Rising river alert – Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam
The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment today issued a ‘rising river alert’ for the Snowy River between Jindabyne Dam and Dalgety in southern NSW for Wednesday 28 October 2020.
The river will rise due to the fourth and last high-flow event in a series of planned environmental releases from Jindabyne Dam to the Snowy River during winter and spring 2020.
The highest flow rate will occur at Jindabyne Dam from 8am to 4pm on Wednesday 28 October 2020 and will be equivalent to 1,500 megalitres per day for the eight hour period.
It is expected to see the river level at Dalgety rise from 0.82m to 1.14m, a rise of 0.32m. However; higher river levels can eventuate from local rainfall. Weather conditions will be closely monitored and the release reduced or postponed if necessary to avoid impacting natural river levels.
For the remainder of Wednesday 28 October, the flow rate will be about 860 megalitres per day. The flow rate will drop back to a target of about 530 megalitres per day on Thursday 29 October.
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 any impact on natural river levels and an announcement will be made accordingly.
More information can be found at Snowy River increased flows.