River Murray weekly report
For the week ending Wednesday, 28February2018
Trim Ref:D18/12636
Rainfall and inflows
Rainfall was widespread across Queensland, New South Wales’ (NSW) western slopes and ranges and the Victorian alps this week (Map 1). Further west, theMurray-Darling Basin recorded mostly low or no rainfall. In Queensland the highest totals included 114 mm at Toowoomba airport and 109 mm at Miles in the Darling Downs.In NSW, totals included 113 mm at Crookwell in the southern tablelands, 88 mm at Glen Innes airport AWS in the Northern Tablelands and 79 mm at Pallamallawa on the north-west plains. In Victoria, the highest totals were recorded in the northeast and included 65 mm at Mitta Mitta and 51 mm at Koetong.
Map 1 - Murray Darling Basin rainfall totals for the week ending 28th February 2018 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).
Rainfall this week resulted in small streamflow rises in the upper Murray tributaries. Flow in the upper Mitta Mitta River at Hinnomunjie peaked around 650 ML/day. In the upper Murray at Biggara, the flow reached 450 ML/day. Inflows from the Kiewa River to the Murray, measured at Bandiana (photo 1), averaged near 450 ML/day over the past week, whilst the Ovens River at Wangaratta increased from 400 ML/day to 530 ML/day.
Photo 1–Kiewa River at Bandiana (Source: Tom Zouch, MDBA).
February 2018 Summary
Rainfall in the Murray-Darling Basin for the month of February was mostly below average for much of Victoria, South Australia, western NSW and western Queensland (Map 2). Above average rainfall was recorded in south-east Queensland, isolated patches of eastern NSW and in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Across the Basin as a whole the Bureau of Meteorology has reported area-average rainfall totalling 29.7 mm. This is 27% below the long term average and makes February 2018 the 47th driest February in 119 years of record.
Map 2 - Murray Darling Basin rainfall deciles for February 2018 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).
River Murray system inflows for February totalled 88 GL, which is below the month’s long-term median of 138 GL. In comparison with the historical record since 1891, only about 14% of previous monthly totals for February have been lower than the inflows observed in February 2018.
Temperatures during February were generally average to above average across the Basin. Maximum temperature deciles were broadly above average except for the far northeast and southeast corners of the basin (Map 3). Minimum temperature deciles were mostly above average in South Australia, western Victoria, western NSW and Queensland and around average elsewhere.
Map 3 - Maximum and minimum temperature deciles for February 2018 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).
Estimated evaporative losses from the MDBA storages for the month of February 2018 are reported in Table 1. The volume of evaporation loss is estimated by multiplying the surface area of the storage by the net evaporation depth. The net evaporation depth is derived by subtracting the rainfall recorded at the storage from the evaporation depth, with the evaporation depth determined using Class A pan factors and measured pan evaporation. At all MDBA storages, total volume lost to evaporation exceeded total rainfall resulting in a net loss from storage. This is consistent with the hot and dry conditions observed during February. The net evaporation experienced at the Menindee Lakes was the most significant of all storages.
Table 1: Monthly evaporation figures for MDBA Storages
Storage / Net evaporation depth in February 2018(mm) / *Approximate (net) evaporative loss in February 2018(GL) / Average storage volume in February 2018 (GL) / Percentage net evaporative loss in February 2018 (%)Dartmouth / 106.5 / 6.4 / 3,431 / 0.2
Hume / 122.7 / 17.4 / 1,276 / 1.4
Lake Victoria / 166.2 / 17.8 / 439 / 4.1
Menindee Lakes / 226.5 / 39.5 / 340 / 11.6
*Evaporative loss from storage = surface area of the storage x net evaporation depth. Net evaporation depth = measured evaporation depth (using a ‘pan’ instrument) minus rainfall. For this table, a positive value indicates a loss of water, a negative value indicates a gain in water.
Autumn temperature and rainfall outlook
Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) have issued their climate outlook for autumn. During March, conditions are more likely to be wetter than average in the north-east of the basin and drier than average in the south-west, with equal chances of wetter or drier elsewhere. However across autumn, the outlook suggests that much of the Basin is more likely to experience drier (Map 4) and warmer (Map 5) than average conditions.
Map 4–Chance of exceeding the median rainfall for the 3 month period March to May 2018 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).
Map 5 - Chance of exceeding the median maximum and minimum temperatures for the 3 month period March to May 2018 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).
River operations
System operations
Dry and hot conditions in the irrigation areas and along the River Murray during January and February mean that operations have continued to focus on releasing sufficient water from storage to meet system demandswhile also aiming to conserve water and deliver it efficiently. With dry conditions forecast to continue over the coming week and the Bureau of Meteorology outlook suggesting warm and dry conditions during the autumn period, higher river levels are currently more likely along the mid-reaches of the River Murray during the coming weeks to meet system demands all the way to the Coorong.
However uncertainty always remains and significant rain events always remain a possibility.These can alter prevailing conditions and change system trendsquickly.
With Easter still a month away, it is not possible to forecast flows and river heights at this stage. However, with Easter falling within the irrigation period this year, there is an improved likelihood of river flows and heights remaining stable downstream of Hume Dam and Yarrawonga Weir (see attached media release). River users are advised to maintain a close eye on conditions and keep up to date via the MDBA Weekly Report when planning recreational or other activities.
Current Operations
MDBA active storage decreased this week by 83 GL to 5,222 GL (62% capacity).
The storage volume at Dartmouth Reservoir (Photo 2) decreased by 4 GL to 3,426 GL (89% capacity). The release, measured at the Colemans gauge, increased to around 2,400 ML/day during the week for the benefit of water quality in the Mitta Mitta River downstream of Dartmouth Dam. The release has now returned to the minimum flow target of 300 ML/day.
At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume fell by 62 GL to 1,603 GL (53% capacity). The release averaged 11,800 ML/day and is currently 11,000ML/day.
Downstream at Lake Mulwala, the pool level has remained within the normal operating range of 124.7 to 124.9 m AHD. Diversions at the major irrigation offtakes have remained relatively stable over the past week, with the diversion at Mulwala Canal averaging 3,000 ML/day and the diversion at Yarrawonga Main Channel averaging close to 1,300 ML/day. The release downstream from Yarrawonga Weir remained steady around 7,800 ML/day.
Flow through the Edward and Gulpa Creek offtakes is currently around the maximum regulated flow rates of 1,600 ML/day and 350 ML/day, respectively. Downstream, the flow in the Edward River at Toonalook is steady near 1,770 ML/day. Diversions into Wakool Main Canal have averaged 660 ML/day, while the release from Stevens Weir averaged 700 ML/day.
Inflow to the Murray from the Goulburn River, measured at McCoys Bridge, averaged 2,070 ML/day. Flow at McCoys is expected to increase toward around 3,000 ML/daylate in the coming week to facilitate the delivery of inter-valley trade (IVT) water to help meet system demands along the Murray downstream of the Barmah choke. Information regarding current opportunities for allocation trade between the Goulburn and Murray valleys is available at the Victorian water register website.
Goulburn Valley IVT water is also being delivered to the Murray via the Campaspe River in the form of a small pulse which is now slowly receding. The flow, measured at Rochester syphon, is currently 500ML/day and will gradually recede to 200 ML/day by the end of March. This flow pulse, developed in co-operation with Goulburn-Murray Water and the Goulburn Broken catchment management authority, was shaped by river managers to deliver operational water to meet downstream demands and also encourage young native fish in the River Murray to move upstream and take advantage of food and habitat in the Campaspe River.
Photo 2–DartmouthReservoir viewed from Mt Benambra (Source: Bob Knowles, Goulburn-Murray Water)
The diversion into National Channel, from Torrumbarry Weir pool, remained around 2,000 ML/day. The diversion is expected to increase in the coming week as preparation gets underway to commence autumn crop and pasture watering. The release downstream of Torrumbarry Weir averaged 6,200ML/day.
Downstream of Torrumbarry Weir, the flow at Swan Hill is being supplemented with additional water delivered from the Torrumbarry irrigation network. This includes around 300 ML/day from Gunbower Creek. This return flow is maintaining the water level through Gunbower Creek for the benefit of native fish before returning to the River Murray via Koondrook spillway near Barham. Approximately 100ML/day is also being released from Lake Boga to the Murray. This release, in addition to adding to River Murray flows, will help to reduce lake salinity levels by lowering the lake level to allow it to be refilled prior to the next irrigation season with fresher, lower salinity water.
Inflow from the Murrumbidgee River, measured at Balranald, averaged 240 ML/day. The Murrumbidgee IVT balance is currently 6.8 GL, restricting the MDBA from calling on water from this valley to help meet Murray system demands.
At Euston, the weir pool level is 11 cm above the full supply level (FSL). The pool is expected to be gradually returned to the full supply level by around mid-March. The downstream release reduced to 6,000 ML/day and is expected to continue falling over the coming week to around 5,000 ML/day.
At Menindee Lakes, the storage volume reduced by 12 GL to 317 GL (18% capacity). A red alertwarning (high alert) for blue-green algae remains current for Lake Wetherell, Lake Menindee and Lake Tandure. Releases from the Menindee Lakes are currently being managed by WaterNSW in accordance with the Lower Darling Annual Operations Plan. The release from Weir 32is targeting 200 ML/day and is being managed to maintain a minimum flow in the lower Darling at Burtundy, where the flow is currently 30 ML/day. A red alertwarning (high alert) for blue-green algae has also been issued for the lower Darling River between Pooncarie and Burtundy.
The flow at Wentworth fell this week and is currently around 4,500 ML/day. The weir pool level remains close to 10 cm above FSL to assist pumpers on the lower Darling River in the upper reaches of the Wentworth weir pool whilst flows downstream of Burtundy are low.
On the Murray at Locks 7 and 9 the weir pools are currently targeting a water level 10 cm below FSL and will vary between FSL and 10 cm below FSL over the coming weeks. The Lock 8 weir pool is targeting 30 cm below FSL. The fluctuation of weir pool levels is part of the weir pool variability program, which aims to help restore a more natural wetting and drying regime for river banks and wetlands.
At Lake Victoria, the storage volume reduced by 18 GL and is currently at 387 GL (57% capacity). The lake level is expected to continue falling away as stored water is used to help deliver South Australia’s flow requirements. The flow to South Australia averaged 6,600 ML/day. This includes additional water being delivered on behalf of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) during February to support ongoing barrage releases into the Coorong. Flows over the border are expected to reduce to around 5,200 ML/day over the coming week.
At the lower lakes, the 5-day average water level held steady around 0.63 m AHD for most of the week before easing to 0.61 m AHD by the end of the week. Releases through the barrages over the last week averaged around 1,500 ML/day and were prioritised at Tauwitchere and Goolwa to improve salinity outcomes in the Coorong and provide attractant flows at the fishways.
For media inquiries contact the Media Officeron 02 6279 0141
ANDREW REYNOLDS
Executive Director, River Management
Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 28 Feb 2018
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 / 479.20 / 3 426 / 89% / 71 / 3 355 / -4
Hume Reservoir / 192.00 / 3 005 / 183.72 / 1 603 / 53% / 23 / 1 580 / -62
Lake Victoria / 27.00 / 677 / 24.42 / 387 / 57% / 100 / 287 / -18
Menindee Lakes / 1 731* / 317 / 18% / (- -) # / 0 / -12
Total / 9 269 / 5 733 / 62% / - - / 5 222 / -96
Total Active MDBA Storage / 62% ^
Major State Storages
Burrinjuck Reservoir / 1 026 / 485 / 47% / 3 / 482 / -17
Blowering Reservoir / 1 631 / 645 / 40% / 24 / 621 / -13
Eildon Reservoir / 3 334 / 2 259 / 68% / 100 / 2 159 / -31
*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 27 Feb 2018
Storage / Active Storage (GL) / Weekly Change (GL) / Diversion (GL) / This Week / From 1 May 2017Lake Eucumbene - Total / 1 593 / -28 / Snowy-Murray / +5 / 687
Snowy-Murray Component / 638 / -2 / Tooma-Tumut / +1 / 193
Target Storage / 1 460 / Net Diversion / 4 / 494
Murray 1 Release / +11 / 920
Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) *
New South Wales / This Week / From 1 July 2017 / Victoria / This Week / From 1 July 2017Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) / 24.5 / 713 / Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) / 7.2 / 200
Wakool Sys Allowance / 3.0 / 43 / Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) / 12.1 / 318
Western Murray Irrigation / 0.9 / 19 / Sunraysia Pumped Districts / 3.4 / 93
Licensed Pumps / 7.7 / 174 / Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) / 1 / 25
Lower Darling / 3.0 / 81 / Licensed pumps - LMW / 4.6 / 287
TOTAL / 39.1 / 1030 / TOTAL / 28.3 / 923
* 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 environmental flows. / Entitlement this month / 194.0 *
Flow this week / 45.9 / (6 600 ML/day)
Flow so far this month / 219.6
Flow last month / 243.9
Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C)
Current / Average over the last week / Average since 1 August 2017Swan Hill / 120 / 120 / 110
Euston / 120 / 120 / -
Red Cliffs / 180 / 180 / 160
Merbein / 160 / 180 / 150
Burtundy (Darling) / 640 / 640 / 660
Lock 9 / 170 / 180 / 170
Lake Victoria / 300 / 270 / 230
Berri / 270 / 240 / 260
Waikerie / 320 / 320 / 330
Morgan / 350 / 340 / 340
Mannum / 300 / 290 / 370
Murray Bridge / 300 / 300 / 420
Milang (Lake Alex.) / 920 / 790 / 670
Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) / 640 / 720 / 620
Meningie (Lake Alb.) / 1 530 / 1 550 / 1 570
Goolwa Barrages / 1 020 / 1 030 / 1 160
River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 28 Feb 2018
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 / - / - / - / 1 310 / F / 2 160 / 500
Jingellic / 4.0 / 1.34 / 207.86 / 2 120 / F / 2 440 / 990
Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) / 4.2 / 1.61 / 218.50 / 1 080 / F / 1 290 / 570
Heywoods / 5.5 / 2.78 / 156.41 / 11 000 / R / 11 840 / 10 700
Doctors Point / 5.5 / 2.73 / 151.20 / 11 890 / S / 12 860 / 11 660
Albury / 4.3 / 1.75 / 149.19 / - / - / - / -
Corowa / 4.6 / 2.56 / 128.58 / 11 250 / F / 12 450 / 10 990
Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) / 6.4 / 1.39 / 116.43 / 7 740 / S / 7 770 / 7 720
Tocumwal / 6.4 / 2.00 / 105.84 / 7 820 / S / 7 800 / 7 820
Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 2.19 / 80.73 / 6 190 / R / 6 200 / 6 960
Swan Hill / 4.5 / 1.24 / 64.16 / 6 250 / R / 6 550 / 7 320
Wakool Junction / 8.8 / 2.72 / 51.84 / 6 530 / F / 7 010 / 7 740
Euston Weir (d/s) / 9.1 / 1.28 / 43.12 / 5 990 / F / 6 300 / 6 900
Mildura Weir (d/s) / - / - / 5 490 / F / 5 700 / 5 830
Wentworth Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 2.73 / 27.49 / 4 510 / S / 4 930 / 4 920
Rufus Junction / - / 3.38 / 20.31 / 6 000 / F / 6 370 / 7 460
Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) / - / 0.57 / - / 3 480 / F / 4 120 / 5 250
Tributaries
Kiewa at Bandiana / 2.8 / 0.94 / 154.17 / 420 / R / 450 / 300
Ovens at Wangaratta / 11.9 / 7.98 / 145.66 / 530 / R / 450 / 510
Goulburn at McCoys Bridge / 9.0 / 2.16 / 93.58 / 2 150 / R / 2 070 / 2 110
Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) / 5.5 / 1.01 / 80.78 / 660 / F / 700 / 600
Edward at Liewah / - / 1.22 / 56.60 / 640 / F / 660 / 800
Wakool at Stoney Crossing / - / 1.40 / 54.89 / 390 / F / 440 / 460
Murrumbidgee at Balranald / 5.0 / 0.56 / 56.52 / 240 / R / 240 / 330
Barwon at Mungindi / 6.1 / 3.22 / - / 120 / F / 190 / 100
Darling at Bourke / 9.0 / 3.43 / - / 0 / F / 0 / 0
Darling at Burtundy Rocks / - / 0.66 / - / 30 / S / 30 / 40
Natural Inflow to Hume / 1 010 / 940
(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 / -0.09 / - / No. 7 Rufus River / 22.10 / -0.09 / +1.06
No. 26 Torrumbarry / 86.05 / +0.00 / - / No. 6 Murtho / 19.25 / -0.01 / +0.05
No. 15 Euston / 47.60 / +0.11 / - / No. 5 Renmark / 16.30 / +0.01 / +0.16
No. 11 Mildura / 34.40 / +0.03 / +0.15 / No. 4 Bookpurnong / 13.20 / +0.03 / +0.56
No. 10 Wentworth / 30.80 / +0.10 / +0.09 / No. 3 Overland Corner / 9.80 / +0.03 / +0.21
No. 9 Kulnine / 27.40 / -0.10 / -0.24 / No. 2 Waikerie / 6.10 / +0.03 / +0.03
No. 8 Wangumma / 24.60 / -0.26 / +0.00 / No. 1 Blanchetown / 3.20 / -0.10 / -0.18
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 / 0.42 / 2 / - / Open / Open / -
Mundoo / 26 openings / 0.41 / All closed / - / - / - / Open
Hunters Creek / - / - / - / - / Open / - / -
Boundary Creek / 6 openings / - / 1 / - / Open / - / -
Ewe Island / 111 gates / - / All closed / - / - / - / Open
Tauwitchere / 322 gates / 0.45 / 6 / Open / Open / Open / -
AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level
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Week ending Wednesday 28 Feb 2018
State Allocations (as at 28 Feb 2018)
NSW - Murray Valley / Victorian - Murray ValleyHigh security / 97%
General security / 49%
/ High reliability / 100%
Low reliability / 0%
NSW – MurrumbidgeeValley / Victorian- GoulburnValley
High security / 95%
General security / 34%
/ High reliability / 100%
Low reliability / 0%
NSW - Lower Darling / South Australia – MurrayValley
High security / 100%
General security / 100%
/ High security / 100%
NSW : /
VIC : /
SA : /
MEDIA RELEASE
1 March 2018
Early Easter improves likelihood of stable river heights
With Easter falling within the irrigation period, there is an improved likelihood of river flows and heights remaining stable—which is good news for local communities and visitors to the River Murray downstream of Hume Dam and Yarrawonga looking to enjoy river recreation over the holiday period.
MDBA head of River Management, Andrew Reynolds, said that, provided conditions remained dry, the outlook was looking favourable for steady flows and heights over Easter.
“Provided conditions remain hot and dry, and with Easter within the peak irrigation season, high amounts of water will likely still be called on,” Mr Reynolds said.
“This will support more favourable river levels—which is expected to have complementary benefits for Easter tourism and recreation for communities along the River Murray.
“As a result of water entitlement holders calling for water, flows will be released from the upper storages of the River Murray, including Hume Dam, and passed through the system—generating higher river levels.
“We understand that this time of year is important for local business, with peaks in tourism and recreational activities taking place alongside and on the river.