Hume Dam releases increased to manage airspace

MDBA

The following can be attributed to Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) Executive Director of River Management Andrew Reynolds:

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has increased the release of water from Hume Dam in response to rainfall overnight.

Releases from Hume Dam have today increased to 75 GL per day, up from 50 GL per day yesterday in response to overnight inflows that peaked at 100 GL a day. Further increases are likely with a renewed inflow peak expected later today.

Combined with inflows from the Kiewa River – downstream of Hume Dam – the Murray River is expected to approach or possibly exceed the major flood level at Albury in coming days.

For the latest river height information and forecasts please visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting further rainfall over North Eastern Victoria today before conditions begin to ease.

As of 9am today Hume Dam is 96 per cent full, with 124 GL of airspace.

River operators continue to work around the clock to assess new inflow and weather information and manage releases accordingly. This includes close collaboration with WaterNSW and the Bureau of Meteorology to get the most up-to-date rainfall and inflow forecasts.

The MDBA’;s priority is keeping the dam safe, capturing and storing water, and where we can, mitigating floods.

If you live, work or holiday on a floodplain, you need to be prepared for floods.

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