Volume of ~470 GL ~520 GL ~610 GL ~770 GL ~630 GL ~580 GL environmental water assumed to be delivered over the SA border (including upstream return flows) Lower Lakes Water levels will be managed to target above 0.5 m AHD (see Section 6.8). Barrage releases to the sea are planned to be maximised in order to manage salinity levels in the Coorong and to assist with maintaining an open Murray Mouth. Operations, where possible, will vary lake levels between 0.50 and 0.85 m AHD to assist reducing salinity at Lake Albert. salinity Environmental entitlement holders will assess salinity risks of watering activities and, if required, use additional environmental water to boost dilution in the few months after any significant overbank flow event in the lower River Murray. Overbank and In channel flows In channel flows Chance of overbank Increased chance of Extensive overbank Extensive and prolonged flooding flow into central overbank flows into flows into central overbank flows along large Murray forests, central Murray Murray forests and sections of River Murray otherwise in forests other parts of the River system channel Murray system South Australian Lower Potential for water quality problems from acid drainage during summer and autumn if flow Sufficient dilution from unregulated flow is likely to Murray Irrigation Area to SA is close to or less than the entitlement flow and when the flow over Lock 1 is less prevent most water quality issues associated with acid (LMRIA) Acid Drainage than 2,500 ML/day (target based on current SA modelling). drainage. However potential water quality problems during summer and autumn remain due to increased chances of lower flow conditions. Blackwater Potential for localised blackwater Potential for significant blackwater event with very low dissolved oxygen levels. The MDBA may co-ordinate environmental water releases where possible to provide dilution. Chance of blue-green There is always a chance of blue-green algal blooms forming somewhere along the River Murray system. Algal blooms generally form during the algal blooms along river summer and persist into autumn and have been observed in both high flow and low flow years, however the more extensive blooms have been observed more often during dry years. River Murray Operations may be able to assist in dispersing algal blooms in some weir pools with flows on some occasions. However, this is ‘pulsed’ not always feasible, particularly when water is scarce.
Volume of environmental water assumed to be delivered over the SA border (including upstream return flows) ~470 GL ~520 GL ~610 GL ~770 GL ~630 GL ~580 GL Lower Lakes Water levels will be managed to target above 0.5 m AHD (see Section 6.8). Barrage releases to the sea are planned to be maximised in order to manage salinity levels in the Coorong and to assist with maintaining an open Murray Mouth. Operations, where possible, will vary lake levels between 0.50 and 0.85 m AHD to assist reducing salinity at Lake Albert. salinity Environmental entitlement holders will assess salinity risks of watering activities and, if required, use additional environmental water to boost dilution in the few months after any significant overbank flow event in the lower River Murray. Overbank and flooding In channel flows In channel flows Chance of overbank flow into central Murray forests, otherwise in channel Increased chance of overbank flows into central Murray forests Extensive overbank flows into central Murray forests and other parts of the River Murray system Extensive and prolonged overbank flows along large sections of River Murray system South Australian Lower Murray Irrigation Area (LMRIA) Acid Drainage Potential for water quality problems from acid drainage during summer and autumn if flow to SA is close to or less than the entitlement flow and when the flow over Lock 1 is less than 2,500 ML/day (target based on current SA modelling). Sufficient dilution from unregulated flow is likely to prevent most water quality issues associated with acid drainage. However potential water quality problems during summer and autumn remain due to increased chances of lower flow conditions. Blackwater Potential for localised blackwater Potential for significant blackwater event with very low dissolved oxygen levels. The MDBA may co-ordinate environmental water releases where possible to provide dilution. Chance of blue-green algal blooms along river There is always a chance of blue-green algal blooms forming somewhere along the River Murray system. Algal blooms generally form during the summer and persist into autumn and have been observed in both high flow and low flow years, however the more extensive blooms have been observed more often during dry years. River Murray Operations may be able to assist in dispersing algal blooms in some weir pools with ‘pulsed’ flows on some occasions. However, this is not always feasible, particularly when water is scarce.