River Murray Weekly Report

For the week ending Wednesday, 27th February2018

Trim Ref:D13/8485

Rainfall and Inflows

Yet another rain depression impacted eastern Australia this week, however its effects inland of the Great Dividing Range were once again relatively modest. The system resulted in very high rainfall and renewed floodingacrossseveral NSW coastal catchments but only the elevated parts ofMurray-Darling Basin catchment received rainfall of note. However as the week progressed, a persistent humid north-easterly airstream interacted with a slow moving trough and extended rain and storms to parts of the south and south-east. Across most of the central and western parts of the Basin, rainfall was mostly light and patchy (Map 1).

The highest totals for the week were recorded over the Queensland Darling Downs including 145 mm at Toowoomba, 128 mm at The Head, 86 mm at Killarney and 77 mm at Dalveen. In north-eastern NSW there was 68 mm at Guyra and 62 mm at Armidale and Glen Innes; while further south, there was 42 mm at Gundagai and 30 mm at Forbes. Rain totals over the south-eastern tablelands and ranges included 101 mm at Captains Flat, 75 mm at Mt Ginini, 70 mm at Corryong Airport, 65 mm at Biggara and 44 mm at Burrinjuck Dam. Further rain is expected across the south-east catchments during the next few days, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting heavy falls and possible stream flow rises for north-east Victoria and the Goulburn-Broken catchment.

Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall for the week ending 27th February 2013 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).

Stream flow responses in the upper Murray catchments have so far been small; however more significant rises are likely in the days ahead. On the upper River Murray, the flow at Biggara has increased from 500 to 700 ML/day. Downstream at Jingellic, increased Snowy Hydro releases have

pushed the flow from 6,000 to 8,000 ML/day in the past few days. On the Ovens River, the flow at Rocky Point has risen only slightly, however, as with most rivers in north-eastern Victoria, higher flows are likely over the coming days.

On the Barwon-Darling River, peak flows resulting from the late January rain event in the upper tributaries continue moving towards Menindee Lakes. The peak is currently approaching Brewarrina where the total flow has reached 28,000 ML/day; while downstream at Wilcannia, the Darling River began its steady rise over the weekend.

River Operations

MDBA active storage is currently 5,794 GL (67% capacity), which is a decrease of 148 GL since last week. The total storage at Dartmouth Reservoir decreased by 25 GL during the week and is now 3,667 GL (95% capacity). Continuing harmony transfers from Dartmouth to Hume Reservoir have resulted in an average flow at Colemans of 4,350 ML/day. Flows between 3,000 and 4,000 ML/day are planned for the coming week.

At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume decreased by 27 GL to1,664 GL (55% capacity). The release has been reduced during the week as increasing rain suppressed downstream demand, withthe flow past Doctors Point currently at 11,000 ML/day.Further release changes will depend on rain and demand responses in the coming days, however additional reductions are likely if the rain continues.

At Yarrawonga Weir, the pool level in Lake Mulwalaedged higher over the week and is currently 124.80 m AHD. Diversions at the irrigation offtakes continued to decline and the timing and magnitude of expectedincreases in the weeks ahead will be influenced byrainfall distribution across irrigation districts this week. The release from Yarrawonga Weir is currently 9,000 ML/day and will likely be increased to around 10,000 ML/day this week if tributary inflows increase further following the rain.

On the Edward River, flow through the Edward River and Gulpa Creek offtakes has remained fairly steady at about 1,280 and 330 ML/day respectively. At Stevens Weir the downstream release has continued to average just over 600 ML/day. Increased flows through the Colligen Creek regulator are expected to start this week with the flow increasing from around 200 to 400 ML/day.

On the Goulburn River at McCoys Bridge, the flow increased to 2,800 ML/day boosted by on-going releases of additional environmental water. At Torrumbarry Weir, diversions through National Channel were further reduced from 2,700 to a target around 2,000 ML/day. The flow downstream of Torrumbarry increased to 6,400 ML/day with flows near 7,000 ML/day likely during the coming week.

On the Murrumbidgee River at Balranald, there is a steady flow between 200 and 300 ML/day. Downstream on the River Murray, the flow at Euston eased to 4,800 ML/day during the week, but is expected to increase steadily over the coming week to at least 6,000 ML/day.

At Menindee Lakes, the storage volume decreased by 53 GL to 885 GL (51% capacity). The release (measured at Weir 32) is currently around 3,700, with a flow of 3,500 ML/day downstream at Burtundy.

Downstream on the Murray at Wentworth, the flow has risen to 6,900ML/day and flows just over 7,000 ML/day are expected during the next few days.At Lake Victoria, the storage level has decreased to 23.06 m AHD (252 GL, 37% capacity) and will continue fallingthrough early March. The flow into South Australia is currently 8,300 ML/day, with a flow just under 8,000 ML/day planned for the next few days.At the Lower Lakes, the 5 day average water level decreased from 0.63 to 0.61 m AHD, with continuing small flows through the barrages.

For media inquiries contact the Media Officeron 02 6279 0141

TONYMORSE

Acting Executive Director, River Management

Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 27 Feb 2013

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 / 483.08 / 3 667 / 95% / 71 / 3 596 / -25
Hume Reservoir / 192.00 / 3 005 / 184.15 / 1 664 / 55% / 23 / 1 641 / -27
Lake Victoria / 27.00 / 677 / 23.06 / 252 / 37% / 100 / 152 / -42
Menindee Lakes / 1 731* / 885 / 51% / (480 #) / 405 / -53
Total / 9 269 / 6 468 / 70% / - - / 5 794 / -148
Total Active MDBA Storage / 67% ^
Major State Storages
Burrinjuck Reservoir / 1 026 / 373 / 36% / 3 / 370 / +2
Blowering Reservoir / 1 631 / 1 032 / 63% / 24 / 1 008 / -39
Eildon Reservoir / 3 334 / 2 641 / 79% / 100 / 2 541 / -40

*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 26 Feb 2013

Storage / Active Storage (GL) / Weekly Change (GL) / Diversion (GL) / This Week / From 1 May 2012
Lake Eucumbene - Total / 2 049 / -40 / Snowy-Murray / +39 / 667
Snowy-Murray Component / 834 / -36 / Tooma-Tumut / +0 / 207
Target Storage / 1 460 / Net Diversion / 39 / 461
Murray 1 Release / +41 / 925

Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) *

New South Wales / This Week / From 1 July 2012 / Victoria / This Week / From 1 July 2012
Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) / 30.9 / 1247 / Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) / 9.3 / 280
Wakool Sys Allowance / 3.6 / 48 / Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) / 14.5 / 387
Western Murray Irrigation / 0.9 / 25 / Sunraysia Pumped Districts / 3.1 / 104
Licensed Pumps / 6.5 / 194 / Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) / 4 / 42
Lower Darling / 4.3 / 86 / Licensed pumps - LMW / 11.2 / 251
TOTAL / 46.2 / 1600 / TOTAL / 42.1 / 1064

* 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 traded environmental water. / Entitlement this month / 194.0 *
Flow this week / 63.1 / (9 000 ML/day)
Flow so far this month / 241.4
Flow last month / 329.4

Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C)

Current / Average over the last week / Average since 1 August 2012
Swan Hill / 120 / 110 / 110
Euston / 150 / 150 / 130
Red Cliffs / 160 / 160 / 130
Merbein / 190 / 200 / 150
Burtundy (Darling) / 500 / 510 / 450
Lock 9 / 370 / 380 / 240
Lake Victoria / 290 / 290 / 240
Berri / 470 / 450 / 280
Waikerie / 440 / 430 / 300
Morgan / 430 / 440 / 300
Mannum / 480 / 490 / 300
Murray Bridge / 470 / 460 / 320
Milang (Lake Alex.) / 480 / 470 / 410
Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) / 480 / 480 / 320
Meningie (Lake Alb.) / 3 500 / 3 550 / 3 440
Goolwa Barrages / 760 / 810 / 1 380

River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 27 Feb 2013

Minor Flood Stage / Gauge / Height / Flow / Trend / Average Flow this Week / Average Flow last Week
River Murray / (m) / local (m) / (m AHD) / (ML/day) / (ML/day) / (ML/day)
Khancoban / - / - / - / 7 370 / F / 5 720 / 6 510
Jingellic / 4.0 / 2.12 / 208.64 / 8 350 / R / 6 820 / 6 910
Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) / 4.2 / 2.48 / 219.37 / 4 340 / R / 4 380 / 4 280
Heywoods / 5.5 / 2.73 / 156.36 / 11 200 / F / 13 600 / 15 690
Doctors Point / 5.5 / 2.69 / 151.16 / 10 990 / F / 13 740 / 16 080
Albury / 4.3 / 1.69 / 149.13 / - / - / - / -
Corowa / 3.8 / 2.95 / 128.97 / 13 630 / F / 14 600 / 15 950
Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) / 6.4 / 1.52 / 116.56 / 9 030 / R / 8 320 / 8 490
Tocumwal / 6.4 / 2.04 / 105.88 / 8 050 / R / 8 130 / 8 300
Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 2.22 / 80.76 / 6 380 / R / 5 390 / 5 210
Swan Hill / 4.5 / 1.16 / 64.08 / 5 290 / R / 5 040 / 5 240
Wakool Junction / 8.8 / 2.56 / 51.68 / 6 190 / R / 6 170 / 6 010
Euston Weir (d/s) / 8.8 / 1.11 / 42.95 / 5 040 / R / 5 200 / 5 160
Mildura Weir (d/s) / - / - / 4 640 / F / 4 300 / 3 490
Wentworth Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 2.99 / 27.75 / 6 930 / R / 6 680 / 5 810
Rufus Junction / - / 3.73 / 20.66 / 7 530 / F / 8 320 / 7 670
Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) / - / 0.76 / - / 6 280 / R / 5 700 / 4 890
Tributaries
Kiewa at Bandiana / 2.7 / 0.75 / 153.98 / 270 / R / 290 / 320
Ovens at Wangaratta / 11.9 / 7.81 / 145.49 / 420 / R / 380 / 360
Goulburn at McCoys Bridge / 9.0 / 2.55 / 93.97 / 2 800 / R / 2 280 / 1 560
Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) / - / 0.90 / 80.68 / 660 / F / 650 / 620
Edward at Liewah / - / 1.42 / 56.80 / 790 / R / 750 / 750
Wakool at Stoney Crossing / - / 1.56 / 55.05 / 760 / R / 590 / 400
Murrumbidgee at Balranald / 5.0 / 0.48 / 56.44 / 230 / F / 260 / 520
Barwon at Mungindi / - / 3.55 / - / 900 / F / 690 / 7 480
Darling at Bourke / - / 6.33 / - / 15 510 / R / 11 110 / 4 880
Darling at Burtundy Rocks / - / - / - / 3 130 / F / 3 350 / 3 400
Natural Inflow to Hume / 1 230 / 790

(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/s
Yarrawonga / 124.90 / -0.10 / - / No. 7 Rufus River / 22.10 / +0.10 / +1.40
No. 26 Torrumbarry / 86.05 / +0.00 / - / No. 6 Murtho / 19.25 / +0.01 / +0.28
No. 15 Euston / 47.60 / -0.01 / - / No. 5 Renmark / 16.30 / +0.01 / +0.21
No. 11 Mildura / 34.40 / +0.02 / +0.06 / No. 4 Bookpurnong / 13.20 / +0.07 / +0.95
No. 10 Wentworth / 30.80 / +0.05 / +0.35 / No. 3 Overland Corner / 9.80 / -0.02 / +0.39
No. 9 Kulnine / 27.40 / +0.05 / +0.12 / No. 2 Waikerie / 6.10 / +0.04 / +0.33
No. 8 Wangumma / 24.60 / +0.12 / +0.12 / No. 1 Blanchetown / 3.20 / +0.05 / +0.01

Lower LakesFSL = 0.75 m AHD

Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD) / 0.61

Barrages Fishways at Barrages

Openings / Level (m AHD) / No. Open / Rock Ramp / Vertical Slot
Goolwa / 128 openings / 0.53 / 1 / - / Open
Mundoo / 26 openings / 0.53 / 0.2 / - / -
Boundary Creek / 6 openings / - / 0.1 / - / -
Ewe Island / 111 gates / - / All closed / - / -
Tauwitchere / 322 gates / 0.57 / 1 / Open / Open

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 27 Feb 2013

State Allocations (as at 27 Feb 2013)

NSW - Murray Valley / Victorian - Murray Valley
High security / 100%
General security / 100%
/ High reliability / 100%
Low reliability / 0%
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 : /

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