Rainfall and inflows



River Murray Weekly ReportFor the week ending Wednesday, 30 September 2020Trim Ref: D20/41318Rainfall and inflowsRainfall was widespread across the central and southern Murray-Darling Basin this week (Map 1). Moderate totals were recorded across the southern Basin. In Victoria’s Alpine region, Harris Lane recorded 70 mm and 48 mm fell at Hunters Hill (near Berringama) in the Upper Murray catchment of Victoria. In New South Wales, Pooncarie on the Lower Darling River recorded 14 mm, while Balranald on the Murrumbidgee River, near its confluence with the Murray River, recorded 15 mm. Lake Victoria, Hume Reservoir and Yarrawonga all recorded 16 mm.The Bureau of Meteorology is currently forecasting widespread light to moderate rainfall across much of the Murray-Darling Basin in the coming 8 days.Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall totals for week ending 30 September 2020 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology) This week’s rainfall produced increased tributary streamflows in the upper Murray, Kiewa and Ovens Rivers. Peechelba, on the Ovens River, peaked at around 4,750?ML/day, and the Kiewa River at Bandiana peaked at around 2,800 ML/day. Further specific information about flows at key locations can be found at the MDBA’s River Murray data webpage. Up-to-date river data for sites in the upper Murray can also be found on BoM’s website and in the Murray River Basin Daily River Report at the WaterNSW website.System operationsUnregulated flow event concludesThe extended period of unregulated flows into South Australia which commenced 27 June 2020, concluded this week on 25 September as anticipated in previous advice. The filling of Lake Victoria was managed within the requirements of the Lake Victoria Operating strategy (LVOS) and the need to bring the storage to effective full supply at the conclusion of the unregulated flow period. River operationsMDBA active storage continues to riseWater for the environment supporting Murray Cod outcomes in the MurrayUnregulated system flows conclude at the SA borderLake Victoria reaches effective full supply level at conclusion of unregulated flow eventMDBA active storage continues to riseWater for the environment supporting Murray Cod outcomes in the MurrayUnregulated system flows conclude at the SA borderLake Victoria reaches effective full supply level at conclusion of unregulated flow eventRiver operations and the COVID-19 virusThe MDBA is continuing to work with government partners and stakeholders during this challenging time. In response to the impact of COVID-19, the MDBA has enacted business continuity arrangements to ensure the continued operation of our business functions. River operations have been identified as a priority in this time as running the river is essential to supporting irrigation supply to agricultural industries.We hope all our community members remain safe at this time. We encourage all river users to evaluate plans against government advice, physical distancing and travel, and to support actions to limit the spread of COVID-19.Water quality impactsAn amber alert for blue-green algae is current in the River Murray system for the Gulpa Creek at Mathoura and the Edward River at Old Morago. It is important that water users regularly keep up to date with algal alerts, notices and health warnings. This information is available through Goulburn-Murray Water and WaterNSW.As the Bureau of Metrology declared a La Ni?a this week and continues to forecast wet conditions across south eastern Australia, Murray Darling Basin communities should be aware there is a significant risk of hypoxic blackwater events occurring particularly in New South Wales. After three hot and dry years, floodplains have a high load of leaf litter. La Ni?a conditions in spring increases the risk of floods, which can wash organic matter into waterways and lead to hypoxic blackwater events. More information is provided in the MDBA and WaterNSW joint media release. Monthly snapshot of water in the systemRiver Murray communities can now access a monthly point-in-time snapshot that shows what water is in the river for the environment compared with water for towns, industries and irrigators. Every day, water enters the river at different points and for different purposes, including irrigation, town water supply, industries and specific environmental benefits. The monthly snapshot shows in simple terms the volume of flow and the extent to which it comprises water for the environment at five locations—in the Murray River at Yarrawonga and the South Australian border, and in the Murrumbidgee, Goulburn and Darling rivers just upstream of their junction with the Murray. Find out more on Flows in the River Murray system.River operationsOver the past week, MDBA total active storage increased by 64?GL to 4,688?GL (55% capacity). At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage increased by 13 GL this week to 2,180?GL (57% capacity). The release, measured at Colemans, continued to target the minimum flow of 200?ML/day. At Hume Reservoir the storage level increased by 49 GL to 2,031?GL (68% capacity). Hume releases peaked on Friday at around 5,500 ML/day before easing across the remainder of the week in response to rising tributary inflows from rainfall over the Ovens and Kiewa catchments. In the coming weeks, Hume releases will continue to be influenced by rainfall, irrigation demands and orders for water for the environment.At Lake Mulwala, the pool level is 124.76 m AHD and within the normal operating range of between 124.6 and 124.9 m AHD. Earlier in the week irrigation diversions reduced with rainfall and cooler weather. Towards the end of the week diversion to Mulwala Canal increased to near 1,000 ML/day, while diversion to Yarrawonga Main Channel remained at 400 ML/day.The release from Yarrawonga Weir began to incrementally increase on Monday from 7,000 ML/day to 8,700?ML/day on Wednesday following weekend rain and subsequent increased inflow. The release is expected to remain at around 8,500 ML/day over the coming weeks to continue delivering water for the environment. These higher flows are designed to provide water levels that support the Murray Cod nesting season, while also increasing lateral connectivity between the River Murray and the Barmah-Millewa Forest. This greater connectivity has been enabled by the opening of selected regulators in the forest which promotes increased productivity in the river and supports plants and animals in the forest. All actions associated with water for the environment are tracked and water usage debited from environmental water holder accounts. With the gates raised clear of the water at Edward River Offtake, flows continue to respond to changes in the Murray. This week, with releases from Yarrawonga, flow through the offtake averaged around 1,240?ML/day. Flow through the Gulpa River Offtake remained around 250 ML/day across the week. Downstream, diversions to Wakool Main Canal remained steady at 200 ML/day for most of week, increasing to 300 ML/day at the end of the week. This week, the release from Stevens Weir averaged around 1,130 ML/day and is anticipated to remain near this rate in the coming week.On the Goulburn River, the flow measured at McCoys Bridge receded from near 2,000?ML/day to the current rate near 1,400?ML/day, where the flow is expected to remain over the coming week. The current inflow into the River Murray is comprised mostly of water for the environment that has been used to slow the flow recessions in parts of the Goulburn system. Information regarding opportunities for allocation trade between the Goulburn and Murray Valleys is available at the Victorian water register website.Diversions to National Channel from the Torrumbarry Weir pool remained steady at around 1,300 ML/day, before increasing to 1,700 ML/day at the close of the week. Demands are expected to remain steady at around this rate in the coming week. A portion of this flow is being used to maintain baseflows in the Gunbower Creek with the aim of providing increased habitat for native fish and other aquatic animals over the spring period. Flow in Gunbower Creek returns to the River Murray via Koondrook Spillway, downstream of Torrumbarry Weir near Barham. This week the release downstream of Torrumbarry Weir decreased from around 6,800 ML/day to near 4,900 ML/day and over the coming week flows are anticipated to marginally increase. Photos 1&2 – A swollen Tumut River in the Murrumbidgee catchment following rain in the area (Photo by Kate Sandles, MDBA) Inflow from the Murrumbidgee River, measured at Balranald, remained steady across the week near the September end of system target of 1,330?ML/day. Flows are anticipated to ease over the coming week, falling away to the October end of system target of 1,030 ML/day. Supplementary access for the Murrumbidgee system has now concluded in all reaches. Please see the WaterNSW website for more information. The Murrumbidgee IVT balance is open for trade from the Murray to the Murrumbidgee (101.7?GL) but remains closed for trade from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray.At Euston Weir, the weir pool level is at FSL. This week the downstream release increased from around 9,200?ML/day to just over 10,000 ML/day before decreasing to the current level of around 9,850 ML/day. The flow is expected to decrease gradually in the coming week. Menindee Lakes storage remained steady this week at 470?GL (27% capacity). The downstream release, measured at Weir 32, remains near 410 ML/day, with the modest environmental releases that commenced the previous week moving down the lower Darling River. These flows aim to improve the condition of the lower Darling and help Murray Cod breed this spring. For more information refer to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office and NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Following the rainfall and streamflow responses during recent months, water restrictions have been lifted in many locations across NSW. Links to drought services and assistance can be accessed via the MDBA drought webpage.At Wentworth Weir, the weir pool level is being managed to target around FSL. The downstream flow averaged around 8,000 ML/day across the week and is expected to slightly decrease over the coming week. The Lock 9, Lock 8 and Lock 7 weir pools continue to vary near FSL, within their normal operating range.Photo 3 – Salt Creek Fishway in the south east drains network, South Australia (Photo by Mark de Jong, DEW, SA)The storage level at Lake Victoria increased by 2?GL to 671?GL (99% capacity) this week and was deliberately managed to peak at the conclusion of the unregulated flow event. The filling of Lake Victoria over the last few months was managed within the requirements of the Lake Victoria Operating strategy (LVOS).Given the period of unregulated flow to South Australia ceased 25 September, Lake Victoria is now being used to help meet requirements across the SA border. The flow to South Australia is currently around 7,800 ML/day and will increase further in coming days as in-transit water for the environment is delivered across the border, in addition to the October South Australian monthly entitlement.Photo 4 – Yellow-eye mullet from the Morella Fishway, South Australia (Photo by Mark de Jong, DEW, SA)The Lower Lakes 5-day average water level is 0.83?m?AHD. Unregulated flow into the Lower Lakes over the past months has allowed large volumes to be released to the Coorong to target outcomes in the Coorong and at the Murray Mouth. Increased barrage releases will continue to be made when conditions allow to push fresh water into the Coorong. For information on barrage releases and South Australia’s Entitlement flow, see the South Australian Department for Environment and Water Weekly River Murray Flow Report.For media inquiries contact the Media Officer on 02 6279 0141ANDREW REYNOLDSExecutive Director, River ManagementWater in Storage Week ending Wednesday 30 Sep 2020MDBA StoragesFull Supply LevelFull Supply VolumeCurrent Storage LevelCurrent StorageDead StorageActive StorageChange in Total Storage for the Week?(m AHD)(GL)(m AHD)(GL)%(GL)(GL)(GL)Dartmouth Reservoir486.00 3 856 455.942 18057%712 109+13Hume Reservoir192.00 3 005 186.592 03168%232 008+49Lake Victoria27.00 677 26.95 67199%100 571+2Menindee Lakes? 1 731*? 47027%(- -) # 0-0Total? 9 269 ?5 35258%- -4 688+64Total Active MDBA Storage??????56% ^??????????Major State StoragesBurrinjuck Reservoir?1 026? 82180% 3 818+6Blowering Reservoir?1 631?1 28279% 241 258+28Eildon Reservoir?3 334?1 98660% 1001 886+28* 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 29 Sep 2020 Storage Active Storage (GL)Weekly Change (GL)Diversion (GL)This WeekFrom 1 May 2020Lake Eucumbene - Total1 148n/aSnowy-Murray+0 420Snowy-Murray Component 537n/aTooma-Tumut+9 138Target Storage1 240?Net Diversion-9 282???Murray 1 Release+17 580Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) *New South WalesThis WeekFrom 1 July 2020VictoriaThis WeekFrom 1 July 2020Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net)7.6136Yarrawonga Main Channel (net)2.722Wakool Sys Allowance0.926Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net)5.851Western Murray Irrigation0.22Sunraysia Pumped Districts0.99Licensed Pumps2.441Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s)0.22Lower Darling0.00Licensed pumps - LMW4.934TOTAL11.1205TOTAL14.5118* 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 dataFlow to South Australia (GL)* Flow to SA will be greater than normal entitlement for this month due to unregulated flows.Entitlement this month 135.0 *?Flow this week 49.9(7 100 ML/day)Flow so far this month274.0Flow last month261.6Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C)?CurrentAverage over the last weekAverage since 1 August 2020Swan Hill 130 110 120Euston---Red Cliffs 160 160 140Merbein 160 170 180Burtundy (Darling) 330 330 310Lock 9 170 150 130Lake Victoria 130 120 120Berri 170 170 150Waikerie 190 190 200Morgan 190 190 200Mannum- 240 220Murray Bridge 240 240 240Milang (Lake Alex.) 840 830 870Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) 390 580 480Meningie (Lake Alb.)1 7201 7201 690Goolwa Barrages-1 3201 510River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 30 Sep 2020?Minor Flood StageGaugeHeightFlowTrendAverage Flow this WeekAverage Flow last WeekRiver Murray(m)local (m)(m AHD)(ML/day)?(ML/day)(ML/day)Khancoban---2 250F3 6403 750Jingellic4.01.97208.496 920F8 3507 460Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River )4.21.59218.48 990F1 080 950Heywoods5.51.89155.522 570S3 9904 120Doctors Point5.52.03150.504 430R5 9605 710Albury4.31.09148.53- - --Corowa4.61.36127.384 930F6 0105 830Yarrawonga Weir (d/s)6.41.44116.488 720R7 5407 250Tocumwal6.41.89105.737 700R6 8306 780Torrumbarry Weir (d/s)7.31.8180.364 870F5 9707 000Swan Hill4.51.3164.236 700F7 3906 790Wakool Junction8.83.0752.198 420F8 6907 970Euston Weir (d/s)9.11.7543.599 840F9 6109 170Mildura Weir (d/s)?--9 170F8 7809 540Wentworth Weir (d/s)7.33.0527.818 310S7 9609 370Rufus Junction-3.5220.456 860R6 2308 360Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s)-0.82-6 260R6 5108 370????????Tributaries???????Kiewa at Bandiana2.81.79155.021 640R1 8801 500Ovens at Wangaratta11.99.21146.894 110F3 9702 690Goulburn at McCoys Bridge9.01.7093.121 340F1 6702 700Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s)5.51.4281.191 180F1 130 800Edward at Liewah-1.3556.73 740R 7401 030Wakool at Stoney Crossing-1.4154.90 460F 490 530Murrumbidgee at Balranald5.01.7557.711 320F1 3201 290Barwon at Mungindi6.13.17- 110F 120 140Darling at Bourke9.04.09- 440F 600 830Darling at Burtundy Rocks-0.78- 270R 190 150????????Natural Inflow to Hume?????12 34012 170 (i.e. Pre Dartmouth & Snowy Mountains scheme)Weirs and Locks Pool levels above or below Full Supply Level (FSL)MurrayFSL (m AHD)u/sd/s?FSL (m AHD)u/sd/sYarrawonga124.90-0.09-No. 7 Rufus River22.10+0.11-28.25No. 26 Torrumbarry86.05-0.00-No. 6 Murtho19.25+0.15+0.23No. 15 Euston47.60+0.00-No. 5 Renmark16.30+0.14+0.43No. 11 Mildura34.40+0.05+0.26No. 4 Bookpurnong13.20+0.28+0.71No. 10 Wentworth30.80+0.02+0.41No. 3 Overland Corner9.80+0.00+0.42No. 9 Kulnine27.40+0.04+0.17No. 2 Waikerie6.10+0.19+0.29No. 8 Wangumma24.60+0.07+0.31No. 1 Blanchetown3.20+0.11+0.07Lower LakesFSL = 0.75 m AHDLake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD)0.83Barrages Fishways at Barrages?OpeningsLevel (m AHD)No. OpenRock RampVertical Slot 1Vertical Slot 2Dual Vertical SlotsGoolwa128 openings-3-OpenOpen-Mundoo26 openings-All closed---OpenHunters Creek----Open--Boundary Creek6 openings-1-Open--Ewe Island111 gates-All closed---OpenTauwitchere322 gates0.836OpenClosedOpen-AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea levelWeek ending Wednesday 30 Sep 2020State Allocations (as at 2 Oct 2020)NSW - Murray ValleyVictorian - Murray ValleyHigh security97%General security17%High reliability40%Low reliability0%NSW – Murrumbidgee ValleyVictorian - Goulburn ValleyHigh security95%General security48%High reliability58%Low reliability0%NSW - Lower DarlingSouth Australia – Murray ValleyHigh security100%General security30%High security100%NSW : : : ................
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