River Murray Weekly Report

For the week ending Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Trim Ref: D14/35858

Rainfall and Inflows

There was very little rainfall across the Murray-Darling Basin this week, due to a slow-moving high pressure system that produced generally warm and fine conditions throughout south-east Australia. Further dry conditions are forecast for the coming week, with temperatures along the Murray near the South Australia border predicted to reach 30 degrees Celsius.

The highest weekly rainfall totals for the past week were in the Victorian Alps with 20 mm at Mt Hotham and 19 mm at Mt Buffalo. In New South Wales, notable totals included 16 mm at Glen Innes and 11 mm at Burrinjuck Dam, whilst in Queensland 10 mm was recorded at Toowoomba.

Map 1- Murray-Darling Basin rainfall for the week ending 17th September 2014 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology)

Stream flows in the upper Murray tributaries are receding following their peaks late last week. The Mitta Mitta River at Hinnomunjie reduced from 4,200 ML/day to 1,900 ML/day, whilst the Murray at Biggara decreased from 1,900 ML/day to 1,300 ML/day. On the Ovens River, the flow at Wangaratta fell from 6,700 ML/day to 3,100 ML/day.

River Operations

MDBA total storage rose by 50 GL this week, with the active storage now 6,428 GL (76% capacity). The increase in storage was due to good inflows into the upper storages from the previous week’s rain, combined with a reduction in releases from Hume Reservoir as irrigation demand temporarily fell.

At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume increased by 22 GL to 3,688 GL (96% capacity). Releases from Dartmouth will be increased on Thursday 18 September from 500 ML/day up to 4,000 ML/day, and then gradually raised up to 7,000 ML/day in the days thereafter. These releases are being made to transfer water from Dartmouth Reservoir to Lake Hume, which will then be used to meet downstream demands in coming months (see attached flow advice). If conditions remain dry, transfers of water from Dartmouth to Hume are likely to continue through to autumn.

Inflows into Hume Reservoir over the past week averaged around 9,000 ML/day, increasing the storage by 47 GL to 2,270 GL (76% capacity). Releases during the week were briefly lowered to the minimum rate of 600 ML/day, however with downstream demands now rising, the release has been increased to target 8,000 ML/day at Doctors Point. The release is likely to be further increased over the coming week.

At Lake Mulwala, orders from the major irrigation offtakes were relatively low at the start of the week but are now rising steadily. Diversions at Mulwala Canal have risen from 850 ML/day to 1,750 ML/day, whilst Yarrawonga Main Channel has increased from 150 ML/day to 700 ML/day. These demands are forecast to continue trending upwards over the coming week. The release from Yarrawonga Weir has been steady at around 6,500 ML/day, but is likely to increase this week back up to around 10,000 ML/day in order to meet downstream demand, including the transfer of water to Lake Victoria.

In the Edward-Wakool system, the flow through the Edward and Gulpa offtakes is 1,450 and 350 ML/day respectively. On the Edward River, the flow downstream of Stevens Weir is currently 880 ML/day, whilst Moulamein has peaked at 1,700 ML/day due to higher releases from Stevens Weir the previous week. The Wakool River at Wakool-Barham Road is steady at 460 ML/day.

On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge is 1,800 ML/day and forecast to recede to around 1,500 ML/day in coming days. At Torrumbarry Weir, National Channel is taking 3,500 ML/day whilst the inlet to Koondrook-Perricoota Forest has reduced from 1,000 ML/day to 800 ML/day. Diversions into Koondrook-Perricoota Forest will be further reduced over the coming week as the first watering event using the new works begins winding down. The release from Torrumbarry Weir dipped to 2,800 ML/day towards the end of the week, but is forecast to rise back up above 3,000 ML/day for the coming week.

Further downstream, inflows into the Murray from the Murrumbidgee River at Balranald are steady at around 1,300 ML/day. At Euston, the pool level is being held at 20 cm above the Full Supply Level (FSL) of 47.6 m AHD and the downstream release is 8,000 ML/day.

At Hattah Lakes, the main lakes have reached the target levels for this watering event and pumping has now ceased. Around 130 ML/day will continue to be pumped into Lake Kramen – a large episodic wetland some distance from the rest of the lakes – over the next 100 days. ‘Messengers’ and ‘Oateys’ regulators have been opened, returning a combined flow of around 350 ML/day from the lakes back into the Murray (Figure 1). The volume of return flows will progressively increase to around 1,200 ML/day over the coming fortnight.

The Hattah Lakes project was recognised at an awards ceremony last week, with Goulburn-Murray Water presented a Victorian Engineering Excellence Award in the environment category. For more information see http://www.mdba.gov.au/media-pubs/basin-news/hattah-lakes-engineering-award

Figure 1- A release of 250 ML/day makes its way to the Murray from ‘Messengers’, one of the regulators at Hattah Lakes. Another regulator, ‘Oateys’ is releasing around 100 ML/day (Source: Trevor Kolpin, Goulburn-Murray Water).

At Menindee Lakes, the storage volume has decreased 12 GL to 331 GL (19% capacity). The release from the Lakes at Weir 32 is currently 120 ML/day following the decision by NSW Office of Water to reduce releases below the minimum of 200 ML/day. The reduced releases are a contingency measure to protect Broken Hill’s water supply through to 2015-16 in the event of no inflows in the mean time. NSW Office of Water is closely monitoring flows in the Lower Darling River, with the aim of maximising the volume of water retained in the Lakes whilst still ensuring there is a visible flow at Burtundy. For more information please visit the NSW Office of Water website (www.water.nsw.gov.au).

At Wentworth Weir on the Murray, the pool level is being held 10 cm above FSL. This is aimed at assisting irrigators within the lock influence to continue to divert water while there are low flows in the Lower Darling. The release from Wentworth Weir is currently 8,500 ML/day and forecast to be steady at around 9,000 ML/day over the coming week.

At Lake Victoria, the storage volume decreased by 6 GL to 664 GL (98% capacity). The flow to South Australia will average around 6,000 ML/day over the coming week. This incorporates entitlement flows, environmental water traded from the Goulburn River, and environmental water being used to test the new works on the Chowilla Floodplain.

At the Lower Lakes, the five-day average water level in Lake Alexandrina is 0.73 m AHD and the total barrage release is around 2,000 ML/day.

For media inquiries contact the Media Officer on 02 6279 0141

DAVID DREVERMAN

Executive Director, River Management

Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 17 Sep 2014

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 / 483.41 / 3 688 / 96% / 71 / 3 617 / +22
Hume Reservoir / 192.00 / 3 005 / 188.04 / 2 270 / 76% / 23 / 2 247 / +47
Lake Victoria / 27.00 / 677 / 26.90 / 664 / 98% / 100 / 564 / -6
Menindee Lakes / 1 731* / 331 / 19% / (- -) # / 0 / -12
Total / 9 269 / 6 953 / 75% / - - / 6 428 / +50
Total Active MDBA Storage / 76% ^
Major State Storages
Burrinjuck Reservoir / 1 026 / 875 / 85% / 3 / 872 / +24
Blowering Reservoir / 1 631 / 1 181 / 72% / 24 / 1 157 / +1
Eildon Reservoir / 3 334 / 2 921 / 88% / 100 / 2 821 / +16

* 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 16 Sep 2014

Storage / Active Storage (GL) / Weekly Change (GL) / Diversion (GL) / This Week / From 1 May 2014
Lake Eucumbene - Total / 1 975 / n/a / Snowy-Murray / +0 / 201
Snowy-Murray Component / 894 / n/a / Tooma-Tumut / +7 / 148
Target Storage / 1 240 / Net Diversion / -7 / 52
Murray 1 Release / +15 / 345

Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) *

New South Wales / This Week / From 1 July 2014 / Victoria / This Week / From 1 July 2014
Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) / 9.0 / 133 / Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) / 1.3 / 30
Wakool Sys Allowance / 1.1 / 4 / Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) / 14.8 / 153
Western Murray Irrigation / 0.3 / 2 / Sunraysia Pumped Districts / 1.6 / 8
Licensed Pumps / 3.7 / 37 / Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) / 0.3 / 4
Lower Darling / 3.0 / 11 / Licensed pumps - LMW / 5 / 23
TOTAL / 17.1 / 187 / TOTAL / 23 / 218

* 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 unregulated flows and additional environmental water. / Entitlement this month / 135.0 *
Flow this week / 41.3 / (5 900 ML/day)
Flow so far this month / 99.7
Flow last month / 439.4

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

Current / Average over the last week / Average since 1 August 2014
Swan Hill / 80 / 90 / 100
Euston / 120 / 120 / 110
Red Cliffs / 140 / 130 / 120
Merbein / 140 / 140 / 130
Burtundy (Darling) / 700 / 720 / 870
Lock 9 / 160 / 150 / 130
Lake Victoria / 210 / 200 / 200
Berri / 200 / 190 / 200
Waikerie / 270 / 280 / 300
Morgan / 250 / 230 / 280
Mannum / 280 / 280 / 360
Murray Bridge / 370 / 370 / 430
Milang (Lake Alex.) / 740 / 740 / 740
Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) / 560 / 470 / 570
Meningie (Lake Alb.) / 2 230 / 2 220 / 2 270
Goolwa Barrages / 890 / 950 / 1 370

River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 17 Sep 2014

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 / - / - / - / 4 660 / F / 3 390 / 3 470
Jingellic / 4.0 / 2.04 / 208.56 / 6 960 / R / 7 150 / 5 870
Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) / 4.2 / 1.66 / 218.55 / 1 140 / R / 1 180 / 1 160
Heywoods / 5.5 / 2.22 / 155.85 / 5 790 / R / 1 800 / 5 330
Doctors Point / 5.5 / 2.43 / 150.90 / 8 280 / R / 4 460 / 6 680
Albury / 4.3 / 1.42 / 148.86 / - / - / - / -
Corowa / 3.8 / 0.98 / 127.00 / 3 150 / F / 4 680 / 8 570
Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) / 6.4 / 1.20 / 116.24 / 6 530 / S / 6 890 / 9 800
Tocumwal / 6.4 / 1.87 / 105.71 / 6 940 / F / 7 190 / 9 790
Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 1.16 / 79.71 / 2 760 / F / 4 820 / 5 850
Swan Hill / 4.5 / 1.19 / 64.11 / 5 840 / F / 6 190 / 5 590
Wakool Junction / 8.8 / 3.00 / 52.12 / 7 750 / S / 7 780 / 6 440
Euston Weir (d/s) / 8.8 / 1.64 / 43.48 / 7 980 / F / 8 200 / 6 670
Mildura Weir (d/s) / - / - / 8 080 / F / 7 960 / -
Wentworth Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 3.14 / 27.90 / 8 590 / R / 7 490 / 6 780
Rufus Junction / - / 3.28 / 20.21 / 5 220 / R / 5 070 / 4 970
Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) / - / 0.80 / - / 4 810 / R / 4 080 / 4 810
Tributaries
Kiewa at Bandiana / 2.7 / 1.87 / 155.10 / 1 810 / R / 2 420 / 1 340
Ovens at Wangaratta / 11.9 / 8.93 / 146.61 / 3 110 / F / 4 210 / 2 450
Goulburn at McCoys Bridge / 9.0 / 1.96 / 93.38 / 1 780 / F / 1 610 / 1 360
Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) / - / 1.12 / 80.89 / 880 / F / 1 200 / 1 580
Edward at Liewah / - / 2.12 / 57.50 / 1 450 / R / 1 120 / 660
Wakool at Stoney Crossing / - / 1.56 / 55.05 / 740 / R / 750 / 850
Murrumbidgee at Balranald / 5.0 / 1.76 / 57.72 / 1 300 / F / 1 340 / 1 320
Barwon at Mungindi / - / 3.04 / - / 0 / F / 0 / 0
Darling at Bourke / - / 4.00 / - / 70 / S / 70 / 110
Darling at Burtundy Rocks / - / 0.72 / - / 110 / S / 110 / 120
Natural Inflow to Hume / 12 830 / 9 920

(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/s
Yarrawonga / 124.90 / -0.08 / - / No. 7 Rufus River / 22.10 / +0.08 / +0.96
No. 26 Torrumbarry / 86.05 / +0.00 / - / No. 6 Murtho / 19.25 / -0.02 / +0.12
No. 15 Euston / 47.60 / +0.20 / - / No. 5 Renmark / 16.30 / +0.12 / +0.20
No. 11 Mildura / 34.40 / +0.04 / +0.28 / No. 4 Bookpurnong / 13.20 / +0.06 / +0.64
No. 10 Wentworth / 30.80 / +0.10 / +0.50 / No. 3 Overland Corner / 9.80 / +0.01 / +0.48
No. 9 Kulnine / 27.40 / +0.22 / +0.71 / No. 2 Waikerie / 6.10 / +0.30 / +0.46
No. 8 Wangumma / 24.60 / +0.67 / +0.22 / No. 1 Blanchetown / 3.20 / +0.31 / +0.05

Lower Lakes FSL = 0.75 m AHD