Lowering of Mildura Weir pool in 2014

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Please find attached the latest media release from the Murray–Darling Basin Authority.
 
Lowering of Mildura Weir pool in 2014
 
Plans are underway for the Mildura Weir pool to be fully drawn down for about three weeks during May and June to allow new trestles with mechanised gates to be installed.
The work will mean that Lock 11 will be closed during this period and boat access through the weir will not be possible.
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority and Goulburn–Murray Water anticipate the work will start in May but are already consulting with local river users, including tourism operators, to determine the most appropriate time to carry out the work.
MDBA head of River Management David Dreverman said the drawdown would take the water level in the Mildura Weir pool to about 3.6 metres below full supply level, depending on river flows.
“Drawing the water down to this level will affect river users, which is why we are consulting with them to determine a time for this work that will have as little impact as possible on their activities,” Mr Dreverman said.
“We’ll also need to take into account the river and weather conditions.”
Mr Dreverman said a prototype trestle with mechanised gates was first installed at Mildura Weir in July 2010 and had performed well.
“Mechanised gates will be a significant improvement on the existing method of adjusting the pool height and flow rates, which requires weir staff to manually install and remove large numbers of timber ‘drop bars’.”
Mr Dreverman said that once the trestles were replaced and the weir was reinstated, the weir pool would be raised back to full supply level by around mid-June 2014.
“Some increases in river salinity can occur during drawdown, depending on how much water is flowing through the system, so we’ll be closely monitoring salinity levels throughout the drawdown period,” he said.
It is also expected the weir will need to be drawn down again for a prolonged period in winter 2015 for works that include repairing the concrete apron, which sits on the riverbed and supports the trestles. The MDBA and Goulburn–Murray Water will issue further advice with more specific dates and details in the coming months.