Rising river alert – Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water today issued a rising river alert for the Snowy River between Jindabyne Dam and Dalgety in southern NSW for Thursday 3 October 2024.

The river will rise due to the fifth 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 3,917 megalitres will be released over 24 hours from Jindabyne Dam from midnight (00:00am) on Thursday 3 October. The release will include a peak flow rate from 8am to 4pm equivalent to 4,787 megalitres per day for the eight-hour period.

The flow rate will drop to a target of 1,815megalitres per day on Friday 4 October.

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. However, the flow pulse will be noticeable further 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 6 to 10 hours to reach Dalgety Weir at this flow rate and around 3 to 4 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 climatic, environmental or operational conditions nearer to the time of release.

We will work closely with the NSW State Emergency Service and the Bureau of Meteorology to provide information to the community regarding the management of this release if required.

More information can be found at Snowy River increased flows.