A near major flood level event is headed Deniliquin’s way.
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Sunday’s scheduled flood warning predicted the Edward River at Deniliquin will reach 9m by November 19 or 20.
It will be 1m above where the river height is today, and 20cm below Deniliquin’s major flood level trigger of 9.2m.
The Edward at Deniliquin has been slowly receding for the past week after reaching 8.34m at the end of October.
It was at 7.95m when the Pastoral Times went to print yesterday.
At the same time, creek systems across the district continue to flow at levels at least double their normal capacity.
This is particularly the case in the Yanco and Billabong creek systems, which are fed by the equally swollen Murrumbidgee River system.
Significant breakout flows from Torrumbarry have also spilled into the Wakool River, resulting in a ‘prepare to isolate’ warning being issued by the authorities on Sunday evening.
“High flows from the Wakool River may lead to the isolation of properties and floodwater impacts in Wakool Junction, Boundary Bend and surrounding areas along the Wakool River and Murray River,” Sunday’s warning stated.
“The Bureau of Meteorology advises the Murray River at Wakool Junction is likely to exceed the major flood level (11.5m) Sunday evening. The river level may reach 11.90 metres by November 11-13, with major flooding and further rises are possible.
“The Bureau of Meteorology advises the Murray River at Boundary Bend may exceed the major flood level (9m) around Friday, November 11. The river level may reach around 9.10m mid-November, with major flooding and further rises possible.”
With so many waterways in flood, emergency operations out of Deniliquin have been undertaking regular aerial surveys of the region.
Deniliquin-Conargo SES unit controller Jodie Graham said while this gives the authorities a snapshot of where the water is, she said reports from landholders help to paint a clearer picture of the impacts.
Ms Graham said no formal flood rating triggers are in place for the Yanco or Billabong Creeks, and said reports from landholders could potentially assist with this in the future.
“We’ve seen a lot of sandbagging of homes at Conargo and we know of at least one road being inundated, but the communities out there are fairly self sufficient.
“We do ask though that if your house is at risk, or if inundation has already started, you call the SES on 132 500.
“Any assistance you need with livestock - whether it is help moving them or feeding stranded animals - can also be logged through that number, and the SES will advise the relevant agencies.
“We do have flights out over the villages that surround Deniliquin, but we need that data from landholders too.”
Data available to Ms Graham suggests the Billabong and Yanco Creeks are both running more than double their “average capacity”.
At the time of going to print yesterday, the Billabong at Wanganella was 4.03m and the Billabong at Conargo was 4.14m.
“The average at Wanganella (Billabong Creek), which can fluctuate depending on the rain, is 0.5m to 1.5m.
“There is about 7544 megalitres of water chugging through there each day, which has increased quite significantly.
“At Conargo, there is about 7787 megalitres per day pushing through.
“Again the heights fluctuate based on the rain, but the average for the Billabong at Conargo is 1.5m to 2m.”
It is a similar situation in the Yanco Creek system.
The Yanco Creek and Tributaries Advisory Council Inc (YACTAC) reports that the Forest Creek, just east of Conargo, usually runs at around 1.2m but is currently about 3.5m.
As a result, water is encroaching on the Conargo-Jerilderie road.
YACTAC also reports that the Yanco Creek levels have exceeded the 2016 peak, and currently sit at about 5.53m.
The Murrumbidgee River’s main flood peak is now approaching Narrandera, with major flooding possible at both Narrandera and Darlington Point early this week.
Renewed rises are likely at Carrathool, where moderate flooding continues over the next couple of weeks as flood peaks arrive from upstream.
Further downstream, major flooding continues at Hay, with further rises likely from mid-November.
Along the Edward River, moderate flooding continues at Deniliquin, Stevens Weir and Moulamein.
A peak slightly below 6m was expected at Moulamein yesterday, but with renewed rises possible as upstream flows extend downstream.
Flood operations are being conducted by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) at Hume Dam to manage inflows from the upper Murray, Mitta Mitta River and other tributaries.
The Edward River at Stevens Weir Downstream peaked at 6.45m on October 28, and is currently at 6.41m (moderate flooding) and falling slowly.
The Edward River at Stevens Weir Downstream is likely to remain above the moderate flood level (5.80m) through to mid-November, after which renewed rises are possible.
Creek systems off the Murray are likely to increase again in coming weeks, as this new surge of water makes its way through the system.
Senior journalist