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)
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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.
NSW Murray
Water allocation update
Allocations
There is no increase in NSW Murray regulated river general security allocation at this time with water availability remaining unchanged.
Rainfall was low across upper Murray catchments during July, with Murray inflows likely to be exceeded 95 in 100 years (95% Annual Exceedance Probability).
Upper Murray storage levels (as at 14 August 2017)
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Dartmouth Dam is 79 per cent full – steady – holding 3,060,000 megalitres (ML).
Hume Dam is 80 per cent full – rising – holding 2,403,000 ML.
Climatic outlook
The Bureau of Meteorology seasonal outlook indicates that below average rainfall conditions over much of the Murray 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
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 an increased 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.
All Murrumbidgee Valley trade is open (as of 14 August 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 NSW Murray and Lower Darling valleys will be on Friday 1 September 2017.