Murrumbidgee Valley

Water allocation update

Allocations

Murrumbidgee general security allocation has increased by 3 per cent of entitlement to be now 23 per cent of entitlement for the 2017/18 water year. This small improvement is due to inflows to the upper storages produced by rainfall during last week.

This assessment is based on finalised average carryover figures, some 27 per cent of entitlement, meaning that overall general security water availability is 50 per cent of entitlement.

Storage levels (as at 14 August)

• Blowering Dam is 78 per cent full – steady – holding 1,288,000 megalitres (ML).

Burrinjuck Dam is 55 per cent full – steady – holding 570,000 ML.

Climatic outlook

The Bureau of Meteorology seasonal outlook indicates that below average rainfall conditions over much of the Murrumbidgee Valley are likely to continue from August to October, particularly in August. It is also highly likely that above average temperatures will continue over the coming three months, with a greater than 80 per cent chance of warmer than average days and nights.

Both of Australia's major climate drivers at this time of year, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), continue to remain neutral.

Trade

Trade into (and within) the Murrumbidgee Valley is open, and trade out of the Murrumbidgee Valley opened on Friday, 28 July 2017. Water users are encouraged to monitor the WaterNSW website at - http://www.waternsw.com.au/customer-service/trading/murrumbidgee - for information about the Murrumbidgee IVT account balance and closure triggers.

Next announcements

The next allocation update for the Murrumbidgee Valley will be on Friday 1 September 2017. 

Murrumbidgee Valley

Water allocation update

Allocations
There is no increase in Murrumbidgee regulated river general security allocation at this time.

Given the dry conditions experienced in June and July, combined with storage inflows tracking close to historical minimums, there is no improvement to resources. Caution has been applied to the operational loss allowance to ensure irrigation supplies can be delivered in full despite the dry seasonal outlook.

This assessment is based on an updated carryover volume of 27 per cent of entitlement, meaning that overall general security water availability is 47 per cent of entitlement. Interestingly, about 90 per cent of general security licence holders carried over the maximum 30 per cent of entitlement.

The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) commenced an in-stream environmental watering action from Murrumbidgee storages on 24 July 2017 aimed at improving condition of the mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands and stimulating native fish migration. This watering is scheduled to continue until mid-August 2017. 

Climatic outlook

Murrumbidgee Valley

Water allocation update for 2017-18

Allocations

Murrumbidgee general security allocation has increased by 3 per cent to 20 per cent of entitlement. Settling end of year data, plus some showers earlier this month which met some demands and reduced losses, helped to provide a small improvement in available resources.

Storage levels (as at 14 July)

• Blowering Dam is 80 per cent full – steady - holding 1305,000 megalitres (ML)

• Burrinjuck Dam is 63 per cent full - steady- holding 645,000 ML

  Climatic Outlook

  The Bureau of Meteorology seasonal outlook indicates that below average rainfall conditions over much of the Murrumbidgee valley are likely from July to September, with above average temperatures.

  Atmospheric and oceanic indicators used to measure the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) remain within neutral bounds, and similarly, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) remains neutral. Therefore the Bureau’s ENSO Outlook is currently INACTIVE, with neither El Niño nor La Niña expected to influence Australia’s climate this year.

  Trade

  Water users can trade into the Murrumbidgee valley, but trade out of the Murrumbidgee valley is closed. Trade within the valley is open. Water users are encouraged to monitor the WaterNSW website at www.waternsw.com.au/customer-service/trading/murrumbidgee for information about the Murrumbidgee IVT account balance and status of trade.

  Next announcements
  The next allocation update for the Murrumbidgee valley will be on Tuesday 1 August 2017.

  An updated probability analysis showing likely improvement in water availability under different inflow scenarios, including the rocket diagram, will be issued again on Tuesday 15 August 2017. 

  
  

  NSW Murray and Lower Darling 

  Water allocation update

  Allocations

  NSW Murray general security allocation has increased by 2 per cent. It is now 13 per cent of entitlement for the 2017/18 water year. This small improvement is from the settlement of end of year trade and water usage data rather than from improved inflows. June was very dry with Murray inflows likely to be exceeded 94 in 100 years (94% Annual Exceedance Probability).

  This assessment is based on an average carryover of about 42 per cent, meaning that overall general security water availability is 55 per cent of entitlement. A final carryover volume will be available at the end of July, though no great change is expected.

  Upper Murray storage levels (as at 14 July 2017)

  • Dartmouth Dam is currently about 78 per cent full, holding 3,026,000 megalitres (ML).

  • Hume Dam is 73 per cent full, holding 2,199,000 ML.

    Climatic outlook

    The Bureau of Meteorology seasonal outlook indicates that below average rainfall conditions over much of the Murray valley are likely from July to September, with above average temperatures.

    Atmospheric and oceanic indicators used to measure the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) remain within neutral bounds, and similarly, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) remains neutral. Therefore the Bureau’s ENSO Outlook is currently INACTIVE, with neither El Niño nor La Niña expected to influence Australia’s climate this year.

    Trade

    In the Murray, trade across the Barmah choke remains restricted to ‘no net trade downstream’. Downstream trade opens automatically to the extent of the volume of any upstream trade.

    The trade restriction protects existing downstream entitlement holders from the risk of delivery shortfall caused by the limited physical capacity of the Barmah choke.

    Water users are encouraged to monitor the MDBA website at http://www.mdba.gov.au/managing- water/water-markets-trade/interstate-water-trade/barmah-choke-trade-balance for information about the trade balance and status of trade.

    Lower Darling water source trade is open, including inter-valley trade.

    Trade into (and within) the Murrumbidgee Valley is open, but trade out of the Murrumbidgee Valley is closed. Water users are encouraged to monitor the WaterNSW website at http://www.waternsw.com.au/customer-service/trading/murrumbidgee for information about the Murrumbidgee IVT account balance and the current status of Murrumbidgee trade.

  Next announcements
  The next allocation update for the NSW Murray and Lower Darling valleys will be on Tuesday 1 August 2017.

  An updated probability analysis showing likely improvement in water availability under different inflow scenarios, including the rocket diagram, will be issued again on Tuesday 15 August 2017. 

  
  

Opening allocations announced for Murrumbidgee regulated water users

DPI Water today announced opening available water determinations for water users in the Regulated Murrumbidgee water source for the 2017/18 water year, commencing 1 July 2017.

Regulated river high security water licence holders will have a commencing allocation of 0.95 megalitres per unit share of entitlement, while regulated general security licence holders will commence on 0.17 megalitres per unit share of entitlement.

Domestic and stock, local water utility and high security sub-categories (town water supply, research, community and education and Aboriginal cultural) water licence holders will receive an allocation of 100 per cent of entitlement.

Supplementary water access licence holders, including the supplementary (Lowbidgee) subcategory, will receive an allocation of 1 megalitre per unit share of entitlement.

Supplementary licence holders are reminded that they are only permitted to take supplementary water from this water source in accordance with announcements made by the DPI Water and the conditions of their access licence.

Regulated river (conveyance) access licence holders will receive an allocation of 0.17 megalitres per unit share of entitlement, while Murrumbidgee Irrigation (conveyance) will receive 0.6568 megalitres per unit share and Coleambally (conveyance) will receive 0.8584 megalitres per unit share.

Trade into, from and within the regulated Murrumbidgee Valley resumes as of today.

Daily updates relating to the current Murray / Murrumbidgee inter-valley trade (IVT) account balance and opening or closing triggers are available through the WaterNSW website at - www.waternsw.com.au/customer-service/trading/murrumbidgee.

Blowering Dam is currently holding 77 per cent of capacity, while Burrinjuck Dam is 62 per cent full.

The next water allocation announcement for the regulated Murrumbidgee Valley will be made on 17 July 2017.