WaterNSW says it will maintain its current rate of releases from the Menindee lakes system. 

Recent expert modelling indicates another increase in the projected inflow into the lakes in the coming months, and with the lakes already at 111 per cent of capacity, WaterNSW says its storage management strategy has successfully defused potential flood events several times this year. 

The authority says it has sufficient storage capacity to receive ongoing inflows without increasing downstream releases.

At the preferred full supply level/100 per cent capacity, the lakes’ total storage is 1730 gigalitres (GL). 

This year the lakes have received more than 4000GL of inflow, with a further 900-1300GL expected for July through to September. In the first 11 days of July more than 300GL was received into the lakes.

Persistent rainfall across the major tributaries of the northern basin is increasing inflow projections for the lakes, with heavy rain in the catchments of the Gwydir and Macquarie Rivers early this month likely to further add to the anticipated inflow total.

Releases from the lakes in recent weeks have successfully managed inflows with minimal impact on the surrounding community, according to WaterNSW executive manager operations, Ronan Magaharan.

“Since making the transition to flood operation rules our teams have worked closely with the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) and key agencies to pass huge volumes of water while preventing a flood situation in the Menindee community,” he said. 

“This follows a similarly successful management operation over the Summer, where the real possibility of flooding around Menindee was avoided thanks to a collaborative effort between WaterNSW, the LEMC, the Bureau of Meteorology and the NSW State Emergency Services (SES).

“WaterNSW will continue to work closely with the Bureau to monitor inflows and river heights, and the SES in managing flood impacts.”