Lock 11 and Mildura Weir, October 2004. Lock 11 was built inside a bend in the Murray River and the weir was built in the bend itself. Photo: Michael Bell.

Before we get to the main event, a quick reminder that Mildura Weir pool will be drawn down from Monday (27 May) for essential maintenance work by Goulburn-Murray Water on the weir’s underwater concrete base. Boat access through both the weir and Lock 11 will not be possible while the maintenance work takes place. The weir pool will remain drawn down for 8-11 weeks. If you’d like more information, you can contact us or Goulburn-Murray Water (03 5826 3754).

River Operations

MDBA active storage increased by 94 GL during the week to 5,934 GL (69% capacity).

At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume increased by 9 GL to 3,582 GL (93% capacity). The release measured at the Colemans gauge remained at 350 ML/day throughout the week.

At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume increased by 70 GL to 1,418 GL (47% capacity). Inflows averaged 10,500 ML/day and were boosted by high releases from Snowy Hydro. The release was maintained at the seasonal minimum of 600 ML/day throughout the week.

At Yarrawonga Weir, the pool level is currently 124.82 m AHD after reaching 124.86 m AHD (4 cm below FSL) during the week. The release was increased to 4,500 ML/day to pass higher tributary inflows and has now been reduced to 4,200 ML/day with further reductions to around 3,500 ML/day expected if conditions stay dry in the coming days. A release target above the seasonal minimum remains planned for the coming weeks to provide dilution flows for assisting with possible salinity increases during the Mildura Weir drawdown. The actual release at Yarrawonga during this period will depend on salinity responses and future inflows, but is expected to be at least 3,500 ML/day. On a dry inflow scenario, this release will decrease the level of the Lake Mulwala pool to around 1 metre below FSL by early to mid-June (see the MDBA media release from 1 May for more information).

Flow into the Edward River system via the Edward River and Gulpa Creek offtakes decreased to around 200 ML/day during the week but has since increased above 400 ML/day as higher flows from Yarrawonga begin to arrive. Return flows from the Edward Escape are expected to continue for around another week as Murray Irrigation Limited continues draining their irrigation system. At Stevens Weir the pool level has decreased to 3.70 m on the local gauge and will continue to fall this week. The release increased to an average of 900 ML/day due to the additional irrigation return flows. The higher release is expected to continue over the coming days before gradually decreasing. Downstream on the Wakool River, the flow at Stoney Crossing remains steady at around 340 ML/day but is forecast to begin rising later in the coming week.

On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge has been receding slowly this week and is currently 750 ML/day. At Torrumbarry Weir the flow went up to 3,800 ML/day following the closure of National Channel at the completion of the irrigation season. The flow is currently 3,200 ML/day but should increase in a few days’ time as higher flows arrive from Yarrawonga Weir. Downstream at Euston, the pool level is currently 47.59 m AHD (1 cm below FSL) and the release has decreased to 3,600 ML/day.

At Mildura Weir, the weir pool remains close to the Full Supply Level of 34.40 m AHD, but will begin to decrease from early next week as the drawdown for essential maintenance work begins. If the drawdown and works proceed as planned, the pool is expected to reach the drawdown target level early in June.

At the Menindee Lakes, the flow upstream at Wilcannia has receded to below 2,000 ML/day for the first time since late February. Total storage decreased by 11 GL to 1,242 GL (72% capacity). The release, measured at Weir 32, continues to fall and is now at 2,300 ML/day; while the flow downstream at Burtundy has receded to 4,200 ML/day.

At Wentworth Weir, the flow has receded from 10,700 to 8,600 ML/day. The flow is expected to ease further this week; however higher flows are anticipated towards the end of the month as additional water is released from Mildura Weir during the planned drawdown.

Storage in Lake Victoria has increased by 25 GL this week and is currently at 366 GL (54% capacity). The flow into South Australia has been fairly steady this week and is currently at 5,300 ML/day; while at Blanchetown in South Australia, the flow past Lock 1 is currently 4,600 ML/day.

At the Lower Lakes, the five-day average water level for Lake Alexandrina increased from 0.60 to 0.63 m AHD. More favourable conditions during the last few days have permitted additional barrage gates to be opened bringing the current total to 24 gates.

As always, don’t forget to download a copy of the Full River Ops Report for the latest data and graphs on rainfall, river operations, storages, flow rates and salinity.

Dive into a rewarding career with the MDBA grad program

Think you need to have completed a science degree to work as a graduate at the MDBA? Think again! Yes, we have experts in a range of environmental sciences, but we also have staff who are trained in everything from socioeconomic studies and communications to hydrological modelling and engineering.

The MDBA graduate program is made up of three rotations spread over one year. This means that you’ll get a real taste of what the MDBA does. Whether it’s helping to coordinate how the Basin Plan is implemented, developing environmental watering policies, chatting with people in Basin communities about their views and experiences, discovering the world of river operations and environmental works, or learning more about Indigenous cultural flows, you’ll be busy!

The MDBA also gives you a major project to work on – this will give you the opportunity to research core areas of the business and make recommendations for future policies.

Along with your MDBA rotations, you’ll get training with the Australian Public Service Commission. By the end of the graduate year, you’ll have a Diploma of Government and a network of contacts across the Australian Public Service.

Graduates also take part in and plan a one week field trip around the Murray-Darling Basin. This is a great opportunity to see how MDBA policies are implemented. It also gives you the chance to see how diverse the Basin’s ecosystems and communities are.

As a graduate with a social sciences background, I’ve learned a lot about the relationship between people and their natural environment. I’ve gone on trips to different parts of the Basin and have been lucky enough to meet a variety of people from diverse backgrounds, all with stories to share.

I’ve also been exposed to the more technical aspects of environmental management and development. Examples include regulating river structures like locks, weirs and dams, as well as environmental works that help water a variety of ecosystems in the Basin.

While I may not be able to model hydrological flows or design an environmental structure, I certainly play a role in the broader work of the MDBA. At the moment, I’m working in the media and executive support team, which is really helping me strengthen my communication skills.  My work has included writing media releases, drafting briefs and preparing social media and executive support material. In my next rotation, I will be working on Indigenous policy in the Basin Plan. After that? Who knows! That’s part of the fun of being a grad!

If the MDBA sounds like the place for you, head over to the newly made-over MDBA website for more information on the graduate program and how to apply. Applications close 31 May.

If you have any questions, leave a comment or you can send an email to graduate@mdba.gov.au. You can also phone us on (02) 6279 0110.

In other news, some international recognition for Australia’s work on water management. MDBA Chair Craig Knowles spoke about the Basin Plan at the United Nations last night (Australian time) for a General Assembly thematic debate on sustainable development and climate change. If you would like to see the speech, head over to the UN’s webtv and fast forward to the 1:33:35 mark.

MDBA Chair Craig Knowles speaking at the UN General Assembly Thematic Debate

River Operations

MDBA active storage increased by 42 GL during the week to 5,840 GL (68% capacity).

At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume increased by 1 GL to 3,573 GL (93% capacity). The flow at the Colemans gauge varied during the week between 350 ML/day and 3,000 ML/day due to entitlement releases by AGL Hydro for electricity generation. The current flow is 350 ML/day.

At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume increased by 19 GL to 1,348 GL (45% capacity). Releases reduced to 700 ML/day during the week and are likely to remain around the seasonal minimum of 600 ML/day over the coming weeks.

At Yarrawonga Weir, the pool level is currently 124.79 m AHD and rising. Diversions through Mulwala Canal and Yarrawonga Main Channel ceased this week. The release was decreased to the minimum rate of 1,800 ML/day during the week; however releases between 2,000 and 3,000 ML/day are expected in the coming days to maintain the pool level as higher tributary inflows arrive.

Flow into the Edward River system via the Edward River and Gulpa Creek offtakes reduced to about 400 ML/day. Inflows from the Edward Escape increased to around 1,500 ML/day at the end of the week as Murray Irrigation Limited commenced draining its irrigation system. At Stevens Weir the pool level is currently 4.43 m on the local gauge and falling. The release remains close to 600 ML/day but is expected to be increased slightly during the coming week. Downstream on the Wakool River, the flow at Stoney Crossing is holding fairly steady at around 340 ML/day.

On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge has been fairly steady at around 950 ML/day. Flows are expected to fall away slightly later in the coming week. At Torrumbarry Weir the flow reduced as expected during the week and is currently around 1,800 ML/day. Diversions at National Channel were ceased on 15 May and this should result in a temporary rise in flows downstream of Torrumbarry to above 4,000 ML/day during the next few days before receding again.

Downstream at Barham, the flow has also receded to 2,200 ML/day; while at Euston the flow is currently 4,700 ML/day, although lower flows are expected this week.

At the Menindee Lakes, the inflow recession has slowed, with average inflow for this week calculated at around 4,000 ML/day. Total storage decreased by 15 GL during the week with a current total volume of 1,253 GL (72% capacity). The release, measured at Weir 32, continues to decrease and is currently 4,000 ML/day. Downstream at Burtundy, the flow has fallen away to around 5,700 ML/day.

At Wentworth Weir, the Murray peaked at around 12,100 ML/day on 11 May and has now receded to 10,700 ML/day. A flow below 9,000 ML/day is expected by early June.

Storage in Lake Victoria has increased to 340 GL (50% capacity) and the flow into South Australia is currently 5,000 ML/day. The flow is expected to remain in the vicinity of 5,000 ML/day for the remainder of May.

At the Lower Lakes, the five-day average water level for Lake Alexandrina fell slightly to 0.60 m AHD. However the level is likely to rise a little in the coming week as high tides have forced the closure of most barrage gates with similar conditions expected for the coming week.

As always, don’t forget to download a copy of the Full River Ops Report for the latest data and graphs on rainfall, river operations, storages, flow rates and salinity.

River Operations

MDBA active storage decreased by 5 GL during the week to 5,797 GL (67% capacity).

At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume increased by 3 GL to 3,571 GL (93% capacity). The flow at the Colemans gauge remains steady at 350 ML/day. However, on Thursday 9 May, the flow will increase to around 3,000 ML/day due to an entitlement release by AGL Hydro for electricity generation. The duration of higher flows will depend on the electricity demand.

At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume decreased by 19 GL to 1,329 GL (44%). The Hume release was decreased from 11,300 to 5,300 ML/day this week as system demands fell away downstream. Further decreases are expected this week as the main diversion channels prepare to close prior to completion of the current irrigation season.

At Yarrawonga, the water level in Lake Mulwala is currently 124.78 m AHD and decreasing. The level will continue to fall in the days ahead and will likely dip below 124.7 m AHD and remain there leading up to the Lake Mulwala drawdown (announced last week) that is scheduled to commence later in the month. The release downstream of Yarrawonga Weir was decreased from 7,000 to 4,500 ML/day during the week with further reductions anticipated for this week. It is expected that the release will be close to 2,000 ML/day by 14 May.

On the Edward River System, flow from the Murray through the Edward River offtake decreased to around 900 ML/day, with around 200 ML/day flowing through the Gulpa Creek offtake. At Stevens Weir, the current pool level is 4.64 m on the local gauge. NSW State Water Corporation has announced that the main winter drawdown of the Stevens Weir pool has been scheduled to begin on 14 May. The current release at Stevens Weir is around 450 ML/day; however this would be expected to increase for several days once the winter drawdown begins. Further downstream on the Wakool River, the flow at Stoney Crossing is receding slowly with the current flow at around 350 ML/day.

On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge has been steady at around 900 ML/day. At Torrumbarry Weir there were flows in excess of 4,000 ML/day for most of the week; however the flow has now eased to around 3,800 ML/day and is expected to fall away further during the coming days.

Downstream at Barham, the flow has risen to 4,100 ML/day, but will begin receding this week as lower flows from Torrumbarry Weir make their way downstream. At Euston, the flow is currently 4,800 ML/day and should remain steady for a few more days.

At the Menindee Lakes, inflows have fallen away to below 5,000 ML/day and will continue to do so as only the tail of the recent event remains in the Darling River upstream. Total storage in the four lakes decreased by 28 GL during the week with a current total volume of 1,266 GL (73% capacity). The release, measured at Weir 32, has been decreased throughout the week and is currently at 5,800 ML/day. The timetable for reducing releases has been brought forward by 2 days as outlined in the attached flow advice. Downstream at Burtundy, the flow is steady at a peak of around 7,400 ML/day and is expected to begin falling away later in the coming week.

At Wentworth Weir, the Murray is now flowing at 11,900 ML/day and is expected to remain close to 12,000 ML/day in the coming days. The water level in Lake Victoria has continued to increase and is now at 23.59 m AHD (303 GL, 45% capacity). The current flow into South Australia is 5,200 ML/day with similar flows expected in the coming week.

At the Lower Lakes, the five-day average water level for Lake Alexandrina has decreased to 0.61 m AHD. Favourable tide and swell conditions meant that, at times, up to 26 barrage gates were able to be opened during the week. The estimated average flow into the Coorong was around 6,000 ML/day.

Mildura Weir in 1928

• The drawing down of the Mildura Weir pool for essential maintenance on the weir’s underwater concrete base from 27 May
• The partial lowering of Lake Mulwala to help manage River Murray salinity levels while essential maintenance work is done downstream at Mildura Weir
• The gradual decrease of flows at Weir 32 from today back to the normal winter minimum flow rate by the end of May. This is because of further reductions in operational demands on the River Murray as the 2012‐13 watering season draws to a close.

You can also find flow advices in the media releases section of our newly made-over website. While you’re over there, let us know what you think of the site. Is it easier to find information? Do you have any suggestions on how we can make the site even better? We want to know!

River Operations

MDBA active storage increased during the week by 36 GL to 5,803 GL (68% capacity). A portion of this rise was due to a hydrographic correction of the water level at Lake Victoria. Routine checks of water monitoring sites and equipment across the River Murray System revealed that the actual level in the lake was higher than previously monitored.

At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume is currently 3,569 GL (93% capacity), which is a decrease of 6 GL since last week. The release, measured at Colemans gauge, was gradually reduced earlier in the week from 2,400 ML/day to 350 ML/day. The flow is expected to remain around this rate for the next two weeks.

At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume decreased by 38 GL to 1,347 GL (45% capacity). Releases were relatively steady averaging around 11,600 ML/day during the week, but are expected to reduce over the coming week in response to reduced downstream demand as the 2012-13 watering season draws to a close.

At Yarrawonga Weir, the pool level is currently 124.79 m AHD. Murray-Darling Basin Authority advises that water levels at Lake Mulwala will be lowered during late May to July to help manage River Murray salinity levels while essential maintenance work is done downstream at Mildura Weir. See the attached media release for more details. Diversions from Lake Mulwala increased this week, averaging about 4,000 ML/day through Mulwala Canal and 1,400 ML/day through Yarrawonga Main Channel. The release remained steady at about 6,800 ML/day, but is expected to gradually recede over the coming week.

Flow into the Edward River system via the Edward River and Gulpa Creek offtakes was steady at about 1,350 ML/day. Inflows from the Edward Escape averaged around 650 ML/day. Diversions to Wakool Main Canal increased this week, averaging around 900 ML/day. At Stevens Weir the release averaged around 460 ML/day.

Inflow from the Goulburn River has been steady at 900 ML/day while diversions through National Channel are also steady at about 2,150 ML/day. The release from Torrumbarry Weir this week averaged 4,000 ML/day, but is expected to be slightly lower in the coming week.

At Barham, the flow was relatively steady at around 3,750 ML/day. The flow is expected to hold at around 3,700 ML/day in the coming week, before falling away in the following week. The flow in the Murrumbidgee River at Balranald is 300 ML/day while, in the Wakool River at Stoney Crossing, the flow is around 400 ML/day.

At Euston, the flow averaged 4,700 ML/day. Mildura flows averaged 5,000 ML/day and are expected to remain between 4,500 and 5,000 ML/day in the coming week. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is reminding river users and boat operators that Mildura Weir pool will be drawn down from Monday, 27 May 2013 so essential maintenance work can be done on the weir’s underwater concrete base. See the attached media release for more details.

At Menindee Lakes, the inflows peaked at around 20,000 ML/day at the end of last week. The volume in storage increased this week by 31 GL to 1,296 GL (75% capacity) and is close to a peak for the current event. The volume in the Lakes is expected to start falling away next week. At Weir 32, the flow was steady at 9,000 ML/day. The flow will reduce back to normal minimums over May (see attached flow advice). At Burtundy, the flow continued to slowly increase and is currently 7,300 ML/day. On the River Murray, downstream of the Darling confluence, the flow at Wentworth Weir is currently 12,400 ML/day and is expected to remain around this rate over the coming week.

The storage level at Lake Victoria continued to rise and is currently 23.19 m AHD (265 GL, 39% capacity). This is an apparent gain of 48 GL from last week. Note that the hydrographic correction (discussed at the beginning of this section) is responsible for about 20 GL of this increase. The flow into South Australia averaged around 6,600 ML/day this week and is expected to be around 5,200 ML/day during May.

At the Lower Lakes, the five day average level is 0.64 m AHD. The bays at Mundoo and Goolwa were closed for most of the week to minimise the reverse flow of sea water into Lake Alexandrina but a small number were reopened at the end of the week when conditions became favourable.

April 2013 Summary

Overall, April 2013 was a dry month for the Murray-Darling Basin and follows a similarly dry April in 2012. The Bureau of Meteorology has reported that April 2013 was the 13th driest in the historical record, with a total of only 9 mm averaged across all monitoring sites (77% below the mean). Most areas in the Basin received rainfall that was below or ‘very much below’ the long-term average, with some areas through the central and northern Basin recording ‘lowest on record’ rainfall. Several sites in this region recorded no rain at all for the month.

April also continued the recent monthly trend of above-average maximum temperatures. Most of the Basin recorded a monthly average maximum about 1-2 degrees Celsius above the long-term mean.

River Murray system inflows for April 2013 (excluding Snowy and Darling inflows, as well as inter-valley trades and managed environmental inflows from the tributaries) totalled around 130 GL, which is half the long-term April average of 260 GL. The figure was also well below last year’s April inflows of almost 1,100 GL, which resulted from record rainfall in February and March of 2012.

Watch the video on YouTube

Jellied water? That truly is out of this world!

On that note, let’s head back to the Basin and find out how water has been flowing in the Murray.

River Operations

MDBA active storage increased during the week by 25 GL to 5,769 GL (67% capacity).

At Dartmouth Reservoir, the release has been about 500 ML/day, measured at Colemans gauge, for most of the last week.  However, on 23 April, the flow at Colemans was gradually increased to 2,300 ML/day (1.75 m gauge height). This high flow will last for just 2 days, with a reduction in flow commencing on 25 April. The flow will be gradually reduced to 350 ML/day on 26 April and is expected to remain steady for at least the next 3 weeks (see attached flow advice). The storage volume at Dartmouth is currently 3,575 GL (93% capacity), which is a decrease of 2 GL since last week.

Releases from Hume Reservoir have averaged 10,300 ML/day during the week, with the current flow at Doctors Point, downstream of the Kiewa River junction, being nearly 11,000 ML/day. Releases from Hume are expected to decrease markedly during May as downstream demand reduces. Hume Reservoir has decreased in volume during the week by 37 GL and is now 1,385 GL (46% capacity).

At Yarrawonga Weir, the release is now steady at about 6,800 ML/day. Similar to Hume Reservoir, these releases are also expected to decrease during May, if dry conditions continue. Diversions from Lake Mulwala for the week averaged about 3,400 ML/day through Mulwala Canal and 1,400 ML/day through Yarrawonga Main Channel. The weir pool level is currently 124.77 m AHD, and is expected to remain higher than 124.7 m in the forthcoming week.

Flow into the Edward River system via the Edward River and Gulpa Creek offtakes has been steady at about 1,350 ML/day. Inflow from the Goulburn River has been steady at 900 ML/day while diversions through National Channel are also steady at about 2,150 ML/day. The release from Torrumbarry Weir this week has averaged 4,150 ML/day, but is expected to be slightly lower in the coming week.

At Barham, the flow averaged 3,950 ML/day last week and flows of about 3,750 ML/day are expected in the coming week. The flow in the Murrumbidgee River at Balranald has just receded below 300 ML/day while, in the Wakool River at Stoney Crossing, the flow is edging down towards 400 ML/day.

At Euston, the flow has been as high as 5,350 ML/day during the week but lower flows of the order of 4,500 ML/day are expected for the remainder of April. Mildura flows are expected to remain between 4,500 and 5,500 ML/day in the next week.

At Menindee Lakes, the volume in storage has increased by 49 GL to 1,265 GL (73% capacity). The level in the lakes is expected to continue rising for the next week or so. At Weir 32, the flow is currently 9,000 ML/day and is expected to continue at that rate for at least the next week. At Burtundy, the flow has increased to 6,600 ML/day. On the River Murray, downstream of the Darling confluence, the flow at Wentworth Weir is currently 10,800 ML/day and is expected to continue rising over the coming week to around 11,500 ML/day.

The storage level at Lake Victoria continues to rise and is currently 22.68 m AHD (218 GL, 32% capacity) which is a gain of 16 GL. The flow into South Australia averaged around 7,400 ML/day and is expected to be around 6,800 mL/day for the remainder of April. At the Lower Lakes, the five day average level is 0.62 m AHD. The releases through the Barrages increased this week, whilst conditions were favourable, to an estimated rate of around 4,000 ML/day.

Don’t forget to grab a copy of the full River Murray Ops Report for even more data on storages, flow rates and salinity.

Some fresh reading… (Image: CSIRO Publishing)

If you’re a fish fan and in a reading mood, CSIRO Publishing has just released a new book, Ecology of Australian Freshwater Fishes. The book compares Australian patterns and processes with those on other continents, discusses the local relevance of ecological models from the northern hemisphere and considers how best to manage our species and their habitats in the face of current and future threats.

One of the editors, Dr Keith Walker, is a member of the Independent Sustainable Rivers Audit Group. This group oversaw and reported on the Sustainable Rivers Audit, the most comprehensive assessment of river health undertaken for the Murray-Darling Basin. You can read more about the Sustainable Rivers Audit on the MDBA website.

River Operations

MDBA active storage is currently 5,743 GL (67% capacity), which is a gain of 26 GL during the week.

At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume reduced by 4 GL to 3,577 GL (93% capacity).  The release from the reservoir continued to be decreased during the week and is now 500 ML/day at Colemans gauge. This flow will remain steady for the next week before being increased to about 2,300 ML/day from Wednesday 24 April to Saturday 27 April. Releases during early May are expected to be about 350 ML/day.

The storage volume in Hume Reservoir continued a slow and steady decline, falling by 26 GL during the week to 1,422 GL (47% capacity). At Doctors Point, the flow is steady at about 11,500 ML/day and is expected to remain relatively steady during the forthcoming week.

At Yarrawonga Weir, the level in Lake Mulwala is 124.75 m AHD and the release is 7,000 ML/day.  The diversions through Mulwala Canal and Yarrawonga Main Channel totalled 36 GL during the week, with similar volumes expected to be diverted next week.

The flow into the Edward River has been increased to 1,100 ML/day at the Edward River offtake while the flow through the Gulpa Creek offtake remains at 250 ML/day. Downstream of Stevens Weir, the Edward River flow is about 520 ML/day, while further downstream below the junction with Billabong Creek, the flow at Moulamein is 770 ML/day.

In the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge has been steady during the week at about 900 ML/day. This flow is expected to remain steady until mid-May, if conditions remain dry.

Upstream of Torrumbarry Weir, the diversion through National Channel has recently been reduced from about 3,000 ML/day to about 2,100 ML/day. Consequently, the flow downstream of Torrumbarry Weir has increased slightly to about 4,000 ML/day.  This release is expected to decrease slightly during the coming week.

At Barham (just north of the recent giant wombat find), the flow is about 3,000 ML/day but is expected to rise to more than 3,700 ML/day in the coming week as the higher flows from Torrumbarry arrive. Downstream of Barham, inflows to the River Murray include 1,600 ML/day from the Wakool River at Kyalite and 730 ML/day from the Murrumbidgee River at Balranald—both these flows are receding.

At Euston Weir, the flow is currently about 5,200 ML/day but this flow is expected to fall below 4,000 ML/day during the coming week. A similar flow pattern is expected at Mildura.

Following normal operations practice during dry conditions, regulated river flows at many locations will be reduced toward minimums as the irrigation season draws to a close in mid-May. It is also possible that weir pools may be drawn down slightly to meet short-term demands while conserving as much water as possible in upstream storages such as Hume and Dartmouth Reservoirs. Further information will be provided in future Weekly Reports or, if necessary, in flow advices and media releases.

Continued high inflows have boosted the storage in the Menindee Lakes by 50 GL to 1,216 GL (70% capacity).  The flow at Weir 32 will be increased to 9,000 ML/day by Friday 19 April (see attached flow advice).  At Burtundy, the flow is currently 5,700 ML/day (3.5 m) and is expected to rise to about 7,600 ML/day (4.3 m) by 24 April.

At Wentworth Weir, the flow has just exceeded 10,000 ML/day and is expected to remain in the range 10,000–11,000 ML/day for the remainder of April.

The level in Lake Victoria started rising this week and is now 22.52 m AHD, which is a gain of 6 GL.  The total storage volume is 202 GL (30% capacity).  The lake is expected to continue rising at least until the end of May, when a volume of 350 GL is being targeted.  The flow to South Australia is currently 7,500 ML/day but will be decreased to about 7,300 ML/day for the remainder of the month.

At the Lower Lakes, the average water level has been steady at 0.65 m AHD for the last week.  The gates at Goolwa and Mundoo barrages were closed over the weekend and early this week to minimise the reverse flow of seawater into Lake Alexandrina but were re-opened when downstream conditions became favourable.

If you have a particular interest in flows and salinity, make sure you head to the MDBA website every Wednesday for the latest flow and salinity report. It doesn’t just cover the last week, it also provides a forecast for the week ahead.

River Operations

MDBA active storage has decreased by 27 GL during the week to 5,718 GL (67% capacity).

At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume decreased by 35 GL to 3,581 GL (93% capacity). The flow at Colemans gauge was increased to 8,000 ML/day at the beginning of the week and has since been reduced to 2,800 ML/day. The release will continue to be reduced over the coming week. These releases are part of continuing harmony transfers to provide a range of benefits, including additional flood mitigation capacity at Dartmouth Reservoir for the coming winter and spring.

At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume decreased by 25 GL to 1,449 GL (48%). The flow downstream at Doctors Point has averaged 12,800 ML/day during the past week with a current target of 11,500 ML/day. The flow should remain close to 11,500 ML/day for the next few days.

In Lake Mulwala, the water level is currently 124.81 m AHD after decreasing to 124.72 m AHD earlier in the week. The flow downstream of Yarrawonga Weir was maintained at 7,000 ML/day for most of the week and has now been increased to 7,200 ML/day.

The flow into the Edward River from the Murray was decreased to 900 ML/day during the week but is expected to be increased to 1,100 ML/day during the coming weekend. Flow through the Gulpa Creek offtake is currently at 250 ML/day. At Stevens Weir, the pool is currently 4.72 m on the local gauge and the downstream flow has averaged about 600 ML/day during the week.

On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge has continued to ease and is now at around 900 ML/day. At Torrumbarry Weir the downstream flow has decreased from 4,600 to 3,400 ML/day but is expected to remain above 3,000 ML/day in the coming week.

Downstream at Barham, the flow has decreased to 3,600 ML/day, but is expected to level out at around 3,300 ML/day in the days ahead. At Euston, the flow is currently 5,500 ML/day and the pool level is 47.55 m AHD, which is 5 cm below FSL.

High inflows continue into the Menindee Lakes, with the stored volume increasing by 39 GL during the week to a total volume of 1,166 GL (67% capacity). The release, measured at Weir 32, has increased to 7,700 ML/day with a target of 8,000 ML/day over the coming weeks.

At Wentworth Weir, the flow has increased to 9,100 ML/day and may be above 10,000 ML/day in a week’s time. The water level in Lake Victoria has fallen slightly to 22.45 m AHD (196 GL, 29% capacity). The water level in Lake Victoria has been falling now since late in 2012, but is expected to begin rising in the next few days to begin increasing the volume towards the storage volume target of 350 GL for the end of May.

At the Lower Lakes, the five day average water level is currently 0.64 m AHD and has averaged 0.65 m AHD for much of the week. Additional gates were opened during the week at Goolwa and Tauwitchere barrages to enable a higher flow into the Coorong whilst conditions are favourable.

While helping to protect Aboriginal sites from construction work, cultural heritage monitors in the Koondrook–Perricoota Forest made an important discovery.

Diprotodon bone (Photo: Dan Hutton, Forestry Corporation of NSW)

Warren Stevens found a small piece of bone that did not look very special at first but, as it turned out, it was different to anything he had ever seen before. After investigating further, some larger fragments were found. These were sent to megafauna experts at Flinders University for identification. It turns out that those seemingly ordinary bones actually belonged to a diprotodon (or giant wombat) – a creature that became extinct over 25,000 years ago. Diprotodons were the largest marsupials to have ever lived, with the males weighing over two tonnes.

Gadzooks! A giant wombat on the front page of the Barham Bridge!

A small tooth fragment found nearby was found to be a fragment from a smaller megafauna species, Phascolomys medius, which also looked like a wombat. For a short time, the fossils will be on display at the Koondrook–Perricoota Project Information Centre at 20 Mellool St, Barham. They will then be returned to Flinders University for cleaning and stabilising before going back on display in the local community.

The cultural heritage monitors have also helped to protect a number of significant Aboriginal sites during construction and have provided valuable insight into how the forest was occupied and used (see our last post for more info). The engineering works in the forest are funded by The Living Murray program and will help deliver environmental water to the forest in an efficient way.

For more information on the Koondrook–Perricoota Flood Enhancement project and more about the fossils visit www.kpforest.com.au/.

Celebrating 100! (Photo: Grace Tari, Graceful Cake Creations. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

It’s our 100th! Blog post, that is. Thanks to everyone who’s taken the time to stop by. Please keep sharing your thoughts and questions with us! You may have noticed that you can now easily share our blog posts via Twitter, Facebook and good ol’ email using the ShareThis widget at the end of every post.

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River Operations

MDBA active storage has decreased by 4 GL during the week to 5,745 GL (67% capacity).

At Dartmouth Reservoir, the storage volume decreased by 7 GL to 3,616 GL (94% capacity). The flow at Colemans gauge was increased to 8,000 ML/day on Wednesday 3 April and will remain at this flow for two days before gradually reducing to approximately 500 ML/day by 16 April. These high flows are part of continuing harmony transfers to provide a range of benefits, including additional flood mitigation capacity at Dartmouth Reservoir for the coming winter and spring.  For further information on planned releases from Dartmouth Reservoir, please refer to the flow advice of 19 March.

At Hume Reservoir, the storage volume fell by 22 GL to 1,474 GL (49%), with the flow at Doctors Point reducing to 8,400 ML/day during the past week. If conditions remain dry, the flow at Doctors Point is likely to increase to within the range 11,000–15,000 ML/day during the coming week.

In Lake Mulwala, the water level is currently 124.84 m AHD and is expected to decrease below 124.8 m AHD in the coming days. The flow downstream of Yarrawonga Weir has been reduced to 7,000 ML/day. This lower flow enables more water to be saved in Hume and Dartmouth Reservoirs for future use, while demands downstream of Wentworth are met by higher releases from the Menindee Lakes.

The flow into the Edward River from the Murray, through the Edward and Gulpa offtakes, totals about 1,650 ML/day. At Stevens Weir, the pool is currently 4.73 m on the local gauge and the flow downstream is 720 ML/day.

On the Goulburn River, the flow at McCoys Bridge is currently 1,150 ML/day and is expected to be about 900 ML/day by mid-April. Torrumbarry Weir pool remains at the Full Supply Level of 86.05 m AHD, while the downstream flow is currently 4,600 ML/day and is expected to recede to about 3,000 ML/day in the coming week.

The flow in the Wakool River at Kyalite is about 1,650 ML/day and is expected to remain fairly steady in the coming week. Downstream of the Wakool confluence with the Murray, the flow at Euston is about 5,250 ML/day and may increase slightly over the weekend before receding. The flow at Mildura is also expected to increase slightly in the coming week.

High inflows continue into the Menindee Lakes, with the stored volume increasing by 35 GL during the week to a total volume of 1,127 GL (65% capacity). At Weir 32, downstream of the lakes, the release has been increased to 4,400 ML/day, with a flow of 8,000 ML/day targeted for Tuesday 9 April. For further information on planned releases from the Menindee Lakes, please refer to this river ops update and the flow advice of 26 March.

At Wentworth Weir, the flow is 7,850 ML/day and is likely to continue increasing during April as the higher flows from the lower Darling River join the Murray.

The water level in Lake Victoria is currently 22.51 m AHD (202 GL, 30% capacity) and may fall slightly during the coming week. The water level in Lake Victoria is expected to rise after mid-April as higher flows arrive from upstream. A storage volume of 350 GL is being targeted at Lake Victoria for the end of May.

At the Lower Lakes, the five day average water level is currently 0.63 m AHD, which is a rise of 3 cm since last week. This rise in lake level is due to inflows boosted by environmental water, lower evaporation rates and the temporary closure of the Goolwa and Mundoo barrages over the Easter weekend due to high tides and large swells. Flows through the barrages are likely to increase in the coming week due to favourable tide conditions.

March 2013 Summary

Rainfall during March 2013 was slightly above the long-term average for the Murray-Darling Basin, with the Bureau of Meteorology reporting a total of 43.2 mm averaged across all monitoring sites (12% above the mean). Regionally, large parts of the northern Basin received above average rain with a small area covering the Victorian Alps recording above average to very much above average rain. In the south-western Basin including western Victoria and eastern South Australia, conditions were both dry and very warm, with particularly high temperatures during the first half of the month.

River Murray system inflows for March 2013 totalled around 150 GL, which is below the long-term average for March of 220 GL and well below last year’s record March inflow of almost 2,300 GL. These system inflows exclude Snowy and Darling inflows, as well as inter-valley trades and managed environmental inflows from the tributaries. Environmental inflows from the Goulburn River contributed around an extra 60 GL to system inflows during March.

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