The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has issued a rising river alert for the Snowy River between Jindabyne Dam and Dalgety in southern NSW for today.
The river will rise due to the last high-flow event in a series of three planned high-flow environmental releases from Jindabyne Dam to the Snowy River during 2025.
This will be the largest release of 2025 and will occur via the dam spillway.
A daily flow volume of 5000 megalitres will be released over 24 hours from Jindabyne Dam from midnight tonight.
The release will include a peak flow rate from 8am to 4pm equivalent to 9000 megalitres per day for the eight-hour period.
The flow rate will drop to a target of 2500 megalitres per day on Thursday, October 16.
It is expected that the river level at Dalgety will rise by approximately 1m.
Rainfall or wet conditions in the catchment may further increase flow rates and water depths.
The environmental benefits from this release are expected to be greatest between the dam wall and the junction with the Delegate River.
However, the flow pulse will be noticeable well down into Victoria.
Natural tributary inflows will also contribute to water levels as the pulse moves down the Snowy River.
Water released from Jindabyne Dam may take approximately seven to 13 hours to reach Dalgety Weir at this flow rate and around three to four days for the flow to arrive at Orbost in Victoria, subject to catchment conditions.
Landholders downstream of the Jindabyne Dam are advised to take all necessary precautions with stock, fencing and property in proximity to the river.
As the release flows through the system people should refrain from entering or crossing swollen waterways.
Conditions will be closely monitored in the lead up to the release. Planned flows may be modified or cancelled subject to weather, environmental or operational conditions nearer to the time of release.
