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 Wednesday 31 October 2018.
The river will rise due to the fifth and last high-flow event in a series of 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 Wednesday 31 October 2018 and will be equivalent to 2,140 megalitres per day for the eight hour period.
For the remainder of Wednesday 31 October, the flow rate will be about 1,200 megalitres per day. The flow rate will drop back to about 640 megalitres per day on Thursday 1 November.
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 into Victoria.
It is expected to see the river water level at Dalgety rise from 1.08m to 1.21m, an increase of 0.13m.
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.
The last high-flow event for 2018 has been officially named ‘Bundrea Nooruun Bundbararn’, which means Waterhole Big Lizard, in recognition of the Southern Monero-Yuin-Bolga traditional people who have an enduring and strong connection to the Snowy River.
All 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