Starting on 28 February, releases will gradually be reduced to a flow of 600 megalitres per day, which is 1.23 metres local gauge height at Colemans gauge.
Flows are being eased because the storage at Hume Reservoir no longer needs to be supplemented by water held at Dartmouth. The current volume at Hume Reservoir, together with expected inflows, should be sufficient to meet demand for water downstream until the end of the irrigation season in mid-May.
Downstream demand has been lower than previously forecast due to weather conditions over summer being milder than anticipated. Water released from Lake Mulwala when maintenance works start in late April will also help to meet downstream requirements.
The current storage volume in Dartmouth Reservoir is 3044GL (79% capacity) while Hume Reservoir’s storage is 1168GL (39% capacity).
Higher releases of water from Dartmouth Reservoir are possible in the coming months for water quality and electricity generation purposes. A flow advice will be issued prior to any significantly higher releases.
The MDBA routinely updates the flow forecasts on the MDBA website each Wednesday.
ENDS
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