Flow advice: Dartmouth harmony releases in February

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Flow advice: Dartmouth harmony releases in February

03 February 2014

"Harmony" releases continue from Dartmouth Reservoir during February

Landholders and river users should take into account increased water releases from Dartmouth Reservoir into the Mitta Mitta River starting this week and make any necessary adjustments to their river activities.

From Tuesday, February 4 2014, the flow will be increased from the current flow of 2,500 megalitres per day (ML/day) at Colemans gauge (gauge height 1.79m) to a flow of 3,500ML/day (gauge height 1.98m) on Wednesday, February 5.

At this stage, a release rate of 3,500ML/day is expected to continue until around the middle of February, with the release rate reducing to around 2,000ML/day during the second half of the month.

The flow at Tallandoon is currently about 2,700ML/day (gauge height 2.11m). Current forecasts, assuming dry conditions, indicate that the higher releases from Dartmouth Reservoir during the first half of February will result in a peak flow at Tallandoon of about 3,600ML/day (gauge height 2.33m).

Dartmouth Reservoir is currently storing 3,563GL (92 per cent capacity). These "harmony" releases from Dartmouth to Hume Reservoir free up additional airspace in Dartmouth Reservoir and therefore increase its flood mitigation capacity for the coming winter and spring without affecting the security of supply to downstream water users.

Variations in the release rate are aimed at improving the Mitta Mitta River's water quality downstream of the Dartmouth Reservoir.

A further flow advice will be issued if these forecasts change significantly.