dnr critical water availability

Planning for Critical Water Availabilityin the Murrumbidgee Valley : 

Planning for Critical Water Availabilityin the Murrumbidgee Valley

Critical Drought regions : 

Critical Drought regions Largest areas of severe deficiency including areas of lowest on record April 2006 – March 2007

Slide 3: 

Wide spread above average to very above average April to June rain needed just to elevate totals of serious deficiency. Rainfall Outlook3 months April – June 2007

Murrumbidgee River InflowsAverage, and Selected Years : 

Murrumbidgee River InflowsAverage, and Selected Years

Slide 6: 

River Murray System Contingency Decision Paths (subject to review and change as conditions develop)

Slide 7: 

Murrumbidgee system hydrology update for Scenario A: inflows in 2007-08 are the same as 2006-07.

Allocating available water– options : 

Allocating available water– options Town water supply – (when do we remove restrictions?) 3. Payback of Environmental water allocation (if required at this time) 4. Reconcile High security carryover and water suspended in Nov 2006 2. Balance water availability for critical town supplies between Murrumbidgee and Murray

Allocation options with continuing dry inflows; : 

Allocation options with continuing dry inflows; Allocate survival water ie: permanent plantings - monthly By spring – fast recovery- continue with survival water + reserves for TWS slow recovery – cease survival watering + reserves for TWS

Where to from here : 

Where to from here NSW has agreed to implement a number of water saving initiatives: disconnecting wetlands (Murray only), consider ceasing flows to anabranches (Murray and Murrumbidgee), and ceasing flows in the Darling d/s of Menindee (Darling only). Establishment of a regional working group. Proposal to establish a Ministerial water advisory Committee. Regular advice on water availability.

Yanco Creek System Losses – 2006/07 : 

Yanco Creek System Losses – 2006/07