Water will
flow into Lake Boga this afternoon as part of its
future role as one of the lakes forming the Victorian Mid-Murray Storage.
Goulburn-Murray
Water Executive Manager Water Resources, Graeme Hannan said 500 megalitres of
water each day would flow into Lake Boga.
"Water into
Lake Boga is part of the Mokoan
Decommissioning Project and is important in order to regulate flows coming from
the Broken River to offset demands on upper Murray resources," Mr Hannan said.
"It is
anticipated that the initial event will provide up to 10,000 ML of water which
will take the lake to about 1 metre deep".
"G-MW will
be looking to bring the lake to full supply level when further opportunities
arise".
The timing
of the first water has always been dependent on flow conditions in the River
Murray and the current combination of circumstances provides an opportunity for
the first fill.
"The rain
last weekend has created a wet lake bed and will help reduce the initial
filling losses and the short term increases in flows from the Ovens, Broken and
Goulburn rivers has helped to create more ideal conditions for Lake Boga to receive water," Mr Hannan said.
"Recent
improvements in water availability in the Darling River and in Lake Victoria means that the timing is right to
divert water to Lake Boga".
"Water will
be bought through the Torrumbarry Irrigation Area from Torrumbarry Weir while
there is channel capacity available for the Lake Boga flow while the irrigation demand
remains low," Mr Hannan said.
"The
combination of these factors provides a short term window of opportunity which
emerged rapidly and a decision was necessary to act quickly or lose the
opportunity," Mr Hannan said.
Lake Boga has a capacity of 37,000 MLs and
became dry in February 2008.
- ENDS -
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