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River Murray Weekly Report For the week ending Wednesday, 30 October 2019

Trim Ref: D19/48941

Rainfall and inflows Modest rainfall was recorded in the far northwest of the Murray-Darling Basin and along the southern ranges this week (Map 1). In the northern Basin, highest totals included 30 mm at Warilda and 24 mm at Balmacarra in the Warrego catchment. In the southern Basin, Rocky Valley in the Victorian Alps recorded 27 mm, while Mount William in the Victorian Wimmera recorded 18 mm. Just outside the Basin catchment in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains, 28 mm was recorded at Perisher Valley and 29 mm at Thredbo.

Rainfall is forecast along the River Murry over the coming weekend with totals of between 25 and 100 mm expected for the upper Murray catchment (Map 2).

Map 1: Rainfall totals for week ending 30 October (Source: Bureau of Meteorology)

Given the relatively dry catchment conditions, only brief and minor responses were observed in the upper tributaries of the River Murray System following this week’s rain. Overall, streamflow continued to slowly recede. For specific information about flows at key locations in the upper Murray catchment including Hinnomunjie Bridge on the upper Mitta Mitta River, Biggara on the upper Murray, Bandiana on the Kiewa River as well as Peechelba on the Ovens River 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 at Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM) website and in the Murray River Basin daily river report at the WaterNSW website.

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Map 2: Total forecast rainfall for 30 October to 6 November (Source: Bureau of Meteorology)

River operations

River operations The MDBA total active storage reduced by 55 GL to 3,609 GL (43 % capacity) as inflows continue to decline in line with the ongoing drying conditions.

As reported last week, Murray System inflows (excl. Snowy, Darling, inter-valley trade and environmental inflows) have been tracking well below the long term average (see plot on last page of this report). Comparing the upper states share of these inflows, Figure 1 below shows how Victoria’s share of system inflows is significantly higher than New South Wales’ this water year, and this is the case in most years. For the three month period July to September 2019, NSW share of system inflows totalled close to 600 GL (87% AEP) while Victoria’s share is 990 GL (84% AEP).

The manner in which Murray system inflows are shared is defined in the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement. Inflows to Dartmouth and Hume, inflows from the Kiewa River and inflows to Menindee Lakes (when the storage is above 640 GL) are split equally between Victoria and NSW. All other inflows downstream of Hume are attributed to the state from which they flow into the Murray. For example inflows from the Ovens River contribute to Victorian resource while inflows from the Murrumbidgee River contribute to NSW resource.

• BoM’s 8 day outlook forecasts 25 to 100 mm rain in upper Murray catchments • IVT deliveries continue from the Goulburn and Murrumbidgee valleys

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Figure 1: Upper state share of Murray System inflows (excl. Snowy, Darling, inter-valley trade and environmental inflows) by month since January 2005.

At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage decreased by 27 GL to 2,132 GL (55% capacity). Releases are continuing from Dartmouth at rates that aim to transfer water to Hume to support expected demands further downstream in the months ahead. A transfer volume of around 80 GL is being targeted for November.

Over the last week the releases from Dartmouth, measured at Colemans, peaked at 4,800 ML/day before receding to 3,700 ML/day. The release is expected to continue to recede to 2,500 ML/day over the coming week. Dartmouth releases will continue to be varied in a manner that will transfer the required volume to Hume Dam, whilst seeking to minimise erosion along the lower Mitta Mitta River.

At Hume Reservoir, the storage decreased by 26 GL to 1,172 GL (39% capacity). WaterNSW is currently undertaking scheduled maintenance works at Hume Dam to refurbish the irrigation penstocks and emergency closure gates. Works are expected to be completed by the end of 2021. More information regarding these works and access across the dam wall can be found on the WaterNSW website.

The release from Hume Dam is currently 9,500 ML/day. The release is expected to remain around this rate over coming days, but will reduce over the weekend if rain falls as forecast. Downstream of Hume, tributary inflows over the past week from the Kiewa River at Bandiana and the Ovens River at Wangaratta averaged around 900 ML/day and 1,000 ML/day respectively, with only minor streamflow responses to the rain observed during the week.

At Lake Mulwala, the pool level is currently 124.74 m AHD and is expected to remain within the normal operating range of 124.6 to 124.9 m AHD in the coming week. Diversions to the Mulwala Canal and Yarrawonga Main Channel are around 1,600 ML/day and 400 ML/day respectively. Diversions to the Mulwala Canal increased this week due to transfers of operational water around the Barmah Choke via Murray Irrigation Limited’s (MIL) irrigation channel network. Currently, around 1,000 ML/day is being delivered to the Edward River via the Edward Escape, around 250 ML/day to the Billabong Creek using Finley escape and around 100 ML/day to the River Murray near Torrumbarry via Perricoota Escape.

The release from Yarrawonga Weir averaged close to 9,000 ML/day and is expected to target around this rate over the coming weeks as operational water is released to meet downstream demands.

Downstream in the Barmah-Millewa Forest, forest managers have closed a number of regulators on behalf of environmental water holders as river flows reduce. A small number of regulators will remain open during November to maintain connectivity between the river and the flood plain. This is to provide habitat for native fish, in particular Murray Cod during the breeding season, and to continue the transfer of valuable nutrients from the lower floodplain to the river. These nutrients are the base of a food web that supports the entire river ecosystem including algae, aquatic plants, macroinvertebrates, turtles, fish, platypus and birds. The water used in the forest while these regulators are open is being debited from environmental water accounts. More information regarding delivering environmental water to the Barmah-Millewa forest during spring 2019 is available from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office website.

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Flows through the Edward and Gulpa offtakes are around the maximum regulated flow rates and are expected to continue around these rates over the coming weeks. Further downstream on the Edward River at Toonalook, the flow has reduced to approximately 2,400 ML/day and will continue to fall as return flows from the Millewa Forest recede. Operational transfers are currently being delivered to the Edward River via MIL’s Edward Escape. The release from the Edward Escape has increased to around 1,000 ML/day to manage the flow downstream of Stevens Weir at the current target rate of around 2,500 ML/day. These transfers are being made in response to downstream demands now and over summer.

On the Murray, return flows from environmental watering of the Barmah Forest continue to recede resulting in a gradual decline of the flow rate at Barmah to 6,900 ML/day, down from its peak of 9,500 ML/day in mid-October.

Inflow from the Goulburn River, measured at McCoys Bridge, averaged around 900 ML/day. This flow is above the normal minimum rate during October of 400 ML/day due to the delivery of Inter Valley Trade (IVT) water. IVT water also forms part of flows in the Broken Creek and Campaspe River. So far this water year, around 38 GL has been called from the Goulburn Valley to be delivered over October and November. If conditions remain dry, the call of IVT is anticipated to continue over summer.

The current Goulburn Valley IVT balance is around 250 GL. More information regarding opportunities for allocation trade between the Goulburn and Murray Valleys is available at the Victorian water register website.

The Torrumbarry Weir pool is currently at Full Supply Level (FSL) (86.05 m AHD). The diversion to National Channel increased to 2,000 ML/day. Downstream of Torrumbarry Weir, the release has decreased over the week from just over 9,000 ML/day to 5,900 ML/day.

Inflow from the Murrumbidgee River, measured at Balranald, averaged 1,440 ML/day as delivery of IVT continues. The Murrumbidgee IVT balance is currently around 100 GL, and therefore trade from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray remains closed. Trade will remain closed until the account reduces to below 85 GL. This can occur if water is traded from the Murray back to the Murrumbidgee, or if IVT is delivered from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray. Deliveries of IVT from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray commenced in mid-October and MDBA has requested WaterNSW to deliver up to 60 GL from mid-October to the end of December 2019.

MDBA regularly reviews its operations planning to account for changes in catchment and climatic conditions as well as water availability. The increased water available to be delivered from the Murrumbidgee IVT account has been incorporated into this planning. Further information is available through WaterNSW and will also be provided as part of the October update to the Annual Operating Outlook, scheduled to be published on the MDBA website during November.

At Euston, the weir pool level will continue to target around 50 cm to 60 cm above FSL until the middle of November. The level will then be gradually reduced back to FSL by late November. Varying pool levels is part of the weir pool variability program which aims to help restore a more natural wetting and drying cycle to riverbanks and adjacent wetlands within the influence of the weir pool. Any additional loss associated with the weir pool variability program is debited from entitlements held by environmental water holders. The downstream release receded to 13,400 ML/day, with a further recession expected over the coming week.

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Photo 1: Sunrise at Finley in the NSW Riverina (photo courtesy MDBA)

Downstream of Euston Weir, around 135 ML/day of environmental water continues to be pumped into Lake Kramen within the Hattah Lakes system.

The Menindee Lakes storage is approximately 11 GL (less than 1% capacity). WaterNSW continues to manage the Menindee Lakes in accordance with the Lower Darling Annual Operations Plan. WaterNSW has advised that releases

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at Weir 32 are only planned to recommence when significant inflows are received into the Menindee Lakes. Inflows are currently zero and no significant inflows are expected in the near future.

As a result of the widespread drought conditions in NSW, extensive water restrictions are likely to remain in place. More information on drought management activities in NSW can be found on the NSW Government website - Drought Hub.

On the Murray at Wentworth Weir, the pool level is currently targeting 10 cm above FSL to assist pumpers in the upper reaches of the Darling River arm of the weir pool whilst there is no inflow from the Darling River. The downstream release reduced to 11,000 ML/day and will gradually reduce further over the coming week.

At Locks 8 and 7, the pool levels are being varied as part of the weir pool variability program. Until mid-November, the Lock 8 pool will continue to target between 70 cm and 85 cm above FSL and the Lock 7 pool will target 45 cm to 55 cm above FSL. From mid-November the pool levels will commence lowering and are expected to reach FSL by around the end of November. Whilst the pool levels are surcharged above FSL, regulators have been opened to allow water to flow through the upper reaches of Potterwalkagee Creek (around Lock 8) and Lindsay River (around Lock 7) and reconnect with the River Murray for the benefit of native fish. Any additional loss associated with the weir pool variability program is being debited from entitlements held by environmental water holders. Over summer and autumn, Lock 8 & 7 weir pools are planned to be lowered below FSL as part of the weir pool variability program. At Lock 8 the pool level is planned to be lowered by around 90 cm to 100 cm below FSL and at Lock 7 by around 50 cm to 60 cm below FSL.

At Lake Victoria, water storage decreased by 3 GL to 499 GL (74% capacity). The flow to South Australia reduced to around 9,400 ML/day and continues to be boosted by environmental water released from Hume and Eildon Dams earlier in the month. During the month of October, close to 280 GL of environmental water is expected to have been delivered to South Australia as part of the environmental water holder’s spring pulse. Updates on environmental watering actions during spring 2019 are available from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office website. The flow to South Australia is expected to gradually recede to below 6,000 ML/day during November as environmental deliveries lessen.

Due to low water resource availability in the River Murray System, South Australia is currently receiving a reduced monthly base Entitlement flow. For October, the reduced monthly base entitlement is 136.4 GL compared to the full monthly entitlement of 170.5 GL. For November, the reduced monthly entitlement is 163.7 GL compared to 180 GL. For more information on South Australia’s Entitlement flow and barrage releases, see the South Australian Department for Environment and Water’s latest River Murray flow report.

The Lower Lakes 5-day average water level is 0.84 m AHD. Barrage releases totalled around 47 GL this week. These releases have provided environmental cues and connection to support the movement of several migratory fish species, including the short-headed lamprey which can travel large distances from the Southern Ocean to spawning grounds in upstream reaches of the River Murray System. The spring flow is flowing into the Coorong providing food and shelter for native fish and other aquatic animals, and providing dilution of high salinity in the Coorong.

For media inquiries contact the Media Officer on 02 6279 0141

ANDREW REYNOLDS Executive Director, River Management

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Water in Storage Week ending Wednesday 30 Oct 2019

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 3 856 454.90 2 132 55% 71 2 061 -27 Hume Reservoir 192.00 3 005 180.34 1 172 39% 23 1 149 -26 Lake Victoria 27.00 677 25.47 499 74% 100 399 -3 Menindee Lakes 1 731* 11 1% (- -) # 0 -0 Total 9 269 3 814 41% - - 3 609 -55 Total Active MDBA Storage 43% ^ Major State Storages

Burrinjuck Reservoir 1 026 345 34% 3 342 -1 Blowering Reservoir 1 631 908 56% 24 884 +11 Eildon Reservoir 3 334 1 540 46% 100 1 440 -4

* 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 Oct 2019 Storage Active Storage (GL) Weekly Change (GL) Diversion (GL) This Week From 1 May 2019 Lake Eucumbene - Total 976 +4 Snowy-Murray +0 230 Snowy-Murray Component 541 +22 Tooma-Tumut +2 160 Target Storage 1 400 Net Diversion -2 70 Murray 1 Release +0 362

Major Diversions from Murray and Lower Darling (GL) * New South Wales This Week From 1 July 2019 Victoria This Week From 1 July 2019 Murray Irrig. Ltd (Net) 3.0 86 Yarrawonga Main Channel (net) 3 41 Wakool Sys Allowance 0.0 15 Torrumbarry System + Nyah (net) 9.4 96 Western Murray Irrigation 0.6 4 Sunraysia Pumped Districts 2.5 21 Licensed Pumps 3.5 27 Licensed pumps - GMW (Nyah+u/s) 1 3 Lower Darling 0.0 0 Licensed pumps - LMW 4.6 74 TOTAL 7.1 132 TOTAL 20.5 235

* 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) * Due to low water resource availability, SA has chosen to take less Entitlement this month. However, flow to SA will be greater than Entitlement for this month due to environmental flows.

Entitlement this month 136.4 * Flow this week 83.8 (12 000 ML/day) Flow so far this month 412.9 Flow last month 205.8

Salinity (EC) (microSiemens/cm at 25o C) Current Average over the last week Average since 1 August 2019 Swan Hill 60 60 70 Euston - - - Red Cliffs 50 50 60 Merbein 80 80 100 Burtundy (Darling) - - 1 220 Lock 9 80 80 100 Lake Victoria 110 110 110 Berri 130 120 140 Waikerie 150 160 230 Morgan 160 160 240 Mannum 200 220 300 Murray Bridge 240 250 340 Milang (Lake Alex.) 840 890 880 Poltalloch (Lake Alex.) 680 590 780 Meningie (Lake Alb.) 1 650 1 650 1 670 Goolwa Barrages 1 160 1 090 2 200

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River Levels and Flows Week ending Wednesday 30 Oct 2019

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 - - - 1 000 F 1 120 930 Jingellic 4.0 1.31 207.83 1 980 F 2 160 2 210 Tallandoon ( Mitta Mitta River ) 4.2 2.42 219.31 3 950 F 4 710 4 570 Heywoods 5.5 2.66 156.29 9 530 F 10 180 7 850 Doctors Point 5.5 2.62 151.09 10 640 R 11 080 9 210 Albury 4.3 1.62 149.06 - - - - Corowa 4.6 2.40 128.42 10 470 F 10 430 9 290 Yarrawonga Weir (d/s) 6.4 1.55 116.59 9 110 F 9 070 9 230 Tocumwal 6.4 2.13 105.97 9 340 R 9 150 10 300 Torrumbarry Weir (d/s) 7.3 2.11 80.65 5 940 F 7 150 10 180 Swan Hill 4.5 1.47 64.39 7 850 F 9 180 11 840 Wakool Junction 8.8 3.86 52.98 12 170 F 12 750 17 330 Euston Weir (d/s) 9.1 2.32 44.16 13 370 F 13 970 16 070 Mildura Weir (d/s) - - 14 020 F 14 930 16 950 Wentworth Weir (d/s) 7.3 3.23 27.99 11 060 F 12 810 15 500 Rufus Junction - 3.80 20.73 8 640 F 11 100 14 440 Blanchetown (Lock 1 d/s) - 1.00 - 9 370 F 10 870 13 550 Tributaries Kiewa at Bandiana 2.8 1.37 154.60 980 R 920 1 110 Ovens at Wangaratta 11.9 8.14 145.82 930 F 970 1 280 Goulburn at McCoys Bridge 9.0 1.41 92.83 850 F 890 1 480 Edward at Stevens Weir (d/s) 5.5 2.41 82.18 2 650 F 2 580 3 130 Edward at Liewah - 2.81 58.19 2 260 F 2 330 2 340 Wakool at Stoney Crossing - 1.76 55.25 1 420 F 1 570 1 680 Murrumbidgee at Balranald 5.0 1.79 57.75 1 370 F 1 440 1 390 Barwon at Mungindi 6.1 2.12 - 0 F 0 0 Darling at Bourke 9.0 2.36 - 0 F 0 0 Darling at Burtundy Rocks - 0.49 - 0 F 0 0 Natural Inflow to Hume 3 650 4 960

(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 -0.16 - No. 7 Rufus River 22.10 +0.49 +1.49 No. 26 Torrumbarry 86.05 +0.00 - No. 6 Murtho 19.25 +0.01 +0.34 No. 15 Euston 47.60 +0.54 - No. 5 Renmark 16.30 +0.05 +0.42 No. 11 Mildura 34.40 +0.03 +0.51 No. 4 Bookpurnong 13.20 +0.05 +1.13 No. 10 Wentworth 30.80 +0.11 +0.59 No. 3 Overland Corner 9.80 +0.01 +0.48 No. 9 Kulnine 27.40 +0.02 +0.88 No. 2 Waikerie 6.10 +0.01 +0.46 No. 8 Wangumma 24.60 +0.79 +0.71 No. 1 Blanchetown 3.20 +0.02 +0.25

Lower Lakes FSL = 0.75 m AHD Lake Alexandrina average level for the past 5 days (m AHD) 0.84

Barrages Fishways at Barrages Openings Level (m AHD) No. Open Rock Ramp Vertical Slot 1 Vertical Slot 2 Dual Vertical Slots Goolwa 128 openings 0.89 1 - Open Open - Mundoo 26 openings 0.84 All closed - - - Open Hunters Creek - - - - Open - - Boundary Creek 6 openings - 1 - Open - - Ewe Island 111 gates - All closed - - - Open Tauwitchere 322 gates 0.13 5 Open Open Open - AHD = Level relative to Australian Height Datum, i.e. height above sea level

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Week ending Wednesday 30 Oct 2019

State Allocations (as at 1 Nov 2019)

NSW - Murray Valley Victorian - Murray Valley High security 97% General security 0%

High reliability 42% Low reliability 0%

NSW – Murrumbidgee Valley

Victorian - Goulburn Valley High security 95% General security 6%

High reliability 53% Low reliability 0%

NSW - Lower Darling

South Australia – Murray Valley High security 30% General security 0%

High security 94%

NSW : https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/allocations-availability/allocations/summary

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

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