Rising River Alert – Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam – 11 May 2023

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment today issued a rising river alert for the Snowy River downstream of Jindabyne Dam in southern NSW for Thursday 18 May 2023.

The river will rise due to the first high-flow event in a series of eight planned environmental releases from Jindabyne Dam to the Snowy River during 2023.

The highest flow release rate for this event will occur at Jindabyne Dam from 8am to 4pm on Thursday 18 May and will be equivalent to 8,864 megalitres per day for the eight-hour period.

It is expected to see the river level at Dalgety rise by approximately 0.9 metres. These levels do not include the effect of rainfall or wet conditions in the catchment, which may increase flow rates and water depths.

For the remainder of Thursday 18 May, the flow rate from Jindabyne Dam will be 3,068 megalitres per day. The flow rate from Jindabyne Dam will drop to a target of 2,039 megalitres per day on Friday 19 May.

The environmental benefits from this release are expected to be greatest between the dam wall and the junction with the Delegate River. However, the flow pulse will be noticeable well down into Victoria.

Water released from Jindabyne Dam at this flow rate may take several hours to reach Dalgety Weir and around 3 to 4 days to reach at Orbost in Victoria, subject to catchment conditions.

Landholders downstream of the Jindabyne Dam are advised to take all necessary precautions with stock, fencing and property in proximity to the river. As the release flows through the system, people should refrain from entering or crossing swollen waterways.

Conditions will be closely monitored in the lead up to the release. It may be necessary to modify or cancel flows in the lead up to the event due to environmental, climatic or operational conditions, and an announcement will be made accordingly.

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.

More information can be found at Increased flows.