River Murray Operations Weekly Report 29Th April 2015

River Murray Operations Weekly Report 29Th April 2015

River Murray Weekly Report

For the week ending Wednesday, 29 April2018

Trim Ref:D15/19181

Rainfall and Inflows

A cold front and associated low pressure system traversed south-eastern Australia this week bringing rainfall to southern parts of the Murray-Darling Basin. The system also heralded the arrival of cooler southerly winds but delivered little or no rain to northern areas (Map 1).

The highest weekly rain totals were recorded over the south-east ranges and in South Australia. In NSW, there were totals up to around 50 mm across the peaks of the Snowy Mountains, with worthwhile totals in the surrounding districts including 28 mm at Cooma and 27 mm at Tooma. It was a similar story in Victoria where the highest totals were recorded in and around the Victorian Alps. Notable totals included 48 mm at Mt Hotham, 38 mm at Harrietville and 35 mm at Mt Buffalo. At the Lower Lakes in South Australia, there was 26 mm at Milang.

Weekly rainfall totals for Murray Darling Basin

Map 1 - Murray Darling Basin rainfall for the week ending 29 April 2015 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology).

Rain across the upper catchments provided a useful follow up to the previous week that helped maintain or increase flows along the major tributaries. On the upper Murray, the flow at Biggara peaked at 1,200ML/day over the weekend and is now 600 ML/day. On the upper Mitta Mitta River, the flow at Hinnomunjie Bridge also increased to 1,200 ML/day before receding to 650 ML/day. On the Ovens River, flows at Wangaratta have averaged around 500 ML/day.

River Operations

MDBA total storage increased by 20 GL this week, with the active storage now 3,564 GL (42% capacity).

At Dartmouth Reservoir, storage decreased by 6 GL to 2,901 GL (75% capacity). Releases, measured at Colemans gauge, are currently 1,600 ML/day butwill be reduced to 450 ML/day by Sunday 3 May and maintained at this rate over the coming week.

At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume increased by 6 GL this week with total storage now at 644 GL (21% capacity). The average release at Doctors Point for the week was 8,500 ML/day.

At Yarrawonga Weir, the pool level has been reduced from 124.75 m AHD at the beginning of the week to 124.67m AHD in preparation for the drawdown commencing 15 May,when the irrigation season finishes (see Lake Mulwala media release on the MDBA website). Until such time, the pool level will continue to be managed below the normal target operating level of 124.7 m AHD whilst ensuring that gravity diversions to the major irrigation offtakes are met.

Irrigation demands through the major irrigation offtakes have remained low following rainfall events in the last two weeks with Yarrawonga Main Channel and Mulwala Canal diverting an average of 400 ML/day and 700 ML/day respectively.

On the Edward River system, flow through the Edward River and Gulpa Creek offtakes continues at channel capacity at 1,600 ML/day and 350 ML/day respectively. At Stevens Weir, the downstream release is currently 1,400 ML/day. On the Goulburn River, flows at McCoys Bridge are currently steady at 1,000 ML/day.

On the Murray at Torrumbarry Weir, diversions at National Channel are presently 2,000 ML/day and the downstream flow at Torrumbarry is currently 6,800 ML/day.

On the lower Murrumbidgee River, the flow at Balranald is expected to reduce over the coming week to a minimum flow of 300 ML/day as Inter Valley Transfer (IVT) water is reduced.

On the Murray at MilduraWeir the flow is currently 10,600 ML/day and rising. Mildura Weir works are scheduled to commence on 20 May, see the most recent media release attached.

At Lock 8, the weir pool level is currently 80 cm below FSL as part of the current weir pool manipulation trial, see figure 1.

At Menindee Lakesthe storage volume decreased by 3 GL over the last week and is now 67 GL (4% capacity). Releases from the lakes, measured at Weir 32, will be ceased by NSW on 1 May, see attached media release. On the River Murray, downstream of the Darling confluence, the flow at Wentworth Weir is forecast to be steady at 11,000 ML/day this week.

At Lake Victoria, the storage volume has increased by 23 GL to 213 GL (31% capacity) and flow to South Australia will be around 4,900 ML/day for the coming week.

At the Lower Lakes, the 5-day average level in Lake Alexandrina is 0.57 m AHD, with releases through the Barrages estimated to be around 2,200 ML/day.

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Figure 1 - Drying banksofLock 8 (Source Scott Jaensch, April 2015).

The MDBA has given its online river data a major facelift, see attached media release. A dedicated site now provides easier access to current and historic river data using an interactive map showing information from more than 60 places on the River Murray system. View the new webpage for information on storage levels, river heights, water release rates and salinity data. This information is now compatible with smartphones and tablets.

For media inquiries contact the Media Officeron 02 6279 0141

DAVID DREVERMAN

Executive Director, River Management

Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 29 Apr 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 / 470.16 / 2 901 / 75% / 71 / 2 830 / -6
Hume Reservoir / 192.00 / 3 005 / 175.20 / 644 / 21% / 23 / 621 / +6
Lake Victoria / 27.00 / 677 / 22.63 / 213 / 31% / 100 / 113 / +23
Menindee Lakes / 1 731* / 67 / 4% / (- -) # / 0 / -3
Total / 9 269 / 3 825 / 41% / - - / 3 564 / +20
Total Active MDBA Storage / 42% ^
Major State Storages
Burrinjuck Reservoir / 1 026 / 405 / 39% / 3 / 402 / +12
Blowering Reservoir / 1 631 / 439 / 27% / 24 / 415 / +3
Eildon Reservoir / 3 334 / 1 884 / 57% / 100 / 1 784 / -5

*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 28 Apr 2015

Storage / Active Storage (GL) / Weekly Change (GL) / Diversion (GL) / This Week / From 1 May 2014
Lake Eucumbene - Total / 2 145 / n/a / Snowy-Murray / +15 / 463
Snowy-Murray Component / 943 / n/a / Tooma-Tumut / +0 / 224
Target Storage / 1 340 / Net Diversion / 15 / 240
Murray 1 Release / +22 / 747

Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) *

New South Wales / This Week / From 1 July 2014 / Victoria / This Week / From 1 July 2014
Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) / 5.6 / 838 / Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) / 2.5 / 292
Wakool Sys Allowance / 1.8 / 79 / Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) / 7 / 601
Western Murray Irrigation / 0.0 / 23 / Sunraysia Pumped Districts / 0.2 / 103
Licensed Pumps / 4.8 / 272 / Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) / 0.4 / 65
Lower Darling / 0.1 / 61 / Licensed pumps - LMW / 2 / 272
TOTAL / 12.3 / 1273 / TOTAL / 12.1 / 1333

* 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 / 135.0 *
Flow this week / 37.2 / (5 300 ML/day)
Flow so far this month / 178.0
Flow last month / 243.6

Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C)

Current / Average over the last week / Average since 1 August 2014
Swan Hill / 60 / 60 / 80
Euston / - / - / 100
Red Cliffs / 90 / 100 / 120
Merbein / 100 / 100 / 120
Burtundy (Darling) / 910 / 910 / 810
Lock 9 / 110 / 110 / 130
Lake Victoria / 230 / 210 / 210
Berri / 230 / 230 / 220
Waikerie / 350 / 340 / 280
Morgan / 280 / 280 / 280
Mannum / 290 / 290 / 320
Murray Bridge / 300 / 310 / 350
Milang (Lake Alex.) / 800 / 790 / 750
Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) / 660 / 670 / 630
Meningie (Lake Alb.) / 2 430 / 2 470 / 2 430
Goolwa Barrages / 1 380 / 1 410 / 1 320

River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 29 Apr 2015

Minor Flood Stage / Gauge / Height / Flow / Trend / Average Flow this Week / Average Flow last Week
River Murray / (m) / local (m) / (m AHD) / (ML/day) / (ML/day) / (ML/day)
Khancoban / - / - / - / 4 170 / F / 3 550 / 3 790
Jingellic / 4.0 / 1.83 / 208.35 / 5 140 / F / 4 620 / 5 550
Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) / 4.2 / 1.89 / 218.78 / 1 850 / F / 2 740 / 5 450
Heywoods / 5.5 / 2.51 / 156.14 / 6 930 / R / 7 270 / 8 320
Doctors Point / 5.5 / 2.43 / 150.90 / 8 170 / R / 8 470 / 9 150
Albury / 4.3 / 1.48 / 148.92 / - / - / - / -
Corowa / 4.6 / 1.96 / 127.98 / 7 620 / F / 8 550 / 11 620
Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) / 6.4 / 1.39 / 116.43 / 8 010 / S / 8 390 / 9 950
Tocumwal / 6.4 / 2.00 / 105.84 / 8 170 / F / 8 780 / 10 080
Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 2.23 / 80.78 / 6 750 / F / 7 500 / 7 050
Swan Hill / 4.5 / 1.42 / 64.34 / 7 560 / S / 7 460 / 6 790
Wakool Junction / 8.8 / 3.58 / 52.70 / 10 410 / S / 10 120 / 9 080
Euston Weir (d/s) / 9.1 / 2.05 / 43.89 / 11 400 / R / 11 030 / 10 050
Mildura Weir (d/s) / - / - / 10 610 / F / 10 260 / 9 430
Wentworth Weir (d/s) / 7.3 / 3.11 / 27.87 / 11 070 / S / 10 530 / 9 970
Rufus Junction / - / 3.08 / 20.01 / 4 070 / F / 4 470 / 5 730
Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) / - / 0.63 / - / 4 880 / F / 5 830 / 6 220
Tributaries
Kiewa at Bandiana / 2.8 / 1.24 / 154.47 / 820 / F / 890 / 600
Ovens at Wangaratta / 11.9 / 7.97 / 145.65 / 520 / F / 500 / 600
Goulburn at McCoys Bridge / 9.0 / 1.50 / 92.92 / 970 / F / 1 070 / 1 110
Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) / 5.5 / 1.59 / 81.36 / 1 430 / S / 1 330 / 2 460
Edward at Liewah / - / 3.06 / 58.44 / 2 660 / F / 2 710 / 2 430
Wakool at Stoney Crossing / - / 1.55 / 55.04 / 710 / F / 710 / 590
Murrumbidgee at Balranald / 5.0 / 1.00 / 56.96 / 610 / F / 830 / 1 040
Barwon at Mungindi / 6.1 / 3.41 / - / 550 / F / 700 / 1 160
Darling at Bourke / 9.0 / - / - / - / F / - / 0
Darling at Burtundy Rocks / - / 1.06 / - / 0 / F / 0 / 0
Natural Inflow to Hume / 4 020 / 2 870

(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/s
Yarrawonga / 124.90 / -0.23 / - / No. 7 Rufus River / 22.10 / +0.04 / +0.77
No. 26 Torrumbarry / 86.05 / +0.00 / - / No. 6 Murtho / 19.25 / -0.02 / -0.02
No. 15 Euston / 47.60 / -0.28 / - / No. 5 Renmark / 16.30 / +0.02 / +0.15
No. 11 Mildura / 34.40 / +0.04 / +0.38 / No. 4 Bookpurnong / 13.20 / +0.01 / +0.47
No. 10 Wentworth / 30.80 / +0.07 / +0.47 / No. 3 Overland Corner / 9.80 / +0.01 / +0.17
No. 9 Kulnine / 27.40 / -0.01 / -0.72 / No. 2 Waikerie / 6.10 / +0.03 / +0.10
No. 8 Wangumma / 24.60 / -0.78 / +0.11 / No. 1 Blanchetown / 3.20 / -0.11 / -0.12

Lower LakesFSL = 0.75 m AHD

Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD) / 0.57

Barrages Fishways at Barrages

Openings / Level (m AHD) / No. Open / Rock Ramp / Vertical Slot
Goolwa / 128 openings / 0.59 / 2 / - / Open
Mundoo / 26 openings / 0.57 / All closed / - / -
Boundary Creek / 6 openings / - / 0.1 / - / -
Ewe Island / 111 gates / - / All closed / - / -
Tauwitchere / 322 gates / 0.58 / 6 / 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 29 Apr 2015

State Allocations (as at 29 Apr 2015)

NSW - Murray Valley / Victorian - Murray Valley
High security / 97%
General security / 61%
/ High reliability / 100%
Low reliability / 0%
NSW – MurrumbidgeeValley / Victorian- GoulburnValley
High security / 95%
General security / 53%
/ 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 May 2015

Works at Mildura weir and lock to start this month

River users in Sunraysia are reminded that the Mildura weir pool level will start to be lowered and Lock 11 will close on Wednesday, 20 May 2015.

The weir pool level is likely to remain low for up to two and a half months (10 weeks) and Lock 11 will be closed for up to four months while essential maintenance work is done.

The weir pool will be gradually lowered over a seven to nine-day period to about 3.6 metres below full supply level, depending on river flows. It is expected to return to full supply level by late July.

The river level immediately downstream of the weir is expected to rise by up to one metreduring the first few days that water is released from the weir pool. Boat operators, river pumpers, stock owners and others along the river between Mildura and Wentworth are advised to take this into account and adjust their activities as necessary.

Lock 11 will be closed to boat traffic from 4.30pm on Wednesday 20 May, and will remain closed for three to four months while the lock is refurbished. The extent of work to be done will be determined once the lock is empty and can be inspected.

MDBA head of River Management David Dreverman said the works had been scheduled to cause the least disruption to river users.

"We appreciate the community's understanding while we do these works. It's important that we maintain the weir so the river can be properly managed and reliably support surrounding industries," Mr Dreverman said.

“It’s possible the low river levels will increase the amount of salty groundwater entering the river, so river pumpers might want to fill their off-river storages before the weir pool is lowered.

"To help dilute any salt in the river, we’re carefully timing the release of flows from Lake Mulwala and using the end-of-season drainage of irrigation systems. Any salinity spikes in downstream flows will be diverted through Lake Victoria for dilution before entering South Australia.”

The MDBA will continue to closely monitor river and salinity levels while the weir pool is lowered. Forecasts of river flows and salinity, along with additional information will be provided on the MDBA's website at

ENDS

For more information, contact the MDBA Media office at or 02 6279 0141 or Goulburn–Murray Water on 1800 013 357.
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Customer notice

CEASE OF FLOW WEIR 32

27 April 2015

WaterNSW wishes to advise water users that releases from Lake Wetherell will cease on

Friday, 1 May.

Ending releases is part of the planned drought management for the area, which has experienced dramatically reduced inflows into the Menindee Lakes’ system for many months.

Following the cease of releases, WaterNSW expects that the water level upstream of Weir 32 may fall by approximately 400-500mm, from the current level of 1.29m.

Customers are advised to monitor the water level and assess risks to infrastructure before operating pumps.

The NSW Government, through the NSW Office of Water, is advising residents and businesses of Menindee that are not connected to the Menindee town water supply, that funding for water carting is available through the Central Darling Shire Council for costs associated with carting water to your property. Anyone wishing to arrange to have water transported to their property should contact Margot Muscat at the:

Rural Transaction Centre

Yartla Street –

Menindee

Phone: (08) 8091 4392

To track the flows on real time data, visit under daily river reports.

Authorised by:

Vince Kelly

Acting Water Operations Manager

WaterNSW PO Box 1018, 7 Commercial Avenue, Blue Ridge Estate

Dubbo NSW 2830

Phone: 1300 662 077 Fax: 1300 871 447 ABN: 21 147 934 787

MEDIA RELEASE

28 April 2015

Live river data now mobile

Wondering how high the River Murray is at Swan Hill, what salinity is like at Tocumwal, or how much water is in Hume Dam?

The MDBA has given its online river data a major facelift. A dedicated site now provides easier access to current and historic river data using an interactive map showing information from more than 60 places on the River Murray system.

MDBA river operations spokesman Joseph Davis said river data had always been the most popular feature on the MDBA website, receiving more than 100,000 visitors last year.

“This overhaul gives people a much easier way to search and view the information they’re interested in.”

Dr Davis said there were a number of new features on the revamped site.

“Our river data flags those locations where there’s been a recent update, such as announcements of lock or weir closures for works, or advice about changes in river heights,” he said.

“The site is also now mobile and tablet friendly, meaning you can access it while you’re on the river or out in your paddock.”

Users can bookmark the new site at and provide feedback on the new functions by using the contact us form on the MDBA’s website.

The MDBA manages the River Murray on behalf of basin governments. For similar information about other rivers in the basin, people should check the website of the relevant state water agency.

ENDS

For more information, contact the MDBA Media office at or 02 6279 0141

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