Flooding fears: How major dam storages are tracking year on year

Two major dams on the Murray River are nearly full and one is expected to spill by the end of next month. See our year on year comparison.

High dam levels before spring inflows have elicited warnings of potential flooding for those along the Murray River.

With Hume Dam sitting at 96 per cent yesterday and Dartmouth at 98.2 per cent, Murray Darling Basin Association chief executive Andrew McConville said river operators were preparing for floods.

“If we do get a large rainfall event and significant runoff is generated, then there is a significant risk of flooding both upstream and downstream of Hume Dam,” Mr McConville said.

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

“If you live, work or holiday on a flood plain we strongly encourage you to be flood ready.”

Dam levels

Mr McConville said with rain continuing to fall across many areas of the Murray – Darling Basin and storage levels at Dartmouth and Hume Reservoirs, and Menindee Lakes at near full or spilling our river operators are again moving into flood operations management.

Robyn Scales from Mitta Valley Beef at Dartmouth said one of their properties was on higher ground so would not be affected.

A recent picture taken of Hume Dam near Albury. Picture: Zoe Phillips

But another property on the Mitta Mitta River could be flooded if rain continued and the Dartmouth Dam spilled.

“The lagoons along the river are full already so the low-lying areas will get flooded when the dam spills,” Mrs Scales said.

“We have been told that it won’t spill until late September but it is so wet here, it’s difficult to get out to even feed the cattle with another 25mm early this week.”

But there is an upside to the full dams – Mrs Scales said local community groups would use the increased tourist trade to run food stalls and fund raise.

“I know the last time Dartmouth (dam) spilled in 1996, the local primary school made a lot of money and we are drawing up rosters now for a few community groups to offer takeaway food,” she said.

“There are plenty of people coming up to have a look.”