Rising river alert – Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam
The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment today issued a ‘rising river alert’ for the Snowy River between Jindabyne Dam and Dalgety in southern NSW for two high-flow events – Thursday 23 September 2021 and Thursday 30 September 2021.
The river will rise due to the fifth and sixth high-flow events in a series of nine planned environmental releases from Jindabyne Dam to the Snowy River during winter and spring 2021.
On Thursday 23 September, the river will have a daily flow rate of 2,742 megalitres per day over a 24 hour period.
It is expected to see the river level at Dalgety rise from 1.05 metres to 1.28 metres – a rise of 0.23 metres.
On Thursday 30 September, the river will have a daily flow rate of 2,218 megalitres per day over a 24 hour period.
It is expected to see the river level at Dalgety rise from 1.11 metres to 1.22 metres – a rise of 0.11 metres.
Each of these two high-flow events will be maintained for a 24 hour period and do not include an eight-hour peak flow like the other planned high flow events for the Snowy River in 2021.
The flow rate will drop below 2,000 megalitres per day the day after each of these high-flow events. The environmental benefits from these releases are expected to be greatest between the dam wall and the junction with the Delegate River. However, the higher flows will be noticeable well down into Victoria.
Water released at Jindabyne will take about six hours to reach Dalgety Weir at these flow rates and around four days for the flow to arrive at Orbost in Victoria.
Landholders downstream of the Jindabyne Dam are advised to take all necessary precautions with stock, fencing and property in proximity to the river.
The department will work with the NSW State Emergency Service and the Bureau of Meteorology to provide information to the community regarding the management of this release should weather conditions warrant.
Conditions will be closely monitored in the lead up to these releases. If heavy rainfall appears likely the releases will be reduced or postponed to avoid adverse effects on river levels and an announcement will be made accordingly.
More information can be found at - www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/basins-catchments/snowy-river/initiative/increased-flows