WaterNSW to reduce dam releases before next rain event
11 OCTOBER 2022WaterNSW will maintain carefully calculated Burrinjuck Dam releases to reduce the storage level, with plans to cut back before rain forecast for later this week generates more downstream tributary flooding and inflow to the dam.
The level at Burrinjuck is currently 104.3% of capacity, and the dam is discharging at a rate of 60 gigalitres per day (GL/day) now that downstream tributaries are receding after weekend rain.
Inflows continue at a rate of 43 GL/day and the timing of the reduction to releases from the dam will be based on Bureau of Meteorology (Bureau) forecasts and regional modelling of downstream river flows.
On 5 October Burrinjuck Dam storage was 91.8% as a result of airspace releases made to help mitigate flood impacts, before consecutive weekend inflow peaks totalling 400 GL that were the equivalent of approximately 40% of the dam’s storage capacity.
Burrinjuck has made large-scale releases between rain events in recent months, to manage the storage level in readiness for recurring inflows resulting from exceptional La Nina wet conditions over a saturated catchment.
As recently as 8 September the dam storage was reduced to 83.7% of capacity, but significant inflows pushed the storage back to 97.2% by 30 September. Ongoing inflows and high downstream tributary flows have also constrained the volume of water able to be released from the dam.
Blowering Dam is currently 99.2% of capacity, receiving low inflows, and making minor releases (0.6GL/day). Release rates will be temporarily increased to 5GL/day to minimise the risk of spilling , based on current forecasts.
For more information on dam releases and river impacts:
- Register for the Early Warning Network (EWN)
- Visit WaterInsights for dam levels and releases
- View the BoM website for weather and flood updates
- For emergency information, contact the NSW SES or phone 132 500