RIVER MURRAY WEEKLY REPORT
FOR THE WEEK ENDING WEDNESDAY, 22ND APRIL 2016
Trim Ref: D15/16332
Rainfall and Inflows
Wet conditions returned to the Murray-Darling Basin this week with significant rainfall across many
regions, particularly throughout the southern Basin. The rain was associated with a surface trough that
extended north-south along the entire length of the Basin. As the trough tracked eastwards it combined
with a cold front pushing up from the Southern Ocean, delivering moderate to heavy rainfall across
eastern South Australia, southern New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria. When this complex
system reached the NSW coast it intensified into an east coast low, producing very heavy rainfall and
strong winds east of the great divide, as well as some moderate rainfall inland around the MacquarieCastlereagh catchment.
Highest rainfall totals in the Basin this week were recorded in the Victorian Alps, including 164 mm at
Mt Hotham, 149 mm at Falls Creek and 127 mm at Mount Buffalo (Map 1). There were also significant
totals along the full length of the River Murray system, including 87 mm at Dartmouth Reservoir, 62 mm
at Hume Reservoir, 49 mm at Yarrawonga, 72 mm at Mildura, 50 mm at Lake Victoria, 35 mm at Berri
and 20 mm at Murray Bridge. The pattern of rainfall in this event was very similar to an event almost
exactly one year ago in April 2014. As was the case with the 2014 event, this week’s rain has
dramatically reduced the demand for irrigation water throughout the Murray system.
Map 1 - Murray Darling Basin rainfall week ending 22nd April 2015 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology)
GPO Box 1801 Canberra ACT 2601
Email: engagement@mdba.gov.au
Telephone: 02 6279 0100
Facsimile: 02 6248 8053
Web: www.mdba.gov.au
ABN 13679821382
Page 1 of 7
Rainfall over the week was slow and soaking, with much of it absorbed into the very dry soil profile.
There was only a moderate response amongst stream flows in the upper catchments. However now the
catchments are wetter any subsequent rainfall events are likely to produce a greater volume of runoff.
Upstream of Dartmouth, the Mitta Mitta at Hinnomunjie briefly rose from 160 to 3,500 ML/day, and has
now receded to 680 ML/day. On the Upper Murray, the flow at Biggara increased from 240 to 2,000
ML/day, before returning to 600 ML/day. On the Ovens River, the flow at Wangaratta rose from 200 to
1,200 ML/day, and is currently 600 ML/day.
River Operations


Demand across the system falls following widespread rainfall.
Mid-Murray and Edward River flows to gradually reduce over coming weeks.
MDBA total storage increased by 12 GL this week, with the active storage now 3,540 GL (42% capacity).
At Dartmouth Reservoir, storage decreased by 25 GL to 2,907 GL (75% capacity). The release,
measured at the Colemans gauge, was lowered throughout the week from 6,000 ML/day to 3,700
ML/day. Releases will continue to be gradually lowered over the coming fortnight, and are planned to
reach 600 ML/day on 3 May.
At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume increased by 22 GL with total storage now 638 GL (21%
capacity). The release was lowered throughout the week from 15,000 ML/day to 5,000 ML/d in response
to the widespread rainfall and drop in demand. Releases are now increasing and are forecast to average
around 9,000 ML/day over the coming week.
At Lake Mulwala, total diversions at the major irrigation offtakes reduced markedly following the rain,
falling from 5,000 ML/day to 1,000 ML/day. With 50 to 60 mm rain falling locally around Lake Mulwala
on the weekend, the pool level quickly rose to 124.87 m AHD. In response, the release downstream of
Yarrawonga Weir was increased from 9,500 ML/day to 10,500 ML/day for two days. Now the rain event
has passed, the pool at Lake Mulwala has returned to 124.79 m AHD and will continue lowering to
around 124.70 m AHD over the coming week. The release from Yarrawonga Weir is 9,600 ML/day, and
is planned to be gradually lowered over the coming week to around 7,500 ML/day.
On the Edward River system, the total flow through the Edward River and Gulpa Creek offtakes is
steady at around 1,900 ML/day. At Stevens Weir, the flow downstream has reduced from 2,500 ML/day
to 1,800 ML/day. With downstream demand easing, MDBA has ceased the order for additional water to
be released into the Edward River via the Edward Escape. As a result the flow downstream of Stevens
Weir is expected to decrease over the coming week to around 1,000 ML/day. Following completion of
the irrigation season on 11 May, WaterNSW plans to drawdown Stevens Weir for its annual lowering
over the winter period (see attached media release).
On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge is steady at around 1,100 ML/day. Downstream at
Torrumbarry Weir, diversions at National Channel reduced over the past week from 2,000 ML/day to
1,500 ML/day. The flow downstream of Torrumbarry is around 7,600 ML/day, and forecast to begin
gradually reducing over the coming week as upstream releases from Yarrawonga are reduced.
On the lower Murrumbidgee River, Inter Valley Transfer (IVT) water continues to be delivered at
Balranald with a target of 900 ML/day. IVT deliveries from the Murrumbidgee will conclude at the end of
this month, with the flow at Balranald in May expected to return to 300 ML/day.
Further downstream, the flow on the Murray at Euston is 10,400 ML/day and forecast to rise this week
to above 11,000 ML/day. The Euston weir pool will continue lowering this week to a target level of 47.30
m AHD (30cm below Full Supply level). The lowering is being undertaken for the dual purposes of
meeting downstream demands whilst also restoring a more natural wetting-drying cycle to vegetation
on the fringes of the weir pool.
GPO Box 1801 Canberra ACT 2601
Email: engagement@mdba.gov.au
Telephone: 02 6279 0100
Web: www.mdba.gov.au
Facsimile: 02 6248 8053
ABN 13679821382
Page 2 of 7
In the northern Basin, a small flow front is making its way down the Barwon River following rainfall in
the Moonie and Border Rivers catchments in early April. The water has reached Brewarrina, where the
flow is currently 1,800 ML/day and rising. From this flow event, around 10 to 15 GL is forecast to reach
the Menindee Lakes in late-May and June. Further information on this flow event in the Barwon-Darling
is available from the NSW Office of Water website (http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/watermanagement/water-availability/drought-management). At Menindee Lakes, the storage decreased by
4 GL this week to 70 GL (4% capacity). Releases at Weir 32 are around 200 ML/day.
Back on the Murray at Wentworth, the flow is 9,900 ML/day and forecast to rise to around 10,500
ML/day over the coming week. Downstream, Lock 8 continues to be held close to its reduced target
level of 23.80 m AHD (60 cm below Full Supply Level).
At Lake Victoria, the storage volume increased by 19 GL this week to 189 GL (28% capacity). The flow
to South Australia averaged 6,500 ML/day over the past week.
At the Lower Lakes, the 5-day average level in Lake Alexandrina is 0.56 m AHD. The barrages were
temporarily closed last weekend due to unfavourable weather conditions, but have now re-opened and
are releasing around 6,000 ML/day when conditions permit.
For media inquiries contact the Media Officer on 02 6279 0141
DAVID DREVERMAN
Executive Director, River Management
GPO Box 1801 Canberra ACT 2601
Email: engagement@mdba.gov.au
Telephone: 02 6279 0100
Web: www.mdba.gov.au
Facsimile: 02 6248 8053
ABN 13679821382
Page 3 of 7
Water in Storage
Week ending Wednesday 22 Apr 2015
Full
Supply
Level
MDBA Storages
Dartmouth Reservoir
Hume Reservoir
Lake Victoria
Menindee Lakes
Total
Total Active MDBA Storage
Current
Storage
Level
Full Supply
Volume
(m AHD)
486.00
192.00
27.00
(GL)
3 856
3 005
677
1 731*
9 269
Major State Storages
Burrinjuck Reservoir
Blowering Reservoir
Eildon Reservoir
Current
Storage
(GL)
2 907
638
189
70
3 804
%
75%
21%
28%
4%
41%
393
437
1 890
38%
27%
57%
(m AHD)
470.26
175.14
22.37
1 026
1 631
3 334
Dead
Storage
Active
Storage
(GL)
71
23
100
(- -) #
--
(GL)
2 836
615
89
0
3 540
42% ^
3
24
100
390
413
1 790
Change in
Total
Storage
for the
Week
(GL)
-25
+22
+19
-4
+12
+10
-3
-13
* 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
Storage
Lake Eucumbene - Total
Snowy-Murray Component
Target Storage
Snowy diversions for week ending 21 Apr 2015
Active Storage
(GL)
2 143
940
1 340
Weekly Change
(GL)
-8
-14
Diversion (GL)
From 1 May
2014
447
224
223
729
This Week
Snowy-Murray
Tooma-Tumut
Net Diversion
Murray 1 Release
+21
+4
17
+26
Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) *
New South Wales
This Week
Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net)
Wakool Sys Allowance
Western Murray Irrigation
Licensed Pumps
Lower Darling
TOTAL
5.2
2.9
n/a
3.5
0.1
11.7
From 1 July
2014
833
78
23
266
61
1261
Victoria
This Week
Yarrawonga Main Channel (net)
Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net)
Sunraysia Pumped Districts
Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s)
Licensed pumps - LMW
TOTAL
2
7.9
0.2
0.7
2
12.8
From 1
July 2014
291
592
103
64
270
1320
* 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.
Salinity (EC)
Entitlement this month
Flow this week
Flow so far this month
Flow last month
135.0 *
45.6
141.8
243.6
(6 500 ML/day)
(microSiemens/cm at 25o C)
Current
Swan Hill
Euston
Red Cliffs
Merbein
Burtundy (Darling)
Lock 9
Lake Victoria
Berri
Waikerie
Morgan
Mannum
Murray Bridge
Milang (Lake Alex.)
Poltalloch (Lake Alex.)
Meningie (Lake Alb.)
Goolwa Barrages
Average over the last week
60
100
110
910
100
140
230
330
290
300
320
800
680
2 480
1 390
GPO Box 1801 Canberra ACT 2601
Email: engagement@mdba.gov.au
Average since 1 August 2014
60
110
110
900
100
170
220
320
290
290
310
800
670
2 420
1 590
Telephone: 02 6279 0100
Web: www.mdba.gov.au
90
100
120
120
810
130
210
220
280
280
320
350
750
630
2 430
1 320
Facsimile: 02 6248 8053
ABN 13679821382
Page 4 of 7
River Levels and Flows
Week ending Wednesday 22 Apr 2015
7.3
-
1.81
2.41
2.46
2.40
2.31
1.90
1.59
2.27
2.49
1.36
3.36
1.91
3.05
3.46
0.70
208.33
219.30
156.09
150.87
149.75
127.92
116.63
106.11
81.04
64.28
52.48
43.75
27.81
20.39
-
(ML/day)
3 870
5 060
3 950
6 560
7 970
7 360
9 600
10 200
7 640
7 160
9 470
10 390
9 760
9 900
6 280
6 450
F
F
F
R
R
F
F
F
R
R
R
R
F
S
R
F
(ML/day)
3 860
5 550
5 450
8 320
9 150
11 620
9 950
10 080
7 050
6 790
9 080
10 050
9 430
9 970
5 730
6 220
Average
Flow last
Week
(ML/day)
6 810
6 340
5 970
14 990
15 320
14 800
9 840
9 860
6 680
6 440
8 180
9 140
8 540
8 750
5 660
4 920
2.8
11.9
9.0
5.5
5.0
6.1
9.0
-
1.33
7.99
1.62
1.85
3.05
1.53
1.41
3.56
0.98
154.56
145.67
93.04
81.62
58.43
55.02
57.37
-
960
600
1 170
1 780
2 650
680
1 020
960
0
R
F
F
F
R
R
F
F
F
F
600
600
1 110
2 460
2 430
590
1 040
1 160
0
0
180
250
1 030
2 600
2 090
430
1 210
1 050
0
0
2 390
240
Minor Flood
Stage
River Murray
Khancoban
Jingellic
Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River )
Heywoods
Doctors Point
Albury
Corowa
Yarrawonga Weir (d/s)
Tocumwal
Torrumbarry Weir (d/s)
Swan Hill
Wakool Junction
Euston Weir (d/s)
Mildura Weir (d/s)
Wentworth Weir (d/s)
Rufus Junction
Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s)
(m)
Tributaries
Kiewa at Bandiana
Ovens at Wangaratta
Goulburn at McCoys Bridge
Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s)
Edward at Liewah
Wakool at Stoney Crossing
Murrumbidgee at Balranald
Barwon at Mungindi
Darling at Bourke
Darling at Burtundy Rocks
Gauge
local (m)
4.0
4.2
5.5
5.5
4.3
4.6
6.4
6.4
7.3
4.5
8.8
9.1
Height
(m AHD)
Flow
Trend
Average Flow
this Week
Natural Inflow to Hume
(i.e. Pre Dartmouth & Snowy Mountains scheme)
Weirs and Locks Pool levels above or below Full Supply Level (FSL)
Murray
Yarrawonga
No. 26 Torrumbarry
No. 15 Euston
No. 11 Mildura
No. 10 Wentworth
No. 9 Kulnine
No. 8 Wangumma
Lower Lakes
FSL (m AHD)
124.90
86.05
47.60
34.40
30.80
27.40
24.60
u/s
-0.11
+0.00
-0.22
+0.01
+0.08
+0.00
-0.76
d/s
+0.34
+0.41
-0.66
+0.13
FSL (m AHD)
22.10
19.25
16.30
13.20
9.80
6.10
3.20
No. 7 Rufus River
No. 6 Murtho
No. 5 Renmark
No. 4 Bookpurnong
No. 3 Overland Corner
No. 2 Waikerie
No. 1 Blanchetown
u/s
+0.04
+0.04
+0.06
+0.11
+0.07
+0.08
-0.06
d/s
+1.13
+0.11
+0.26
+0.89
+0.28
+0.18
-0.06
FSL = 0.75 m AHD
Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD)
Barrages
0.56
Fishways at Barrages
Openings
Level (m AHD)
No. Open
Goolwa
128 openings
0.59
4
Mundoo
26 openings
0.57
All closed
Boundary Creek
6 openings
0.5
Ewe Island
111 gates
All closed
Tauwitchere
322 gates
0.58
20
AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level
GPO Box 1801 Canberra ACT 2601
Email: engagement@mdba.gov.au
Rock Ramp
Telephone: 02 6279 0100
Web: www.mdba.gov.au
Open
Vertical Slot
Open
Open
Facsimile: 02 6248 8053
ABN 13679821382
Page 5 of 7
Week ending Wednesday 22 Apr 2015
State Allocations (as at 22 Apr 2015)
NSW - Murray Valley
High security
General security
Victorian - Murray Valley
97%
61%
NSW – Murrumbidgee Valley
High security
General security
95%
53%
NSW :
VIC :
SA :
100%
0%
Victorian - Goulburn Valley
High reliability
Low reliability
100%
0%
South Australia – Murray Valley
NSW - Lower Darling
High security
General security
High reliability
Low reliability
100%
100%
High security
100%
http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/Water-management/Water-availability/Waterallocations/Water-allocations-summary/water-allocations-summary/default.aspx
http://www.nvrm.net.au/allocations/current.aspx
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/river-murray
GPO Box 1801 Canberra ACT 2601
Email: engagement@mdba.gov.au
Telephone: 02 6279 0100
Facsimile: 02 6248 8053
Web: www.mdba.gov.au
ABN 13679821382
Page 6 of 7
STEVENS WEIR TO BE DRAWN DOWN
22 April 2015
The NSW Office of Water together with WaterNSW today announced that the annual
lowering of Stevens Weir pool will commence on Monday 11 May.
The Stevens Weir pool will be gradually lowered following completion of irrigation supply
requirements
for
the
2014-15 season.
This is
in accordance
with regulatory
requirements.
WaterNSW expects the weir pool upstream
of Stevens Weir and the level at the
Deniliquin gauge will fall gradually in the coming weeks in preparation for the winter
draw down commencement.
Subject to weather conditions and system requirements, the Edward River gauge height
at Deniliquin could fall from its present level 1.9 metres to 0.4 metres and possibly
below.
WaterNSW customers, boat owners, landholders and other river users are advised to
make early preparations for the draw down, monitor water levels closely and be aware of
snags and other obstructions that may appear while water levels are low.
WaterNSW customers in the Edward – Wakool system should make preparations for low
river levels, particularly the Wakool River, Yallakool Creek and Colligen Creek where
diversions will cease as a result of the weir pool draw down.
River users requiring further information should contact the WaterNSW customer
helpdesk on 1300 662 077.
-ENDSMedia enquiries and interviews
Tony Webber (02)6841 2006 or 0428 613 478
Follow us on Twitter @statewater
Page 7 of 7