Block water releases for Gwydir Valley

24 August 2009

A block water release strategy will be implemented by State Water to deliver allocations and replenishment water supplies in the Gwydir Valley over spring and summer.

Following consultation with the Gwydir Valley Customer Service Committee regarding the increasingly dry conditions and low storage levels, two separate release periods have been identified for the upcoming warmer months.

State Water’s Northern Water Delivery Manager Craig Cahill said the block release strategy will maximise efficiency of deliveries and water use.

“We use block release strategies to save water as it is more efficient to deliver the water in one flow, rather than staggering distribution and losing more water to factors like evaporation and seepage along the way,” Mr Cahill said.

“Irrigation orders for the first release must be placed by Friday, 18 September 2009 to be incorporated in the current replenishment flow release which has commenced from Copeton Dam and will continue up to Saturday, 3 October 2009.”

A second release is planned to commence in mid December and will supply the remaining replenishment flows and irrigation requirements. The exact timing and length of this release will be dependant on weather conditions; customers and landholders will be notified in early December of the exact start date.

“We would advise customers and landholders to ensure they have sufficient stock and domestic supplies during the non release periods,” Mr Cahill said.

State Water will endeavour to utilise any surplus flow from tributaries to satisfy basic landholder’s rights within the Gwydir Valley.

For further information please contact Ken Gee on (07) 4671 3131 or Craig Cahill on (07) 4671 3126.          

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