WATER will be released from Hume Dam into the Murray River as irrigation demands decrease and the wetter months approach.
Murray-Darling Basin Authority executive director of river management Andrew Reynolds said water levels in Hume Dam, upstream of Swan Hill near Albury, were higher than usual for this time of year following widespread flooding last year.
“We have been managing releases at Hume Dam to meet demands downstream” Mr Reynolds said.
“However, these demands are reducing as the irrigation season draws to a close, and the water level in the dam is beginning to rise.
“This week we will begin generating airspace in the dam ahead of the wetter months with initial releases at relatively low rates and well within the channel capacity downstream of the dam.”
Hume Dam was at 91 per cent capacity and Dartmouth was at 96 per cent, he said.
Airspace management releases would continue at Dartmouth Dam at low rates.
“Given the relatively high storages at both Hume and Dartmouth dams heading into winter, airspace releases are important to help mitigate the risk of flooding in the weeks and months ahead,” Mr Reynolds said.
“While the Bureau of Meteorology’s long-term weather forecast paints a drier picture over winter than in recent years, we want to remind those living downstream of the dams to always be flood ready.”
