RIVER MURRAY WEEKLY REPORT
FOR THE WEEK ENDING WEDNESDAY, 4TH MARCH 2016
Trim Ref: D15/9417
Rainfall and Inflows
Rainfall was primarily focused in the northern Basin this week, due to a low pressure trough that
stretched across inland areas of the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales (NSW).
The trough triggered isolated thunderstorms and showers, with moderate rainfall totals falling across
parts of Queensland and northeast NSW (Map 1).
Highest weekly rainfall totals in Queensland were recorded in the Upper Condamine catchment,
including 50 mm at Leslie Dam and 46 mm at Meandarra. In NSW, 48 mm was recorded at Gravesend
on the Gwydir River; 42 mm at Oberon in the upper Macquarie catchment; 39 mm at Tenterfield in the
NSW Border Rivers; and 35 mm at Tamworth on the Peel River.
Map 1 - Murray Darling Basin rainfall week ending 4th March 2015 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology)
With low rainfall, stream flows in the upper Murray tributaries continued receding this week. Upstream
of Dartmouth Dam, the Mitta Mitta River at Hinnomunjie Bridge decreased from 290 ML/day to 200
ML/day. On the Upper Murray, the flow at Biggara receded from 350 ML/day to 270 ML/day; whilst on
the Ovens River, the flow at Wangaratta fell from 280 ML/day to 180 ML/day.
February 2015 Summary
February was a relatively hot and dry month across most of the Murray-Darling Basin. In the southern
Basin, temperatures for the month were generally above average, with a large section of the Murray
valley experiencing temperatures very much above average (Map 2). Along with the heat, rainfall for
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February was below average throughout much of the Murray valley, as well as large sections of
southern Queensland and north-east NSW (Map 3). Across the Basin as a whole, the Bureau of
Meteorology has reported area-averaged rain totalling 19.9 mm, which is 51% below the long-term
February mean.
Map 2 – Mean temperature deciles across Australia for February 2015 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).
Map 3 - Murray Darling Basin rainfall deciles for February 2015 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).
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River Murray System inflows (excluding Snowy Scheme, Darling River and managed environmental
inflows) were around 92 GL for February, which is approximately half the long-term monthly average
(see the graph on page 7). This inflow volume was almost identical to the inflow received in February
2014.
Estimated evaporation losses from MDBA storages for February 2015 are reported in Table 1. Lake
Victoria is estimated to have lost similar volumes of water this month compared to January 2015,
whilst Dartmouth and Hume are estimated to have lost slightly more compared to last month (4 GL
and 3 GL respectively). Menindee Lakes is estimated to have recorded similar evaporation losses to
last month. Lake Menindee, the largest of the four main lakes, is empty and recorded nil evaporation
from storage. However, ongoing loss of moisture from the dry lake bed would have continued.
Table 1: Monthly evaporation figures for MDBA storages
Approximate evaporation in
Storage
February 2015 (GL)
Dartmouth
5
Hume
14
Lake Victoria
19
Menindee Lakes
25
February average
storage volume (GL)
3076
1266
358
129
River Operations



Bulk transfers from Dartmouth to Hume cease;
Strong winds and rising demands temporarily lower Lake Mulwala;
Mildura weir works scheduled to start 20 May.
MDBA total storage decreased by 128 GL this week, with the active storage now 4,219 GL (50%
capacity).
At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage decreased by 10 GL to 3,038 GL (79% capacity). The release,
measured at Colemans gauge, was reduced this week from 2,500 ML/day to 600 ML/day as bulk
transfers of water downstream are no longer required (see attached flow advice). The release is
expected to remain at 600 ML/day over the coming month.
At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume decreased by 77 GL to 1,110 GL (37% capacity). Releases
from Hume this week were able to be scheduled to meet both downstream needs and assist the
navigation of the paddle steamer ‘Cumberoona’ from a slipway in Wodonga Creek downstream to
Lake Mulwala (Figure 1). The Murray-Darling Basin Authority considers community activities when
undertaking river operations and aims to assist where operationally possible (see
http://www.mdba.gov.au/what-we-do/managing-rivers/river-murray-system/operations-and-recreation).
The release from Hume is now being increased to around 20,000 ML/day in response to rising
downstream demand.
A combination of factors led to a drop in the Lake Mulwala pool level over the week, which fell from
124.75 m AHD to 124.63 m AHD. Diversions from the major irrigation offtakes at Lake Mulwala started
the week steady at around 5,000 ML/day, then quickly increased following the weekend up to 6,000
ML/day coinciding with reduced inflows arriving from Hume. Strong westerly winds experienced at
Yarrawonga throughout the week pushed water from Lake Mulwala back upstream, resulting in
reduced water levels at Yarrawonga Weir. Most of this water pushed upstream returns back to the weir
pool once the winds either abate or change direction. Depending on prevailing winds, the pool level is
expected to rise back above 124.70 m AHD by Sunday. This phenomenon of a water body fluctuating
in height due to outside forces is known as a ‘seiche’, and can occur at all major water storages.
Primary drivers for seiches include strong winds, intense inflow events, and earthquakes. Releases
from Yarrawonga Weir for the coming week are planned to be between 9,000 ML/day and 10,000
ML/day.
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Figure 1 – The PS Cumberoona being carefully navigated out of Wodonga creek (Source: Fraser Knolls).
On the Edward River system, the combined flow through the Edward River and Gulpa Creek offtakes
is steady at around 1,900 ML/day. Diversions to Wakool Main Canal averaged 600 ML/day for the
week and the flow downstream of Stevens Weir is around 2,300 ML/day.
On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge has receded from 1,900 ML/day to 1,170 ML/day
as the last of a pulse of water released from Lake Eildon enters the Murray. The flow at McCoys
Bridge is planned to remain at around 1,000 ML/day over the coming week. At Torrumbarry Weir,
diversions from National Channel are around 2,400 ML/day and the downstream release is around
6,600 ML/day and gradually falling.
Further downstream, inflows into the Murray from the lower Murrumbidgee River are around 750
ML/day at Balranald. This flow is expected to recede to a base flow of around 180 ML/day over the
coming week.
Following consultation with the local community, a start date of 20th May has been selected for
commencement of the major works at Mildura Weir this winter (see attached media release). The
works will require closure of the lock for three to four months, as well as removal of the weir for up to
ten weeks. Further advice and updates on the works will be provided in coming months.
At Menindee Lakes (currently managed by NSW), the storage volume decreased by 10 GL to 108 GL
(6% capacity). Releases into the lower Darling are around 150 ML/day at Weir 32. Upstream of the
storage, the slow moving flow event making its way down the upper Darling is still yet to reach
Wilcannia.
At the confluence of the Darling and Murray Rivers at Wentworth, the flow is around 8,200 ML/day
and rising as the pulse of water released from the Goulburn River last month passes downstream.
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At Lake Victoria, the storage volume has decreased by 31 GL to 265 GL (39% capacity). The daily
flow to South Australia is targeting around 9,800 ML/day for the first half of March as increased
environmental water is passed downstream for barrage outflows into the Coorong. The flow to South
Australia is planned to reduce back to around 6,500 ML/day in the second half of March, due to works
on the Lake Victoria outlet which will limit the volume of water that can be delivered across the border.
The planned flow for the second half of March is still greater than the normal March entitlement flow of
6,000 ML/day.
At the Lower Lakes, the 5-day average water level in Lake Alexandrina decreased 2 cm this week to
0.55 m AHD. Releases from the barrages are targeting flows into the Coorong of 2,000 ML/day or
greater 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
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Water in Storage
Week ending Wednesday 04 Mar 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
(m AHD)
472.60
179.81
23.19
Current
Storage
(GL)
3 038
1 110
265
108
4 521
%
79%
37%
39%
6%
49%
367
533
2 191
36%
33%
66%
1 026
1 631
3 334
Dead
Storage
Active
Storage
(GL)
71
23
100
(- -) #
--
(GL)
2 967
1 087
165
0
4 219
50% ^
3
24
100
364
509
2 091
Change in
Total
Storage
for the
Week
(GL)
-10
-77
-31
-10
-128
-29
+2
-30
* 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 03 Mar 2015
Active Storage
(GL)
2 234
1 085
1 410
Weekly Change
(GL)
n/a
n/a
Diversion (GL)
From 1 May
2014
291
207
84
562
This Week
Snowy-Murray
Tooma-Tumut
Net Diversion
Murray 1 Release
+20
+2
18
+23
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
19.6
3.1
0.9
6.4
0.8
30.8
From 1 July
2014
686
56
21
205
59
1027
Victoria
This Week
Yarrawonga Main Channel (net)
Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net)
Sunraysia Pumped Districts
Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s)
Licensed pumps - LMW
TOTAL
7.8
16
2.8
2.7
4.3
33.6
From 1
July 2014
222
483
91
52
249
1097
* 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
186.0 *
67.2
38.9
267.6
(9 600 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
80
120
110
830
140
220
220
240
250
320
330
840
730
2 470
1 150
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Average since 1 August 2014
60
80
120
120
820
140
230
220
240
250
320
320
840
700
2 500
1 160
Telephone: 02 6279 0100
Web: www.mdba.gov.au
90
100
120
130
750
140
210
220
290
280
330
360
760
610
2 410
1 150
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River Levels and Flows
Week ending Wednesday 04 Mar 2015
7.3
-
1.70
1.52
3.48
3.29
2.37
3.32
1.64
2.23
2.27
1.29
3.30
1.81
2.86
3.92
0.71
208.22
218.41
157.11
151.76
149.81
129.34
116.68
106.07
80.82
64.21
52.42
43.65
27.62
20.85
-
(ML/day)
4 060
4 280
800
17 970
18 330
16 390
9 960
9 890
6 590
6 680
9 170
9 640
8 690
8 180
9 260
7 130
F
R
F
R
R
R
R
S
F
F
F
F
F
R
S
R
(ML/day)
3 220
3 620
1 850
15 670
16 010
15 210
9 930
10 040
7 040
7 420
9 700
9 460
7 880
7 250
8 750
6 420
Average
Flow last
Week
(ML/day)
3 400
4 240
2 930
13 650
14 710
14 370
9 970
10 170
8 610
8 140
9 460
8 140
6 500
5 930
8 430
6 300
2.7
11.9
9.0
5.0
-
0.75
7.74
1.62
2.23
2.83
1.39
1.14
3.21
4.21
0.64
153.98
145.42
93.04
82.00
58.21
54.88
57.10
-
220
180
1 170
2 350
2 340
370
750
120
910
20
F
F
F
F
R
S
F
S
F
F
300
260
1 460
2 330
2 340
390
1 200
120
1 270
10
900
280
2 430
2 590
2 340
370
580
160
2 420
0
410
1 220
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
3.8
6.4
6.4
7.3
4.5
8.8
8.8
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
-0.27
+0.00
+0.07
+0.07
+0.10
-0.07
-0.58
d/s
+0.27
+0.22
-0.47
+0.17
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
+0.03
+0.04
+0.03
+0.08
+0.04
+0.04
-0.08
d/s
+1.60
+0.23
+0.37
+1.07
+0.34
+0.26
-0.04
FSL = 0.75 m AHD
Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD)
Barrages
0.55
Fishways at Barrages
Openings
Level (m AHD)
No. Open
Goolwa
128 openings
0.53
6
Mundoo
26 openings
0.53
All closed
Boundary Creek
6 openings
0.1
Ewe Island
111 gates
All closed
Tauwitchere
322 gates
0.53
13
AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level
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Week ending Wednesday 04 Mar 2015
State Allocations (as at 04 Mar 2015)
NSW - Murray Valley
High security
General security
Victorian - Murray Valley
97%
59%
NSW – Murrumbidgee Valley
High security
General security
NSW :
VIC :
SA :
100%
0%
Victorian - Goulburn Valley
95%
51%
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
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Flow advice
27 February 2015
Lower Mitta Mitta flows in March
Landholders and river users on the Mitta Mitta are advised that releases to the river will be reduced
during March.
Starting on 28 February, releases from Dartmouth Reservoir into the Mitta Mitta River will gradually be
reduced to a flow of 600 megalitres per day, which is 1.23 metres local gauge height at Colemans
gauge.
Releases are being reduced because the storage at Hume Reservoir no longer needs to be
supplemented by water held at Dartmouth. The current volume at Hume Reservoir, together with
expected inflows, should be sufficient to meet demand for water downstream until the end of the
irrigation season in mid-May.
Downstream demand has been lower than previously forecast due to milder weather conditions over
summer than anticipated. Water released from Lake Mulwala when maintenance works start in late
April will also help to meet downstream requirements.
The current storage volume in Dartmouth Reservoir is 3,044 GL (79% capacity) while Hume
Reservoir’s storage is 1,168 GL (39% capacity).
Occasional higher releases of water from Dartmouth Reservoir are possible in the coming months for
water quality and electricity generation purposes. A flow advice will be issued prior to any significantly
higher releases.
The MDBA routinely updates the flow forecasts on the MDBA website each Wednesday.
ENDS
For more information, contact the MDBA Media office at media@mdba.gov.au or 02 6279 0141
Follow @MD_Basin_Auth on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MD_Basin_Auth
Join the discussion on the MDBA blog: http://freeflow.mdba.gov.au
Page 9 of 10
MEDIA RELEASE
4 March 2015
Mildura works scheduled to start 20 May 2015
River users in Sunraysia are advised that the Mildura weir pool level is expected to start dropping
on Wednesday, 20 May 2015 to allow for essential maintenance at the weir.
The weir pool will be lowered for up to 10 weeks while repairs are made to the concrete structure
on the riverbed and six new mechanised trestles are installed.
The weir pool will be gradually lowered over seven to nine days to about 3.6 metres below full
supply level, depending on river flows, and is expected to return to full supply level by late July.
Works on the lock chamber are also planned to start on 20 May 2015. The lock will be closed to
boat traffic from 4.30pm that day, and will remain closed for three to four months while the lock is
refurbished. The extent of work to be completed on the lock can only be determined once it is
empty and can be inspected.
MDBA head of River Management David Dreverman said the timing of the works was made after
speaking with local community and industry groups.
"We're very aware of the needs of the many river users so we've taken the advice of local tourism,
industry, irrigation and other groups to identify the preferred timing to do these necessary works,"
Mr Dreverman said.
Boat operators, stock owners, river pumpers and other river users are advised to take these
changed water levels and the lock closure into account and make any necessary adjustments to
their activities.
River salinity might increase during the drawdown, depending on flow rates at the time. Salinity
levels will be continually monitored and available each Wednesday morning on the MDBA website
at http://www.mdba.gov.au/river-data/current-information-forecasts/flow-salinity-report
Updates prior to and during the works will also be available in the Weekly Report at
http://www.mdba.gov.au/river-data/current-information-forecasts/weekly-report
ENDS
Contact the MDBA Media office at media@mdba.gov.au or 02 6279 0141
Follow the MDBA http://twitter.com/MD_Basin_Auth
Access information and discussion on the MDBA blog: http://freeflow.mdba.gov.au/
Page 10 of 10