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Rising river alert: Upper Murrumbidgee River below Tantangara Dam

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment today issued a ‘rising river alert’ for the Upper Murrumbidgee River between Tantangara Dam and Yaouk in southern NSW for Monday 10 July 2023.

The river will rise due to the first high-flow event in a series of three planned environmental releases from Tantangara Dam to the Upper Murrumbidgee River during 2023.

The highest flow rate for this event will occur at Tantangara Dam from 12 noon on Monday 10 July and will be equivalent to 1,500 megalitres per day for the 24-hour period through to midday Tuesday 11 July.

It is expected to see the river level at Yaouk rise to approximately 1.3 metres as a result of the environmental flow.

From midday on Tuesday 11 July, the flow rate released from Tantangara Dam will be reduced to about 775 megalitres per day. From midday on Wednesday 12 July the flow rate will drop back to a target of about 475 megalitres per day.

The environmental benefits from this release are expected to be greatest between the dam wall and Yaouk. However, the flow pulse will be noticeable downstream of Murrumbidgee Reserve, Binjura. Water released from Tantangara Dam may take about 11 hours to reach Yaouk at this flow rate and around 2.5 days for the flow to arrive at the ACT border, subject to catchment conditions.

Landholders downstream of the Tantangara 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 may be cancelled or modified to avoid adverse effects on river levels and an announcement will be made accordingly.

More information can be found at Snowy montane rivers.

The upper reaches of the Murrumbidgee River. Northern Kosciuszko National Park. New South Wales, Australia.Planned high-flow water for environment releases to the Upper Murrumbidgee River will begin on Monday 10 July 2023.