Rising river alert - Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam

The NSW Department of Industry today issued a ‘rising river alert’ for the Snowy River between Jindabyne Dam and Dalgety in southern NSW for Thursday 30 August 2018.

The river will rise due to the first high-flow event in a series of five planned environmental releases from Jindabyne Dam to the Snowy River during winter and spring 2018.

The highest flow rate will occur at Jindabyne Dam from 7am to 3pm on Thursday 30 August 2018 and will be equivalent to 2,364 megalitres per day for the eight hour period.

For the remainder of Thursday 30 August, the flow rate will be about 1,330 megalitres per day. The flow rate will drop back to a target of about 815 megalitres per day on Friday 31 August.

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.

It is expected to see the river level at Dalgety rise from 0.85m to 1.24m, a rise of 0.39m. This is one of four secondary high-flow events for 2018 that will be released from the cone valves at Jindabyne Dam. The main October release will use the Jindabyne Dam spillway.

Water released at Jindabyne will take about six hours to reach Dalgety Weir at this flow rate. Landholders downstream of the Jindabyne Dam are advised to take all necessary precautions with stock, fencing and property in proximity to the river.

This first high-flow event for 2018 has been officially named ‘Djuran’ which means Running Water, in recognition of the Bidwell–Maap traditional people, who have an enduring and strong connection to the Snowy River.

All five high-flow events in the Snowy River during 2018 have been named by the regional aboriginal communities - Bidwell-Maap, Wongalu, Southern Monero-Yuin-Bolga, Maneroo-Ngarigo and Wiradjuri - who recognise the link between these high flows and the health of the Snowy River.

The department will work with the NSW State Emergency Service and 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 - www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/basins-catchments/snowy-river/initiative/increased-flows