Lake Burrendong is set to possibly drop below 4% of capacity as Summer rolls into town, bringing with it increased evaporation levels as temperatures climb. Water NSW currently states on their website that " for Burrendong Dam, levels are falling and are forecasted to be about 4% by the end of summer. Under the conditions of the Macquarie-Cudgegong Water Sharing Plan, a bulk water transfer from Windamere to Burrendong Dam has been scheduled to ensure reliability of supply to all customers in the region. "
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Water NSW is a State-Owned Corporation established under the Water NSW Act which operates under an Operating Licence issued and monitored by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). The entity says that " For Windamere Dam, levels are falling gradually and are forecasted to be about 26% by the end of summer. At the completion of the bulk water transfer, Water NSW is obligated to ensure that at least 70,000 megalitres of water is left in the dam. This is in accordance with the terms of the Macquarie-Cudgegong Water Sharing Plan (WSP) and the Bulk Water Transfer (BWT) protocol and will provide a minimum of seven years of water security to local customers.
Water NSW says that phase one of the bulk water transfer, which began on 1 January 2019, was due to deliver 35GL from Windamere Dam to Burrendong Dam via the Cudgegong River. The transfer was scheduled for January-February.
Following the two rain events, which delivered 19GL of inflows to the Burrendong catchment, the transfer was ceased after just 10GL was taken from Windamere Dam.
"The combination of the bulk-water transfer and Burrendong Dam inflows are expected to meet remaining summer irrigation demand and other autumn demands in the Macquarie River," said Adrian Langdon, WaterNSW's Executive Manager System Operation, published on the organisations web site earlier this year.
"If conditions remain dry, a second phase of the transfer will occur in spring 2019 and that release may include the volume not released this time. But should another transfer be needed, 70GL would remain in Windamere Dam - or five to seven years' supply of water.
"This example of how WaterNSW's management of the state's dams and rivers, working with our customers, has extended supply during these trying conditions."
NSW DAM LEVELS:
- Burrendong 4.2%
- Burrinjuck 33.4%
- Carcoar 20.1%
- Cataract 27.5%
- Chaffey 18.9%
- Copeton 8.4%
- Glenbawn 47.6%
- St. Clair 48.2%
- Keepit 0.9%
- Menindee Lakes 1%
- Oberon 33.9%
- Pindari 4.7%
- Split Rock 1.6%
- Warragamba 49.4%
- Windamere 30.8%
- Wyangala 19.8%
