River Murray Weekly Report
For the week ending Wednesday, 25thNovember2018
Trim Ref:D15/86414
Rainfall and inflows
Very hot weather affected most of the southern Murray–Darling Basin during the last week. This wasdue to a slow-moving high pressure system over the Tasman Sea which drew dry and hot air across from central Australia. At Renmark Airport the temperature reached 42.7 degrees on Thursday;whilst Broken Hill Airport and Griffith Airport AWS saw temperatures above 41 degrees. Conditions were mostly dry across the Basin, with the only significant rain occurring in the northeast (see Map 1 below).
The highest weekly rainfall totals were in Queenslandwith 57 mm at Clifton, 38 mm at Pratten and 37mm at Ellangowan. In NSW, Glen Innes Airport AWS received 19mm in the past week.
Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall week ending 25th November 2015 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology)
With the hot, dry weather over the past week, inflows have continued to reduce. Despite a small spike in inflows due to the rain earlier in the month, the past few weeks of dry weather have seen inflows to the Murray system for November continue to track well below the long-term average – approximately the same position as last year (see graph on page six of this report). With the current El Niño conditions and the recent BoM estimate that 2015 will be in the top 10 hottest years on record for Australia, it is unlikely that the inflowtrend will change.
River Operations
After a week of hot, dry conditions, MDBA total storage decreased by 55 GL, with the active storage now 4,009 GL (48% capacity).
At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume decreased 47 GL to 2,225 GL (58% capacity). The flow at Colemans increased from 7,300 ML/day to 7,900 ML/day as water continues to be transferred downstream to Hume Reservoir. Over the coming week, the flow will begin gradually reducing to target approximately 6,500 ML/day on the weekend of 12thDecember (see attached flow advice).
Storage at Hume Reservoir decreased 23 GL this week to 1,375 GL (46% capacity). Releases from Hume have remained steady over the week, averaging 13,500 ML/day.
At Yarrawonga Weir,the pool has been steady at around 124.74 m AHD for the past week. Releases have been targeting 10,000 ML/dayto meet downstream demand and to assist filling Lake Victoria. A reduction in release to 9,600 ML/day is planned for the coming week to provide flow variability to encourage silver perch spawning. Diversions from Lake Mulwala to Mulwala Canal and Yarrawonga Main Channel haveincluded water bypassing the Barmah choke to meet downstream demands. Yarrawonga Main Channel diversions have decreased from 1,600 ML/day to 1,100 ML/day, which includes 150ML/day of bypass water going into Broken Creek.Mulwala Canal diversions have increased from 2,100 ML/day to 2,600 ML/day, which includes 1,600 ML/day going through the Edward Escape.
Figure 1 – Recently rolled hay bales in the Southern Riverina (near Blighty) (source: Adam McLean, MDBA).
On the Edward River system, the flow through the Edward Offtake is steady at just under 1,600ML/day. Flow through the Gulpa Offtake has decreased from 800 ML/day to 720 ML/day and will continue to decrease to 500 ML/day over the next month. Diversions to the Wakool Main Canal have averaged 200 ML/day over the past week. The flow downstream of Stevens Weir will be steady over the coming week at channel capacity (around 2,600 ML/day)due to the addition of water from the Edward Escape.
On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge has reduced from an average of 640 ML/day last week to 500 ML/day this week. Flow in the Campaspe River at Rochester has remained steady this week at 40ML/day. The flows in the Goulburn and Campaspe includeinter valley trade (IVT) water targeting around 200ML/day and 20 ML/day, respectively.
At Torrumbarry Weir, the diversion to National Channel is 2,450 ML/day. The flow in the Murray downstream of Torrumbarry has steadied around 5,400 ML/day. At Swan Hill the flow has dropped to just under 6,000 ML/day, down from 7,300 ML/day at the beginning of the week.
Inflow entering the Murray from the Murrumbidgee River at Balranald has reduced from around 2,000ML/day to 650 ML/day.The flow at Balranald is expected to increase to 1,450 ML/day in December due to the delivery of water traded from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray. The planned delivery of this water enabled a further 50 GL to be traded out of the Murrumbidgee. NSW temporarily lifted the trade restrictions, but reinstated them quite quickly as the additional 50 GL were tradedout of the valley within 24 hours.
On the Murray at Euston, the weir pool is 35 cm above the Full Supply Level (FSL) of 47.6 m AHD and the downstream release is 9,500 ML/day and falling. Moving into December, the Euston weir pool will begin lowering to target FSL.
At Wentworth Weir, the release has reduced from 9,800 ML/day to 8,800 ML/day and is expected to continue falling over the coming week. Lock 9 is being held steady at around 10 cm below FSL (27.4 m AHD); the Lock 8 weir pool has decreased to around 50 cm below FSL (24.6 m AHD); and Lock 7 has remained steady at around 50 cm above FSL (22.1 m AHD).
At Menindee Lakes, the storage volume has decreased 2 GL to 81 GL (5% capacity).At Lake Victoria, the storage volume increased 17 GL to 603 GL (89% capacity). Flow to South Australia has been targeting around 6,000 ML/day over the past week. From the start of December, the flow to South Australia will be targeting 6,500 ML/day.
The flow over Lock 1 averaged 4,200 ML/day this week and, at the Lower Lakes, the five-day average water level in Lake Alexandrina is 0.82 m AHD. The barrage releases have averaged 850 ML/day for the past week.
For media inquiries contact the Media Officer on 02 6279 0141
DAVID DREVERMAN
Executive Director, River Management
Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 25 Nov 2015
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 / 456.90 / 2 225 / 58% / 71 / 2 154 / -47
Hume Reservoir / 192.00 / 3 005 / 181.99 / 1 375 / 46% / 23 / 1 352 / -23
Lake Victoria / 27.00 / 677 / 26.39 / 603 / 89% / 100 / 503 / +17
Menindee Lakes / 1 731* / 81 / 5% / (- -) # / 0 / -2
Total / 9 269 / 4 284 / 46% / - - / 4 009 / -55
Total Active MDBA Storage / 48% ^
Major State Storages
Burrinjuck Reservoir / 1 026 / 705 / 69% / 3 / 702 / -6
Blowering Reservoir / 1 631 / 690 / 42% / 24 / 666 / +1
Eildon Reservoir / 3 334 / 1 748 / 52% / 100 / 1 648 / -24
*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 24 Nov 2015
Storage / Active Storage (GL) / Weekly Change (GL) / Diversion (GL) / This Week / From 1 May 2015Lake Eucumbene - Total / 2 357 / -7 / Snowy-Murray / +3 / 257
Snowy-Murray Component / 1 149 / -5 / Tooma-Tumut / +3 / 135
Target Storage / 1 450 / Net Diversion / 0 / 122
Murray 1 Release / +6 / 429
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) / 8.2 / 195 / Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) / 6.9 / 103
Wakool Sys Allowance / 2.2 / 25 / Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) / 0.2 / 206
Western Murray Irrigation / 0.9 / 2 / Sunraysia Pumped Districts / 3.9 / 35
Licensed Pumps / 5.1 / 66 / Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) / 1.3 / 15
Lower Darling / 0.3 / 4 / Licensed pumps - LMW / 10.5 / 96
TOTAL / 16.7 / 292 / TOTAL / 22.8 / 455
* 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 / 180.0 *
Flow this week / 42.3 / (6 000 ML/day)
Flow so far this month / 181.1
Flow last month / 329.6
Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C)
Current / Average over the last week / Average since 1 August 2015Swan Hill / 80 / 80 / 80
Euston / - / - / -
Red Cliffs / 120 / 110 / 130
Merbein / 100 / 100 / 130
Burtundy (Darling) / 1 150 / 1 130 / 970
Lock 9 / 100 / 110 / 140
Lake Victoria / 240 / 240 / 220
Berri / 220 / 210 / 230
Waikerie / 320 / 320 / 280
Morgan / 360 / 350 / 290
Mannum / 260 / 260 / 310
Murray Bridge / 270 / 270 / 340
Milang (Lake Alex.) / 710 / 720 / 750
Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) / 630 / 620 / 570
Meningie (Lake Alb.) / 1 990 / 2 000 / 2 030
Goolwa Barrages / 1 060 / 1 020 / 1 010
River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 25 Nov 2015
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 / - / - / - / 1 900 / F / 1 270 / 2 200
Jingellic / 4.0 / 1.49 / 208.01 / 2 680 / R / 2 790 / 5 160
Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) / 4.2 / 3.14 / 220.03 / 8 010 / S / 7 730 / 8 000
Heywoods / 5.5 / 2.97 / 156.60 / 12 910 / F / 13 200 / 10 520
Doctors Point / 5.5 / 2.85 / 151.32 / 13 030 / F / 13 790 / 11 620
Albury / 4.3 / 1.87 / 149.31 / - / - / - / -
Corowa / 4.6 / 2.98 / 129.00 / 14 080 / S / 13 590 / 10 580
Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) / 6.4 / 1.61 / 116.65 / 9 860 / F / 9 950 / 9 720
Tocumwal / 6.4 / 2.24 / 106.08 / 10 130 / R / 10 040 / 9 740
Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 1.85 / 80.40 / 5 420 / S / 5 530 / 7 520
Swan Hill / 4.5 / 1.18 / 64.10 / 5 910 / F / 6 450 / 8 540
Wakool Junction / 8.8 / 3.21 / 52.33 / 8 820 / F / 9 940 / 12 120
Euston Weir (d/s) / 9.1 / 1.81 / 43.65 / 9 510 / F / 11 110 / 13 600
Mildura Weir (d/s) / - / - / 10 370 / F / 11 400 / 12 610
Wentworth Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 3.00 / 27.76 / 8 830 / F / 9 380 / 11 210
Rufus Junction / - / 3.34 / 20.27 / 5 560 / S / 5 700 / 6 360
Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) / - / 0.77 / - / 3 710 / F / 4 190 / 4 430
Tributaries
Kiewa at Bandiana / 2.8 / 1.02 / 154.25 / 560 / R / 880 / 1 250
Ovens at Wangaratta / 11.9 / 8.02 / 145.70 / 650 / F / 810 / 1 370
Goulburn at McCoys Bridge / 9.0 / 1.21 / 92.63 / 490 / S / 500 / 640
Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) / 5.5 / 2.39 / 82.16 / 2 600 / F / 2 340 / 1 940
Edward at Liewah / - / 2.90 / 58.28 / 2 440 / S / 2 580 / 2 810
Wakool at Stoney Crossing / - / 1.58 / 55.07 / 790 / F / 870 / 980
Murrumbidgee at Balranald / 5.0 / 1.04 / 57.00 / 660 / F / 1 040 / 2 430
Barwon at Mungindi / 6.1 / 3.28 / - / 200 / R / 90 / 140
Darling at Bourke / 9.0 / 4.03 / - / 110 / F / 260 / 370
Darling at Burtundy Rocks / - / 0.63 / - / 0 / F / 0 / 0
Natural Inflow to Hume / 3 800 / 9 140
(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 / -0.12 / - / No. 7 Rufus River / 22.10 / +0.47 / +1.03
No. 26 Torrumbarry / 86.05 / +0.00 / - / No. 6 Murtho / 19.25 / +0.01 / +0.13
No. 15 Euston / 47.60 / +0.35 / - / No. 5 Renmark / 16.30 / +0.11 / +0.18
No. 11 Mildura / 34.40 / +0.00 / +0.31 / No. 4 Bookpurnong / 13.20 / +0.02 / +0.38
No. 10 Wentworth / 30.80 / +0.08 / +0.36 / No. 3 Overland Corner / 9.80 / -0.00 / +0.24
No. 9 Kulnine / 27.40 / -0.11 / -0.41 / No. 2 Waikerie / 6.10 / +0.11 / +0.01
No. 8 Wangumma / 24.60 / -0.47 / +0.55 / No. 1 Blanchetown / 3.20 / -0.12 / +0.02
Lower LakesFSL = 0.75 m AHD
Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD) / 0.82Barrages Fishways at Barrages
Openings / Level (m AHD) / No. Open / Rock Ramp / Vertical SlotGoolwa / 128 openings / 0.88 / 1 / - / Open
Mundoo / 26 openings / 0.89 / All closed / - / -
Boundary Creek / 6 openings / - / All closed / - / -
Ewe Island / 111 gates / - / All closed / - / -
Tauwitchere / 322 gates / 0.90 / 2 / 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 25 Nov 2015
State Allocations (as at 25 Nov 2015)
NSW - Murray Valley / Victorian - Murray ValleyHigh security / 97%
General security / 14%
/ High reliability / 90%
Low reliability / 0%
NSW – MurrumbidgeeValley / Victorian- GoulburnValley
High security / 95%
General security / 31%
/ High reliability / 80%
Low reliability / 0%
NSW - Lower Darling / South Australia – MurrayValley
High security / 50%
General security / 0%
/ High security / 100%
NSW : /
VIC : /
SA : /
Mitta Mitta Flow Advice
26 November 2015 /
Mitta Mitta flow update
Landholders and river users on the Mitta Mitta River should be aware ofvarying flows from Dartmouth Dam in the coming weeks and make any necessary adjustments to their river activities.
Releases from Dartmouth Dam are currently 7,900 megalitres per day (ML/day) and will start slowly decreasing from Saturday 28 November to 6,500 ML/day by Saturday 12 December. Releases are then expected to increase towards 8,300 ML/day in mid-December, before gradually reducing again.
The information in the tablebelow assumes dry conditions, with little or no rainfall for the period.
Forecast Mitta Mitta flows for December
Date / Releases from Dartmouth Dam / Colemans Gauge / Tallandoon GaugeFlow
(ML/day) / Height
(m) / Flow
(ML/day) / Height
(m)
Saturday 28 November / Flows start decreasing / 7,900 / 2.59 / 8,000 / 3.12
Saturday 12 December / Flows steady / 6,500 / 2.42 / 6,600 / 2.90
Monday 14 December / Flows start increasing / 6,500 / 2.42 / 6,600 / 2.90
Thursday 17 December / Flows steady / 8,300 / 2.63 / 8,300 / 3.17
Monday 21 December / Flows start decreasing / 8,300 / 2.63 / 8,300 / 3.17
If dry conditions persist, releases are expected to be above 5,000 ML/day over summer.
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.
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
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