Hume and Dartmouth dams near capacity at start of winter

Two major water storages are close to 95 per cent full and are creating major flooding concerns for farmers.

The rare occurrence of Hume and Dartmouth dams both near 95 per cent capacity has placed Murray River landowners on major flood alert for months.

The Murray Darling Basin Authority confirmed it was creating airspace in Hume Dam for winter with releases being as high as 19GL some days last week.

Dartmouth is presently at a higher level than 1996 when the major storage last spilt.

Murray River Action Group chairman Richard Sargood also has a property near Corowa. Picture: Aaron Francis

Murray River Action Group chairman Richard Sargood said it was “courting disaster” having Hume and Dartmouth with such little airspace at the same time at the start of winter.

“Come late winter, spring Dartmouth is probably going to be full and overflowing,” he said.

“It’s then we are going to have a really interesting period when the full catchment is driving into Hume.

“That will make life really interesting for river managers and anyone who lives below Hume.

“We’ve potentially got another four or five months off this.

“To have Hume and Dartmouth both near 95 per cent at this time of the year seems to be courting disaster.”

At the same time last year, Hume Dam was at 51 per cent and rose sharply in mid-August to 90 per cent where it has hovered all year.

Dartmouth Dam last spilt in 1996.

Dartmouth was 65 per cent capacity at the corresponding time last year.

MDBA acting executive director of river management Dr Andrew Kremor said it had been an “unusual year”.

“Having relatively high storages at both Hume and Dartmouth Dam in early winter means there is an increased chance of flooding in the weeks and months ahead,” he said.

“We want to remind those living downstream of the dams to be flood ready.”