Property owners on the Snowy River and other stakeholders are being advised three high-flow environmental water releases will be made from Jindabyne Dam between mid-September and October this year as part of ongoing efforts to maintain the river’s ecological health.
The planned releases for the 2025-26 water year have been organised by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) in close consultation with the Snowy Advisory Committee and Snowy Hydro.
They include:
September 17 2025 – daily flow of 2000 ML/d over 24 hours, with equivalent peak flow 3000 ML/d for eight hours
from 8am to 4pm
October 2 2025 – daily flow of 3500 ML/d over 24 hours, with equivalent peak flow 4500 ML/d for eight hours from 8am to 4pm
October 15 2025 – daily flow of 5000 ML/d over 24 hours with equivalent peak flow of 9000 ML/d for eight hours from 8am to 4pm, if Jindabyne Dam levels are high enough to enable delivery via the spillway.
Alternatively, the flow will be reduced to 5000 ML/d delivered via the cone valves at a constant rate for 24 hours.
These annual flows are necessary to flush the riverbed of sediment that will provide seasonally appropriate habitat for fish, frogs and platypus, as well as their food sources such as invertebrates and crustaceans. In addition to the large flow releases, frequent smaller releases will be made throughout the year.
In addition to the planned releases, other initiatives are being trialled to support the health of the Snowy River.
This includes a pulse of water released in January, followed by smaller flows, to flush pools along the river and combat the mouth of the river closing during dry conditions.
As an outcome of the Snowy Water Licence Review, flexible delivery of smaller flows will also continue enabling the volume and timing of releases under 2500 ML per day to quickly change to respond to natural cues such as rainfall events.
Please check the DCCEEW website for any changes closer to each of the planned events.
