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RIVER MURRAY WEEKLY REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING WEDNESDAY, 19 APRIL 2017 Trim Ref: D17/17087

Rainfall and inflows

It has been relatively dry in the Basin over the past week (Map 1). The most significant rain was confined to an isolated pocket in northern New South Wales in the Northwest Plains, where a total of 15 mm was recorded at Walgett on the Barwon River. The remainder of the Basin received little to no rainfall. Scattered patches of rain were recorded in Queensland, with 5 mm north of Toowoomba at Mount Kynoch. Canberra received a total of 4 mm. Little or no rain was recorded in Victoria or South Australia.

Map 1 - Murray-Darling Basin rainfall week ending 19 April 2017 (Source: Bureau of Meteorology)

In response to this week’s drier weather, stream flows in the upper Murray tributaries have been receding. On the Mitta Mitta River at Hinnomunjie Bridge, the flow has decreased by around 250 ML/day, averaging around 300 ML/day. Flow in the upper Murray at Biggara decreased by about 200 ML/day, averaging almost 400 ML/day. Downstream of Hume Reservoir, the flow in the Kiewa River at Bandiana averaged around 600 ML/day. Flows in the King River were steady (see Photo 1) and, downstream, the Ovens River at Wangaratta averaged around 650 ML/day.

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Photo 1 – A visitor enjoys the pleasant autumn weather and steady flows in the King River near Moyhu (Photo courtesy Alex

Burgess-Norris, MDBA)

Forecast rainfall

A north-west cloud band is currently travelling east across the continent and is predicted to reach the southern Basin in the coming days (Map 2). Rainfall of 10 to 35 mm is forecast for Mildura on Thursday before the band moves further east towards Deniliquin on Friday. There is a chance of thunderstorms in affected areas.

Thursday 20th April Friday 21stApril Saturday 22nd April Sunday 23rdApril

Map 2 – Chance of at least 10 mm rainfall across consecutive days (Source: Bureau of Meteorology)

River operations

System Operations

At this time of year, River Murray operations aim to maintain a balance between sufficient flows in the river to meet demand while also conserving as much water as possible in Dartmouth and Hume Reservoirs for use in coming years. Irrigation demand is expected to cut back with rainfall forecast for the coming days, and evapotranspiration rates reducing as temperatures cool. Hence, deliveries of inter valley transfer (IVT) water as well as releases from the Menindee Lakes and Hume Reservoir are being reduced.

Cuts to Menindee releases and reduced flows downstream of Yarrawonga as downstream demand decreases

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River Operations

Total MDBA storage decreased by 62 GL this week, with the active storage now 5,257 GL (61% capacity).

The storage volume at Dartmouth Reservoir increased by 3 GL this week to 2,930 GL (78% capacity). The release from Dartmouth, measured at Colemans, averaged around 200 ML/day.

The Hume Reservoir storage volume decreased by 59 GL this week to 1,781 GL (59% capacity). Releases from Hume have decreased from 11,000 ML/day to 7,500 ML/day (on 20 April) as a result of decreases in downstream demand.

Diversions from Lake Mulwala have fluctuated throughout the weak. Diversion to Mulwala Canal dropped to around 3,500 ML/day over the weekend before returning to around 4,000 ML/day on Wednesday. Yarrawonga Main Channel slightly declined from around 1,500 ML/day to 1,300 ML/day. Lake Mulwala is currently 124.78 m AHD. The release from Yarrawonga Weir has been reduced from 8,000 to 6,500 ML/day.

On the Edward River system, the flow through the Edward Offtake was around 1,400 ML/day, with a slight reduction to 1,200 ML/day occurring towards the end of the week. Flow through the Gulpa Offtake averaged 300 ML/day. Diversions from Stevens Weir pool into the Wakool Main Canal have slightly reduced from around 800 ML/day to 650 ML/day. Downstream of Stevens Weir the release averaged around 800 ML/day.

On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge has increased from 1,000 ML/day to around 1,540 ML/day due to the delivery of IVT water to the Murray. IVT from the Goulburn system is now being wound back in response to decreased irrigation demands. It is expected that Goulburn River flows will soon begin to recede towards 940 ML/day.

Diversion from Torrumbarry Weir pool to National Channel has slightly reduced by 200 ML/day, averaging around 3,200 ML/day over the week. The release downstream of the weir has increased to around 3,800 ML/day as a result of higher flow from the Goulburn River. Forecast rainfall is expected to reduce demand from National Channel which will result in releases from Torrumbarry Weir increasing for the next few days. Beginning around mid-May, the level of the Torrumbarry Weir pool will be varied to a maximum planned lowering of 50 cm below full supply level (FSL) (see attached media release).

Environmental flows along the Murrumbidgee River have begun to decrease and the flow at Balranald has receded from around 2,000 ML/day at the beginning of the week to around 1,280 ML/day. This flow is expected to recede further over the coming weeks.

At Euston Weir, the pool level is currently around 47.48 m AHD (12 cm below FSL). As part of the weir pool variability program it is expected that this level will reduce to around 20 cm below FSL over the coming days. The flow rate downstream of the weir has reduced from around 6,000 ML/day to around 4,800 ML/day. The flow is expected to be relatively steady in the coming week.

On the Darling River, the total storage volume in the Menindee Lakes fell by 16 GL to the current volume of 815 GL (47% capacity). Releases from Menindee Lakes to the lower Darling River are currently around 1,100 ML/day at Weir 32 and will be gradually decreased to target a flow of 400 ML/day over the next few days. This release includes some environmental water aimed at maintaining cod habitat in the Lower Darling River. Releases from Lake Cawndilla have remained steady at around 1,100 ML/day for the fifth consecutive week as environmental flows continue to be released to the Great Darling Anabranch.

At the junction of the Darling and Murray rivers at Wentworth, flows have decreased from 7,700 ML/day at the beginning of the week to 5,850 ML/day.

Weir pool variability continues at Lock 7 and Lock 8. Lock 7 is currently 87 cm below FSL (21.23 m AHD) which is close to the maximum planned lowering of 90 cm below FSL. Lock 8 is currently 97 cm below FSL (22.63 m AHD), which is also close to the planned one metre below FSL.

Lake Victoria’s storage increased by 9 GL this week to a volume of 334 GL (49% capacity). The flow to South Australia is currently around 5,400 ML/day and is expected to decrease further over the coming weeks. Downstream of Lock 1 flows are around 4,140 ML/day.

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At the Lower Lakes, the 5-day average water level in Lake Alexandrina has not changed, remaining at 0.57 m AHD. The average total barrage release remained low at around 2,000 ML/day. Releases are currently prioritised at Goolwa and Tauwitchere barrages (see Photos 2 and 3).

Photo 2 - A seal napping at Goolwa barrage (Photo

courtesy William Lugg, MDBA)

Photo 3 - Water release at Tauwitchere Weir (Photo

courtesy William Lugg, MDBA)

For media inquiries contact the Media Officer on 02 6279 0141

DAVID DREVERMAN

Executive Director, River Management

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Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 19 Apr 2017

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 3 856 471.95 3 001 78% 71 2 930 +3

Hume Reservoir 192.00 3 005 184.96 1 781 59% 23 1 758 -59

Lake Victoria 27.00 677 23.90 334 49% 100 234 +9

Menindee Lakes 1 731* 815 47% (480 #) 335 -16

Total 9 269 5 931 64% - - 5 257 -62

Total Active MDBA Storage 61% ^

Major State Storages

Burrinjuck Reservoir 1 026 664 65% 3 661 -11

Blowering Reservoir 1 631 1 067 65% 24 1 043 -12

Eildon Reservoir 3 334 2 194 66% 100 2 094 -21

* 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 18 Apr 2017

Storage Active Storage

(GL) Weekly Change

(GL) Diversion (GL) This Week

From 1 May 2016

Lake Eucumbene - Total 1 795 n/a Snowy-Murray +0 1 014

Snowy-Murray Component 791 n/a Tooma-Tumut +6 343

Target Storage 1 340 Net Diversion -6 671

Murray 1 Release +1 1 427

Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) *

New South Wales This Week From 1 July

2016 Victoria This Week

From 1 July 2016

Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) 24.3 879 Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) 8.1 231

Wakool Sys Allowance 1.7 31 Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) 19 421

Western Murray Irrigation 0.4 24 Sunraysia Pumped Districts 2.7 95

Licensed Pumps n/a 234 Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) n/a 30

Lower Darling n/a 75 Licensed pumps - LMW n/a 280

TOTAL 26.4 1243 TOTAL 29.8 1057

* 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 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 38.0 (5 400 ML/day)

Flow so far this month 119.4 Flow last month 289.2

Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C) Current Average over the last week Average since 1 August 2016

Swan Hill 90 80 110

Euston - - -

Red Cliffs 160 160 170

Merbein 160 160 170

Burtundy (Darling) 590 570 590

Lock 9 240 240 220

Lake Victoria 220 220 200

Berri 450 440 270

Waikerie 420 410 330

Morgan 430 430 330

Mannum 550 540 340

Murray Bridge 400 400 300

Milang (Lake Alex.) 520 520 500

Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) 530 530 370

Meningie (Lake Alb.) 1 830 1 830 1 760

Goolwa Barrages 1 070 1 340 1 080

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River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 19 Apr 2017

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 - - - 400 F 450 660

Jingellic 4.0 1.15 207.67 1 080 S 1 460 1 440

Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) 4.2 1.34 218.23 500 F 550 930

Heywoods 5.5 2.71 156.34 9 730 R 10 190 12 000

Doctors Point 5.5 2.66 151.13 10 650 R 11 080 12 660

Albury 4.3 1.65 149.09 - - - -

Corowa 4.6 2.42 128.44 10 400 F 11 530 13 090

Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) 6.4 1.23 116.27 7 070 F 7 790 8 200

Tocumwal 6.4 1.99 105.83 6 730 F 6 920 7 250

Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) 7.3 1.51 80.06 3 810 R 3 190 2 690

Swan Hill 4.5 0.80 63.72 3 400 R 2 960 2 560

Wakool Junction 8.8 2.22 51.34 4 190 R 3 850 4 120

Euston Weir (d/s) 9.1 1.13 42.97 4 770 R 5 070 6 750

Mildura Weir (d/s) - - 5 720 F 6 550 6 600

Wentworth Weir (d/s) 7.3 2.79 27.55 5 850 F 6 640 6 910

Rufus Junction - 3.31 20.24 5 390 R 5 280 6 020

Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) - 0.55 - 4 140 S 4 250 4 320

Tributaries

Kiewa at Bandiana 2.8 0.91 154.14 420 R 610 520

Ovens at Wangaratta 11.9 7.96 145.64 530 S 650 700

Goulburn at McCoys Bridge 9.0 1.83 93.25 1 540 R 1 330 890

Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) 5.5 0.88 80.65 550 F 810 860

Edward at Liewah - 1.78 57.16 1 080 F 1 110 1 160

Wakool at Stoney Crossing - 1.45 54.95 500 R 490 660

Murrumbidgee at Balranald 5.0 1.70 57.66 1 280 F 1 700 3 390

Barwon at Mungindi 6.1 3.41 - 560 F 2 680 1 380

Darling at Bourke 9.0 4.12 - 410 R 470 480

Darling at Burtundy Rocks - 0.97 - 870 S 960 1 260

Natural Inflow to Hume 760 2 050

(i.e. Pre Dartmouth & Snowy Mountains scheme)

Weirs and Locks Pool 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 -0.11 - No. 7 Rufus River 22.10 -0.87 +0.98

No. 26 Torrumbarry 86.05 +0.00 - No. 6 Murtho 19.25 -0.01 +0.01

No. 15 Euston 47.60 -0.12 - No. 5 Renmark 16.30 +0.01 +0.13

No. 11 Mildura 34.40 -0.05 +0.08 No. 4 Bookpurnong 13.20 +0.04 +0.52

No. 10 Wentworth 30.80 +0.02 +0.15 No. 3 Overland Corner 9.80 +0.03 +0.22

No. 9 Kulnine 27.40 -0.09 -0.92 No. 2 Waikerie 6.10 +0.06 +0.11

No. 8 Wangumma 24.60 -0.97 -0.62 No. 1 Blanchetown 3.20 -0.03 -0.20

Lower Lakes FSL = 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 1 Vertical Slot 2

Dual Vertical Slots

Goolwa 128 openings 0.60 3 - Open Open -

Mundoo 26 openings 0.60 All closed - - - Open

Hunters Creek - - - - Open - -

Boundary Creek 6 openings - All closed - Open - -

Ewe Island 111 gates - All closed - - - Open

Tauwitchere 322 gates 0.59 3 Open Open Open -

AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level

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Week ending Wednesday 19 Apr 2017

State Allocations (as at 19 Apr 2017)

NSW - Murray Valley Victorian - Murray Valley

High security 100%

General security 100%

High reliability 100% Low reliability 5%

NSW – Murrumbidgee Valley

Victorian - Goulburn Valley

High security 100%

General security 100%

High reliability 100% Low reliability 0%

NSW - Lower Darling

South Australia – Murray Valley

High security 100%

General security 100%

High security 100%

NSW : http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/water-management/water-availability

VIC : http://nvrm.net.au/seasonal-determinations/current

SA : http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/river-murray

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MEDIA RELEASE

21 April 2017

Weir pool changes at Torrumbarry Water levels in the Torrumbarry weir pool will vary between May and August this year in an effort to help the health of the river banks. Landholders, river users and boat owners are advised to adjust their activities, pumps and moorings as necessary during this time. Beginning around mid-May, the weir pool will be gradually lowered by about two centimetres per day, to eventually reach a height about 50 centimetres below the normal level of the weir pool when full. The water level will be raised again slowly to around full supply level in time for the start of the irrigation season in August. The MDBA has timed these changes to the weir pool during winter to have the least impact on local activity. The weir pool levels will be varied in order to restore a more natural wetting and drying cycle to benefit the local riverine environment. The same approach is now part of routine operations at locks 7, 8, 9 and 15. The program is supported by the MDBA in cooperation with New South Wales and Victorian water agencies. The MDBA will issue further advice if there are any significant changes to operations. Updates on flows and river heights are available by subscribing to the River Murray weekly report. Live river data for the River Murray system can be seen at http://livedata.mdba.gov.au ENDS

For more information, contact the MDBA Media office at media@mdba.gov.au or 02 6279 0141

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