Flow advice: Summer flows to be variable in the Mitta Mitta

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Flow advice: Summer flows to be variable in the Mitta Mitta

18 December 2014 - NSW Office of Water




Landholders and river users on the Mitta Mitta River are advised to take into account variable flows from Dartmouth Reservoir during summer, and adjust their river activities as necessary.

In the next four weeks, we plan to vary the release of water from Dartmouth Reservoir for environmental needs such as managing algae and boosting vegetation health along the river.

On Wednesday 31 December, the flow at Colemans gauge will be reduced from 7000 to 5000 megalitres per day (ML/day), dropping to a low of 1500 ML/day by Friday 9 January 2015. The flow at Colemans is expected to gradually return to 7000 ML/day by 11 January, depending on downstream requirements.

If conditions are wetter than anticipated, it is possible that releases from Dartmouth could be reduced again to around 1500 ML/day for a short time in late January. In such an event another flow advice would be issued in mid-January with updated information.

Throughout this period, the flow in the Mitta Mitta River at Tallandoon is expected to be slightly greater than at Colemans gauge, depending on inflows from Snowy Creek.

Water is being transferred from Dartmouth to Hume Reservoir to assist with meeting downstream water demands. If conditions remain dry, flows up to 7000 MG/day are likely to continue throughout summer and autumn.

On 15 December, the volume stored in Dartmouth Reservoir was 3320 GL (86 per cent capacity) compared with 1888 GL (63 per cent capacity) in Hume Reservoir.

Over the Christmas and New Year period, flow forecasts will be updated on the MDBA website on Wednesday 24 December and Wednesday 7 January.Sorry, only registered users can see this content. Please Login or Register.