A Fresh Coming Down Tumut River

3 September 1954 The Murrumbidgee Irrigator (Leeton)

Farmers advised to water land without delay.

Mr. H. Mallaby, manager of the M.I. Areas, stated yesterday that there is a fresh coming down the Tumut River, which it is expected will be available for distribution for a period of from 12 to 14 days, and he strongly advises large area farmers to water as much of their land as they possibly can during the ensuing month.

'In the operation of Burrinjuck Dam we have to budget on certain uncontrolled water augmenting the volume which is contained behind the dam,' said Mr. Mallaby.

'The maximum storage capacity of the dam is at the present moment 652,200 acre feet.

The full volume of this water is not available to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Areas and adjacent districts, as consideration has to be made for riparian rights along the river, necessary water for the town supplies along the river, and diversions into the Yanco-Colombo Billabong Creek system.

The Yanko Irrigation Trust operates the Yanko Weir. Actually we would require, to satisfy all these water users, a volume of water at least 25 per cent greater than that contained behind Burrinjuck Dam. 

In other words we must anticipate some augmentation of supply from uncontrolled sources, such as the Tumut River.

In a normal season uncontrolled water will satisfy all these requirements up to early December, and from then on water has to be released from Burrinjuck Dam.

In examining the position in regard to the present unfavourable water storage, not only the volume of water now stored behind Burrinjuck Dam has been considered, but also some contribution for uncontrolled sources, it is felt that this volume of water will enable the allocation to reach large area farms of sufficient water to enable them to meet the major part of their normal early programme. 

At the moment there is a fresh in the Tumut River, which it is expected, will be available for a period of 12 to 14 days.

Farmers using that water will not have that volume charged against whatever allocation may be decided in the near future.

This arrangement will terminate on September 30and from then on all water delivered to farms, while emanating from uncontrolled sources or being supplied by the discharge from Burrinjuck Dam, must be charged against farm allocations.

Large area farmers are therefore strongly advised to water as much of their land as they possibly can during the ensuing month. 

Mr. Mallaby said that the Commission's rain gauge at Leeton showed a registration of 89 points of rain up to 9 a.m. on Thursday. There were 84 pts. at Berembed, 90 at Coolamon, 67 at Narrandera and 74 at Yanko Creek.