The NSW Department Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has issued a rising river alert for the Snowy River downstream of Jindabyne Dam in southern NSW for today, August 21, 2024.
The river will rise due to the second high-flow event in a series of eight planned high-flow environmental releases from Jindabyne Dam to the Snowy River during 2024.
A daily flow volume of 3549 megalitres will be released over 24 hours from Jindabyne Dam from midnight (12am) tonight.
The release will include a peak flow rate from 8am to 4pm equivalent to 4916 megalitres per day for the eight-hour period.
The flow rate from Jindabyne Dam will drop to a target of 1380 megalitres per day on Thursday, August 22.
It is expected to see the river level at Dalgety rise by approximately 0.6 m. These levels do not include the effect of rainfall or wet conditions in the catchment, which may 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.
Natural tributary inflows will also contribute to water levels as the pulse moves down the Snowy River.
Water released from Jindabyne Dam may take approximate six to 10 hours to reach Dalgety Weir at this flow rate and around three to four days for the flow to arrive at Orbost, subject to catchment conditions.
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.
