Rising river alert – Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam
The NSW Department of Planning and Environment today issued a ‘rising river alert’ for the Snowy River between Jindabyne Dam and Dalgety in southern NSW from Monday 5 September through to Wednesday 7 September 2022.
The river will rise due to the third high-flow event in a series of nine planned environmental releases from Jindabyne Dam to the Snowy River during 2022.
On Monday 5 September the highest flow rate for this event will occur at Jindabyne Dam from 8am to 4pm and will be equivalent to 4,979 megalitres per day for the eight-hour period.
It is expected to see the river level at Dalgety rise from 1.18 metres to 1.54 metres, a rise of 0.36 metres.
Tuesday 6 September the flow rate will be 2,090 megalitres per day over a 24 hour period.
It is expected to see the river level at Dalgety drop from 1.54 metres to 1.21 metres, a fall of 0.33 metres.
Wednesday 7 September the flow rate will be 2,678 megalitres per day over a 24 hour period.
It is expected to see the river level at Dalgety rise from 1.21 metres to 1.28 metres, a rise of 0.07 metres.
For Thursday 8 September the flow rate will be about 1,657 megalitres per day.
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 at Jindabyne will take about six hours to reach Dalgety Weir at this flow rate 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 the release. If heavy rainfall appears likely the release 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 increased flows.
