Blowering Dam passing inflows

10 December 2010, 4:30PM

Blowering Dam is currently spilling around 17,000ML per day as inflows into the storage increase.

State Water’s Acting Manager Water Delivery, Scott Barber said his team was monitoring the storage and the rate of inflows.

“In our regular talks with Snowy Hydro we have been monitoring the situation upstream,” Mr Barber said.

"Total inflows from the various upstream sources are currently entering the dam at a rate of around 23,000ML/day."

State Water implemented a strategy earlier this year to create space for possible high inflows to the storage.

"We began releasing water from Blowering Dam in late October to create airspace for possible inflows," he said.

“The releases were limited however to prevent flooding in the town of Tumut; and the ongoing inflows have prevented us from drawing the storage down further.

"While the dam was below 100 percent we could manage the rate of release to consider impacts on existing flows in downstream tributaries and towns.

“As the dam is now over the 100 percent mark, the water will continue to go over the spillway.

"As inflows into Blowering increase, so will the level of the storage and subsequent outflows."

The dam is currently at 103.5% of capacity.

For information on flood warnings, please contact the State Emergency Service on 132 500 or visit the website www.ses.nsw.gov.au.

-ENDS-
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