Rising River Alert - Upper Murrumbidgee River Below Tantangara Dam

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment issued a “rising river alert” for the Upper Murrumbidgee River between Tantagarra Dam and Yaouk in southern NSW for Wednesday, September 20.

The river will rise due to the third and final high-flow event in a series of planned environmental releases from Tangangara Dam to the Upper Murrumbidgee River during 2023.

The highest flow rate will occur at Tantangara Dam from 12 noon on Wednesday, September 20 and will be equivalent to 1,500 megalitres per day for the 24-hour period.

The river level at Yaouk is expected to rise from approximately 1 metre to over 1.3 metres, a rise of approximately 0.3 metres.

For the remainder of Thursday, September 21, the flow rate will be about 950 megalitres per day.

The flow rate will drop back to a target of about 475 megalitres per day on Friday, September 22.

Environmental benefits from this release are expected to be greatest between the dam wall and Yaouk.

The flow pulse will be noticeable downstream of Murrumbidgee Reserve, Binjura.

Water released from Tangangara Dam will take about nine hours to reach Yaouk at this flow rate and around two days for the flow to arrive at the ACT border.

Landholders downstream of the Tangangara Dam are advised to take all necessary precautions with stock, fencing and property in proximity to the river.

The department will work with the NSW Safety Emergency Service and the Bureau of Meteorology to provide information to the community regarding the management of the situation should weather conditions warrant.

Conditions will be closely monitored.

If heavy rainfall appears likely, the release will be reduced or postponed to avoid adverse effects on river levels and an announcement will be made accordingly.

• Topics:

• Water
• Floods