2017 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).
Stream flows along upper Murray tributaries were mostly steady this week. On the Mitta Mitta River, the flow at Hinnomunjie bridge averaged around 280 ML/day. On the upper Murray, the flow at Biggara averaged around 380ML/day. On the Ovens River at Rocky Point the flow peaked at around 950 ML/day before receding to 600 ML/day.
River operations
System Operations
In January and February, demands and losses along the Murray system have been lower than planned for, meaning that more water has been arriving at Lake Victoria than expected. In order to reduce the risk of water resource being spilled from Lake Victoria over the coming winter/spring, deliveries, including from tributary inter valley trade (IVT) and from Menindee lakes,continue to be reduced. However, the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest outlook for autumn suggests rainfall is likely to be below average and temperatures are likely to be warmer than average (Figure 1). This means demands and losses may be highduring autumn, so that deliveries may need to be increased in the future. Updates will be provided in coming weeks as flow rates across the system are adjusted in response to the observed and forecast weather and demands.
Figure 1- Rainfall and temperature outlook for autumn (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).
River Operations
Total MDBA storage decreased 151 GL this week, with the active storage now 6,274 GL (73% capacity).
At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume decreased 5 GL to 2,999 GL (78% capacity). The release from Dartmouth, measured at Colemans, reduced from 2,500ML/day back to 300 ML/day early in the week in response to reduced electricity demand.
The Hume Reservoir storage volume decreased 78 GL this week and is currently 2,367 GL (79% capacity). Releases have averaged around 12,800 ML/day.
At Lake Mulwala the pool level is currently at 124.76 m AHD. Diversions at the major irrigation off-takes remain relatively low for this time of year with Mulwala Canal and Yarrawonga Main Channel averaging around 3,700 ML/day and 1,500 ML/day respectively. Releases downstream of Yarrawonga averaged around 9,900 ML/day. The flow is expected to be around 9,500 ML/day during the coming week, before receding to around 8,000 ML/day in early March. Over recent months, flows have been boosted using additional environmental water (Figure 2). This is expected to continue into March. The intention of these environmental releases is to allow connectivity with Toupna creek downstream of Yarrawonga for the benefit of native fish as well as boosting overall flow rates along the Murray including into South Australia.
Figure 2 - Recent flow downstream of Yarrawonga weir boosted by delivery of environmental water
Inflows to the Edward-Wakool system have remained steady. Edward and Gulpa Creek off-takes are currently targeting around 1,550 ML/day and 350 ML/day respectively. At Stevens Weir, the flow target continues at the normal summer minimum of 600 ML/day, while downstream on the Wakool River, the flow at Stoney Crossing has eased to about 700 ML/day.
Figure 3 - Early morning start on the Edward River for contestants at the Deniliquin RSL 2017 Fishing Classic over the weekend. Photo courtesy Wil Lucardie, MDBA.
Reports from the Deniliquin RSL 2017 Fishing Classic (Figure 3) of catches of a number of large Murray Cod in the Stevens Weir pool show that large fish are still around after the recent hypoxic event. During the flooding in spring 2016, dissolved oxygen levels in the Edward River at Toonalook and Deniliquin fell below 1 mg/L in October causing fish deaths. The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder with the co-operation of Murray Irrigation Limited (MIL) delivered significant volumes of environmental water via MIL’s irrigation network and Edward escape to provide refuge for fish in the Edward River during this period. Whilst it is difficult to determine if the fish caught (and released) over the weekend survived due to this refuge, this weekend’s result is a positive sign.
On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge has continued at rates above the normal end of system target with the delivery of inter valley trade (IVT) water to the Murray. The current flow rate is 1,150 ML/day. Late in the coming week, flow rates are expected to rise due to delivery of a flow pulse combining environmental water with IVT deliveries to provide outcomes for both native fish and for water supply to the Murray. In response, flows on the Murray are expected to vary over the coming weeks. For more details see the attached media release.
At Torrumbarry Weir, National Channel is currently diverting about 2,200 ML/day. Diversions are expected to increase to around 3,000 ML/day in the coming week in preparation for meeting autumn watering demands. The release downstream of the weir increased during the week from 5,000 ML/day to 6,400 ML/day.
On the Murrumbidgee River at Balranald, flows continue at rates above the normal end of system target due to the on-going delivery of IVT to the Murray. The flow is currently 1,800 ML/day, and is expected to recede to around 600 ML/day in March.
At Euston, the weir pool level is currently 9 cm below the full supply level (FSL). As part of the on-going program of weir pool variation along the mid Murray weirs, the pool level will be varied over the coming months to restore a more natural wetting and drying cycle to benefit the riverine environment. During known recreational events such as the up-coming Robinvale Classic water ski race in March, operations will target a level close to FSL to help with local community requirements as much as practicably possible. The release downstream of the weir has averaged around 7,500 ML/day.
On the Darling River system, total storage in the Menindee Lakes fell by 57 GL. The current storage volume is 1,129 GL (65% capacity). The release from Menindee Lakes, measured at Weir 32 is currently 4,000 ML/day. In response to reduced River Murray system demands, releases are expected to gradually ease over the coming week (see attached media release for more details). At the Lake Cawndilla outlet, releases of around 1,000 ML/day are delivering environmental water to the Great Darling Anabranch.
Downstream at Lock 7, the weir pool level has recently returned to around the normal FSL (22.1 m AHD) due to operational reasons. The pool level will be gradually lowered again to around 50 cm below FSL in the coming weeks as part of the on-going weir pool variability program.
At Lake Victoria, the storage volume decreased by 12 GL to 453 GL (67% capacity) and will continue to fall over the coming weeks. The flow into South Australia averaged around 8,800 ML/day during the week with the continuing delivery of environmental water boosting flows above the normal base entitlement rate. Downstream at Lock 1, the flow is currently 5,700ML/day.
At the Lower Lakes, the 5-day average water level in Lake Alexandrina fell 2 cm to 0.75mAHD. The average total barrage release was around 2,000 ML/day. Releases were restricted at times to manage reverse flows of seawater from entering the Lower Lakes due to the prevailing winds and large swells.
For media inquiries contact the Media Officeron 02 6279 0141
DAVID DREVERMAN
Executive Director, River Management
Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 22 Feb 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 / 471.92 / 2 999 / 78% / 71 / 2 928 / -5
Hume Reservoir / 192.00 / 3 005 / 188.60 / 2 367 / 79% / 23 / 2 344 / -78
Lake Victoria / 27.00 / 677 / 25.05 / 453 / 67% / 100 / 353 / -12
Menindee Lakes / 1 731* / 1 129 / 65% / (480 #) / 649 / -57
Total / 9 269 / 6 948 / 75% / - - / 6 274 / -151
Total Active MDBA Storage / 73% ^
Major State Storages
Burrinjuck Reservoir / 1 026 / 770 / 75% / 3 / 767 / -3
Blowering Reservoir / 1 631 / 1 287 / 79% / 24 / 1 263 / -57
Eildon Reservoir / 3 334 / 2 445 / 73% / 100 / 2 345 / -24
*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 21 Feb 2017
Storage / Active Storage (GL) / Weekly Change (GL) / Diversion (GL) / This Week / From 1 May 2016Lake Eucumbene - Total / 1 833 / -29 / Snowy-Murray / +5 / 940
Snowy-Murray Component / 843 / -4 / Tooma-Tumut / +0 / 335
Target Storage / 1 460 / Net Diversion / 5 / 605
Murray 1 Release / +8 / 1 345
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) / 29.4 / 623 / Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) / 9.5 / 139
Wakool Sys Allowance / 2.4 / 14 / Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) / 11.5 / 267
Western Murray Irrigation / 1.0 / 17 / Sunraysia Pumped Districts / 3.2 / 73
Licensed Pumps / n/a / 145 / Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) / 0.5 / 16
Lower Darling / 5.8 / 15 / Licensed pumps - LMW / 11.3 / 252
TOTAL / 38.6 / 814 / TOTAL / 36 / 747
* 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 / 194.0 *
Flow this week / 61.7 / (8 800 ML/day)
Flow so far this month / 209.8
Flow last month / 458.7
Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C)
Current / Average over the last week / Average since 1 August 2016Swan Hill / 90 / 90 / 130
Euston / 140 / 150 / -
Red Cliffs / 190 / 200 / 170
Merbein / 200 / 200 / 170
Burtundy (Darling) / 460 / 460 / 610
Lock 9 / 310 / 320 / 190
Lake Victoria / 220 / 210 / 190
Berri / 450 / 430 / 230
Waikerie / 460 / 450 / 300
Morgan / 460 / 440 / 290
Mannum / 440 / 440 / 300
Murray Bridge / 320 / 310 / 290
Milang (Lake Alex.) / 400 / 390 / 510
Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) / 540 / 540 / 350
Meningie (Lake Alb.) / 1 730 / 1 710 / 1 750
Goolwa Barrages / 510 / 500 / 1 070
River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 22 Feb 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 / - / - / - / 3 430 / F / 1 520 / 1 790
Jingellic / 4.0 / 1.62 / 208.14 / 3 650 / R / 1 830 / 2 930
Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) / 4.2 / 1.45 / 218.34 / 680 / F / 1 210 / 3 830
Heywoods / 5.5 / 2.95 / 156.58 / 12 740 / F / 12 830 / 11 400
Doctors Point / 5.5 / 2.88 / 151.35 / 13 630 / F / 14 170 / 13 640
Albury / 4.3 / 1.87 / 149.31 / - / - / - / -
Corowa / 4.6 / 2.96 / 128.98 / 13 920 / R / 13 480 / 12 440
Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) / 6.4 / 1.59 / 116.63 / 9 790 / F / 9 910 / 8 350
Tocumwal / 6.4 / 2.41 / 106.25 / 9 300 / F / 8 820 / 7 710
Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 2.12 / 80.67 / 6 370 / F / 5 860 / 5 140
Swan Hill / 4.5 / 1.10 / 64.02 / 5 380 / R / 4 930 / 5 020
Wakool Junction / 8.8 / 2.56 / 51.68 / 6 180 / R / 6 250 / 6 270
Euston Weir (d/s) / 9.1 / 1.47 / 43.31 / 7 370 / F / 7 570 / 6 700
Mildura Weir (d/s) / - / - / 7 520 / F / 6 800 / 6 230
Wentworth Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 3.00 / 27.76 / 8 920 / R / 8 320 / 8 070
Rufus Junction / - / 3.64 / 20.57 / 7 400 / F / 7 990 / 8 940
Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) / - / 0.70 / - / 5 680 / S / 5 830 / 7 260
Tributaries
Kiewa at Bandiana / 2.8 / 1.00 / 154.23 / 540 / R / 630 / 1 470
Ovens at Wangaratta / 11.9 / 8.18 / 145.86 / 1 050 / F / 1 010 / 1 090
Goulburn at McCoys Bridge / 9.0 / 1.61 / 93.03 / 1 160 / S / 1 460 / 1 270
Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) / 5.5 / 0.95 / 80.72 / 610 / F / 620 / 570
Edward at Liewah / - / 1.34 / 56.72 / 730 / F / 770 / 710
Wakool at Stoney Crossing / - / 1.54 / 55.03 / 700 / F / 730 / 750
Murrumbidgee at Balranald / 5.0 / 2.12 / 58.08 / 1 780 / F / 2 380 / 2 320
Barwon at Mungindi / 6.1 / 3.30 / - / 250 / S / 180 / 170
Darling at Bourke / 9.0 / 4.06 / - / 190 / S / 200 / 210
Darling at Burtundy Rocks / - / 2.29 / - / 3 420 / S / 3 440 / 3 750
Natural Inflow to Hume / 1 220 / 2 440
(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 / +0.03 / +1.32
No. 26 Torrumbarry / 86.05 / +0.00 / - / No. 6 Murtho / 19.25 / +0.04 / +0.19
No. 15 Euston / 47.60 / -0.09 / - / No. 5 Renmark / 16.30 / +0.03 / +0.28
No. 11 Mildura / 34.40 / +0.05 / +0.14 / No. 4 Bookpurnong / 13.20 / +0.04 / +0.91
No. 10 Wentworth / 30.80 / +0.06 / +0.36 / No. 3 Overland Corner / 9.80 / +0.00 / +0.27
No. 9 Kulnine / 27.40 / -0.11 / -0.31 / No. 2 Waikerie / 6.10 / -0.00 / +0.17
No. 8 Wangumma / 24.60 / -0.48 / +0.31 / No. 1 Blanchetown / 3.20 / -0.09 / -0.05
Lower LakesFSL = 0.75 m AHD
Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD) / 0.75Barrages Fishways at Barrages
Openings / Level (m AHD) / No. Open / Rock Ramp / Vertical Slot 1 / Vertical Slot 2 / Dual Vertical SlotsGoolwa / 128 openings / 0.86 / 3 / - / Open / Open / -
Mundoo / 26 openings / 0.72 / 1 / - / - / - / Open
Hunters Creek / - / - / - / - / Open / - / -
Boundary Creek / 6 openings / - / 1 / - / Open / - / -
Ewe Island / 111 gates / - / All closed / - / - / - / Open
Tauwitchere / 322 gates / 0.86 / 4 / Open / Open / Open / -
AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level
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Week ending Wednesday 22 Feb 2017
State Allocations (as at 22 Feb 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 : / http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/water-management/water-availability
VIC : /
SA : / http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/river-murray
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MEDIA RELEASE
24 February 2017
Autumn flows to vary with River Murray environmental watering
River Murray communities downstream of Yarrawonga are advised that flows and river heights will continue to vary in the coming weeks as environmental water moves through the system.
MDBA head of River Operations David Dreverman said orders for environmental water in the River Murray were currently being delivered downstream of Yarrawonga weir, peaking at Echuca in late February and early March.
“We would recommend that people around the river adjust their activities while the higher flows pass through,” Mr Dreverman said.
“Flows are currently close to the top of the bank in the area downstream of Yarrawonga, and will begin to fall back to lower levels in around a week’s time.”
Mr Dreverman said delivery of the environmental water was being carefully coordinated with flows entering the Murray from the Goulburn River.
Environmental water managers are using Murray flows as they reach Torrumbarry weir to attract fish. The pulse provided by incoming Goulburn flows will then trigger upstream movement of fish into the Goulburn River.
The environmental watering is a joint action by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority and Goulburn-Murray Water, in collaboration with the Murray–Darling Basin Authority.
Mr Dreverman said communities around Barham and Swan Hill could also expect to see changes in river levels as these flows make their way through the system.
“Further flow rates through autumn would depend on system conditions and orders from water entitlement holders.
“River conditions can change quickly and river users should not expect river levels to be the same as the last time they visited the river.
“This is particularly important in the approach to the popular period on the river at Easter. Releases will continue to be adjusted over the coming months according to the weather and orders from water entitlement holders. If orders are low it can result in low river levels.”
For more information on flows, river heights and salinity levels, river users are advised to subscribe to updates in the River Murray weekly report and refer to livedata.mdba.gov.au
ENDS
For more information, contact the MDBA Media office at or 02 6279 0141
Follow the MDBA on Twitter: MD_Basin_Auth and Facebook: facebook.com/MDBAuth
24 February 2017
Media release
Releases from Menindee Lakes to ease over autumn
WaterNSW is starting to reduce the rate that water is released from the Menindee Lakes system this week, as orders from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) begin to ease.
MDBA head of river operations, David Dreverman, saidthe MDBA was dropping orders from the current 4000 megalitres per day (ML/day) to 3250 ML/day, starting on Friday 24 February.
“Demand for water from entitlement holders in the River Murray has started to fall, and as a result we need to draw less water from the Menindee Lakes storage,” Mr Dreverman said.
“We currently expect our orders to be wound back gradually over autumn. This means the amount of water in the lakes is not likely to fall below 600 gigalitres this season, which would leave more than the volume of Sydney Harbour going into winter.”
Mr Dreverman said the MDBA directed the release of water shared between basin governments at Menindee Lakes in accordance with longstanding arrangements.
“By using water from Menindee Lakes over summer and autumn, rather than calling on water from Dartmouth Dam, the MDBA has increased the net volume available to water entitlement holders throughout the Murray Valley, this year and into next year. This is because much less water is lost through evaporation at Dartmouth than at Menindee Lakes.”
WaterNSW Executive Manager System Operations, Adrian Langdon, said the Menindee Lakes system was managed to supply licensed customers including Essential Water and Lower Darling landholders, as well as contributing to water security in the River Murray system.
“To fulfill the MDBA order for 3250 ML/day, over three days from Friday 24 February we will gradually stop taking water from Lake Wetherell and make releases from Lake Menindee alone,” Mr Langdon said.
“It is important that we hold as much water as possible in the Menindee system’s top two lakes, where we source Broken Hill town water, to maximise access to water and minimise evaporation losses.”
Mr Langdon said safeguards in the water sharing arrangements protect Broken Hill town water supply and Lower Darling reserves, whereby the MDBA cannot place orders for the Murray system once lake volumes fall below 480GL, or about 28% of the lakes’ capacity.
WaterNSW and the MDBA continue to work together to analyse demands, lake levels and release rates into the future. For more details about lake levels and releases, subscribe to the MDBARiver Murray Weekly Reportor visit the WaterNSW website.
Contact WaterNSW: Tony Webber 0428 613 478
Contact MDBA media: 02 6279 0141
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