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 for Tuesday 31 May 2022.

The river will rise due to the first high-flow event in a series of nine planned environmental releases from Jindabyne Dam to the Snowy River during 2022.

The highest flow rate for this event will occur at Jindabyne Dam from 8am to 4pm on Tuesday 31 May and will be equivalent to 3,715 megalitres per day for the eight-hour period.

It is expected to see the river level at Dalgety rise from 1.15 metres to 1.39 metres, a rise of 0.24 metres.

For the remainder of Tuesday 31 May, the flow rate will be about 2,061 megalitres per day. The flow rate will drop back to a target of about 766 megalitres per day on Wednesday 1 June.

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.

Planned high-flow environmental water releases to the Snowy River will begin on Tuesday 31 May.