The Murray River at Corowa may reach 5.6 metres Wednesday afternoon, with local residents asked to monitor conditions and remain alert.
Property owners along the river should prepare their properties and be on alert.
The message comes as the Murray–Darling Basin Authority urges people downstream of the Hume Dam including Corowa to be flood ready as the wettest period for southern Basin catchments commences.
Full water storages coupled with a 50 per cent chance of another La Nina in 2022-23 are driving management strategies in the River Murray System for the year ahead, according to the MDBA’s 2022-23 Annual Operating Outlook released on Monday.
Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) Executive Director of River Management Andrew Reynolds said the Annual Operating Outlook explains how the river would be run based on a range of potential climatic and rainfall scenarios.
“Heading into the irrigation season, southern Basin storages are at an unusually high level for this time of year, and it’s likely that wet conditions and high flows will persist for at least the next few months,” Mr Reynolds said.
As of August 8, Hume Dam is at 95 per cent, Dartmouth Dam at 97 per cent, Lake Victoria is at 62 per cent and the Menindee Lakes are at 115 per cent capacity. Healthy flows continue to enter the Murray from the Murrumbidgee River, the Goulburn River and the other Victorian tributaries.
“Although rainfall eased off somewhat in the past couple of months, we’re approaching what is typically the season of highest inflows, and the Bureau of Meteorology is also forecasting a 50 per cent chance of another La Nina developing later this year,” Mr Reynolds said.
“At Hume Dam we have been in and out of flood operations for the past 12 months and this is likely to continue into spring. As always, we’ll work closely with Bureau of Meteorology and WaterNSW, and will communicate any significant changes to communities downstream of the dam.”
The MDBA’s river operators respond to different conditions daily and adjust their strategies as the season unfolds. Conditions are evaluated based on Bureau forecasts and advice, inflow data, predicted inflows and demands and historical records, to determine how to best manage the system.
The River Murray System Annual Operating Outlook is prepared by the MDBA with input from the New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian governments.
For more information about flooding and alerts please check www.ses.nsw.gov.au in NSW and www.emergency.vic.gov.au in Victoria. For up-to-date flood warnings in your area visit bom.gov.au, in an emergency contact the SES on 132 500.
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