RIVER MURRAY WEEKLY REPORT
FOR THE WEEK ENDING WEDNESDAY, 10TH JUNE 2016
Trim Ref: D15/50546
Rainfall and Inflows
It was a relatively dry week over the Murray-Darling Basin. There were moderate rainfall totals reported
in Victoria along the southern divide with the passage of weak frontal systems. Totals were mostly less
than 10 mm further inland through southern NSW, northern Victoria and in South Australia. The northern
Basin remained mostly dry (Map 1).
The week’s highest rain totals fell over the Victorian Alps, including 41 mm at Mt Hotham. Notable totals
elsewhere included 38 mm at Mt William and 18 mm at Clunes.
Map 1 – Murray-Darling Basin rainfall week ending 10th June 2015 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology)
There was a slow recession in stream flows along the upper Murray tributaries this week. On the Mitta
Mitta River, the flow at Hinnomunjie Bridge decreased from 550 to 450 ML/day. On the Ovens River,
the flow at Rocky Point receded from 1,400 to 900 ML/day.
GPO Box 1801 Canberra ACT 2601
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Page 1 of 6
River Operations



Hume release remains at minimum of 600 ML/day
Lake Mulwala level steady as drawdown target is reached
Variable flows expected downstream of the Goulburn confluence from mid-June
MDBA total storage increased by 89 GL this week, with the active storage now 3,886 GL or 46%
capacity.
At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume decreased by 21 GL to 2,847 GL (74% capacity) as bulk
transfers continue from Dartmouth to Hume Reservoir. The flow at Colemans gauge has reduced during
the week from 5,500 ML/day to 3,400 ML/day, with the flow planned to continue falling to below
2,000 ML/day in about 2 weeks’ time.
At Hume Reservoir, inflows from Dartmouth and the Snowy Scheme have boosted the natural inflows
to increase the storage level by 69 GL. The storage volume is currently 854 GL (28% capacity). The
release from Hume has remained at the minimum flow of 600 ML/day for the last four weeks.
Downstream at Doctors Point, the flow has receded to 1,700 ML/day.
The water level in Lake Mulwala has been steady during the week at about 121.2 m AHD, which is the
target level during this drawdown. This level is about 3.5 m below the normal operating level, and this
low level is expected to be maintained until mid-July, prior to refilling the lake in preparation for the
commencement of the irrigation season in August. The release from Yarrawonga Weir has gradually
reduced to 3,600 ML/day and is expected to be about 3,000 ML/day by next week.
On the Edward River system, the combined flow through the Edward and Gulpa Creek offtakes has
slowly reduced to 900 ML/day as flow in the River Murray has receded. Stevens Weir pool has been
drawn down to 2.5 m, which is 2.7 m below the normal operating level. The flow downstream of Stevens
Weir has slowly reduced to 1,100 ML/day with this recession expected to continue for the next week or
more.
On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge has been steady at about 1,000 ML/day for the last
2 months. However, by 15–16 June, the flow at McCoys is expected to commence increasing as an
environmental pulse flows along the Goulburn River. This flow may reach 9,500 ML/day by late June,
before receding back to about 1,000 ML/day by mid-July. More information is available on the GoulburnBroken Catchment Management Authority website.
River users in the Echuca district and downstream need to be aware that levels will rise noticeably
starting in mid-June, as this environmental pulse enters the River Murray from the Goulburn River. The
flow pulse is expected to reach the Sunraysia area by late June, with the peak flow passing Mildura in
early July. Further information will be provided in future Weekly Reports.
The flow past Torrumbarry Weir has receded during the week to 4,300 ML/day (1.5 m local gauge
height), with further reductions expected in the coming week. However, by about 24 June, the flow is
expected to exceed 10,000 ML/day, or 3.1 m on the downstream gauge. The peak flow past Torrumbarry
Weir may be close to 11,000 ML/day (3.35 m local gauge height).
At Swan Hill, the flow has receded to 5,300 ML/day (1.1 m local gauge height) and the steady recession
is expected to continue for another 10 days or so. Higher flows at Swan Hill are expected during late
June, with a peak of about 10,000 ML/day (1.8 m local gauge height) on or about 29 June.
The weir pool at Euston is currently 47.74 m AHD, which is about 14 cm above its Full Supply Level. A
weir pool level of up to 20 cm above FSL is currently being targeted.
At Mildura, the repairs and maintenance of the trestleway, and the lock refurbishment, are progressing.
The flow is currently 10,200 ML/day and is expected to recede to around 5,000 ML/day by late June.
The pulse of water originating from the Goulburn River is expected to pass Mildura during early July,
with a peak flow exceeding 10,000 ML/day between 5–14 July.
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 6
The storage volume in the Menindee Lakes increased by just 1 GL during the week, with the storage
now 75 GL (4% capacity). There has been no water released from the Menindee Lakes to the lower
Darling since early May.
Photo 1 – Daybreak on the Great Darling Anabranch, just upstream of the confluence with the River Murray (Courtesy: Sean
Kelly, MDBA)
Flow across the border to South Australia averaged 3,700 ML/day over the past week. At the Lower
Lakes, the level in Lake Alexandrina is steady at about 0.64 m AHD. High tides and large swells have
restricted releases through the barrages over the last week.
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 6
Water in Storage
Week ending Wednesday 10 Jun 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)
2 847
854
379
75
4 155
%
74%
28%
56%
4%
45%
438
430
1 916
43%
26%
57%
(m AHD)
469.17
177.43
24.34
1 026
1 631
3 334
Dead
Storage
Active
Storage
(GL)
71
23
100
(- -) #
--
(GL)
2 776
831
279
0
3 886
46% ^
3
24
100
435
406
1 816
Change in
Total
Storage
for the
Week
(GL)
-21
+69
+39
+1
+89
+4
+4
+6
* 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 09 Jun 2015
Active Storage
(GL)
2 156
1 060
1 240
Weekly Change
(GL)
n/a
n/a
Diversion (GL)
From 1 May
2015
55
21
34
83
This Week
Snowy-Murray
Tooma-Tumut
Net Diversion
Murray 1 Release
+16
+0
16
+19
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
-0.1
0.8
0.1
1.1
0.1
2.0
From 1 July
2014
842
94
24
283
61
1304
Victoria
This Week
Yarrawonga Main Channel (net)
Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net)
Sunraysia Pumped Districts
Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s)
Licensed pumps - LMW
TOTAL
0
0
0
0.2
1.5
1.7
From 1
July 2014
301
627
105
75
298
1406
* 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
90.0 *
26.0
37.5
137.5
(3 700 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
70
160
170
920
180
180
260
300
300
320
340
720
580
2 230
2 840
GPO Box 1801 Canberra ACT 2601
Email: engagement@mdba.gov.au
Average since 1 August 2014
70
160
180
920
170
180
250
300
290
320
340
720
690
2 180
2 820
Telephone: 02 6279 0100
Web: www.mdba.gov.au
80
100
120
120
830
130
210
220
290
280
320
350
750
640
2 410
1 570
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Page 4 of 6
River Levels and Flows
Week ending Wednesday 10 Jun 2015
7.3
-
1.57
2.34
1.42
1.57
0.75
0.84
0.73
1.29
1.53
1.10
3.14
1.84
3.09
2.98
0.63
208.09
219.23
155.05
150.04
148.19
126.86
115.77
105.13
80.08
64.02
52.26
43.68
27.85
19.91
-
(ML/day)
1 830
3 390
3 620
600
1 680
2 290
3 640
3 900
4 320
5 310
8 470
9 860
10 230
10 720
3 530
2 970
F
F
F
S
F
S
S
F
F
F
F
F
F
S
F
R
(ML/day)
3 230
4 870
4 380
600
2 200
2 330
3 940
4 660
5 210
6 340
9 480
10 380
10 510
11 040
3 550
3 110
Average
Flow last
Week
(ML/day)
3 230
4 490
4 990
600
2 180
2 270
5 720
6 550
7 650
8 330
10 760
10 840
10 000
9 810
3 530
3 650
2.8
11.9
9.0
5.5
5.0
6.1
9.0
-
1.42
8.19
1.50
1.36
2.51
1.46
0.92
3.42
4.14
1.10
154.65
145.87
92.92
81.13
57.89
54.95
56.88
-
1 090
1 100
970
1 140
1 920
490
550
570
540
0
F
F
S
F
F
F
F
S
F
F
1 650
1 240
960
1 230
2 010
580
540
460
430
0
1 600
1 240
930
1 780
2 160
670
350
520
470
0
4 240
5 910
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
-3.73
+0.00
+0.14
-3.28
+0.05
+0.00
-0.06
d/s
+0.32
+0.45
-0.07
+0.08
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
+0.06
+0.01
+0.04
+0.02
+0.02
-0.09
d/s
+0.68
-0.04
+0.12
+0.38
+0.12
+0.02
-0.12
FSL = 0.75 m AHD
Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD)
Barrages
0.64
Fishways at Barrages
Openings
Level (m AHD)
No. Open
Goolwa
128 openings
0.69
All closed
Mundoo
26 openings
0.64
All closed
Boundary Creek
6 openings
0.1
Ewe Island
111 gates
All closed
Tauwitchere
322 gates
0.66
All closed
AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level
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Email: engagement@mdba.gov.au
Rock Ramp
Telephone: 02 6279 0100
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Open
Vertical Slot
Open
Open
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Week ending Wednesday 10 Jun 2015
Murray System Daily Inflows (excl. Snowy, Darling, inter-valley trade
and environmental inflows) - 5 day rolling average
100000
80000
ML/day
Long term
average
60000
2014-15
40000
20000
2015-16
0
Murray System Monthly Inflows (excl. Snowy, Darling, inter-valley trade
and environmental inflows)
1800
1600
Gigalitres (GL)
1400
2014-15
1200
1000
Long term
average
800
10 year average
600
400
200
0
State Allocations (as at 10 Jun 2015)
NSW - Murray Valley
High security
General security
Victorian - Murray Valley
97%
61%
NSW – Murrumbidgee Valley
High security
General security
95%
53%
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%
NSW :
http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/Water-management/Water-availability/Waterallocations/Water-allocations-summary/water-allocations-summary/default.aspx
VIC :
SA :
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 6