Yarrawonga Weir
MDBC Asset
Water Storage Levels
Last Updated: 03/07/2009
 |
 |
||||
94.14% |
93.80% |
29.69% |
3.49% |
3.45% |
|
 | |||||
| Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | |
| Current Volume | 4050 |
|---|---|
| % of Capacity | 3.45 |
| Capacity (ML) | 117500 |
Facts & Figures
| Name | Yarrawonga Weir |
|---|---|
| Stream | River Murray |
| Year of Completion | 1939 |
| Construction | Earthfill |
| Full Supply Level | 124.895 m AHD |
| Capacity | 117,500 ML |
| Area Submerged | 4,390 ha |
| Main Embankment Length | 343 m |
| Main Embankment Height | 7 m |
| Hydro-electric Generation | 9.6 MW |
About Yarrawonga Weir
Goulburn-Murray Water operates Yarrawonga Weir on behalf of the MDBC. It is the largest of the 16 weirs managed by the MDBC.
Location
Yarrawonga Weir is located on the Murray River near the towns of Yarrawonga in Victoria and Mulwala in NSW. The Weir is approximately 230 km downstream of Lake Hume and 1,992 km from the Murray mouth.
History
Construction of the weir and its offtakes began early in 1935 and was completed in 1939. The water impounded by the Yarrawonga Weir forms Lake Mulwala, which has a capacity of 117,500 ML.
A hydro-electric generation facility at Yarrawonga Weir was commissioned in June 1994. The facility has a maximum capacity of about 9.6 MW.
Operations
Yarrawonga Weir raises the water level of the River Murray to allow diversions of water under gravity. An average of 1,900 GL or 17% of the river's annual flow is diverted annually to the Yarrawonga Main Channel and the Mulwala Canal.
The Yarrawonga Main Channel services the Murray Valley Irrigation Area of Victoria, which extends from Yarrawonga to Barmah and south to the Broken and Nine Mile Creek systems. The channel has a discharge capacity of 3,100 ML/d and distributes water to an area of 128,000 ha via a network of six main channels and 261 spur channels.
The Mulwala Canal is a much larger structure and has an offtake capacity of 10,000 ML/d. Water diverted through the Mulwala Canal supplies the Berriquin, Denimein, Deniboota and Wakool irrigation districts in southern New South Wales. The total annual water allocation to these districts exceeds 1,000,000 ML over an area of 700,000 ha.
A secondary use of Yarrawonga Weir is flood mitigation. Releases can be made before the arrival of flood waters to help level out the flood peak and reduce the flood effects downstream.
A unique feature at Yarrawonga Weir is the fish lift located adjacent to the power station. Constructed in 1994, the lift provided the first opportunity in 60 years for fish to travel upstream of the weir.
Lake Mulwala Land and On-Water Management Plan
On behalf of the Murray Darling Basin Authority, a Lake Mulwala Land and On-water Management Plan was developed and released in December 2004. The Plan provides a strategic approach to management of land and on-water issues at Lake Mulwala such as community awareness and involvement, water quality, ecological health, safe use, planning and development and cultural heritage.
The Plan does not make recommendations on storage operational issues, including storage filling and releases. Successful implementation of the Plan has continued since this time.
In December 2008 the Plan was reviewed, and an addendum to the Plan was produced. The 2008 addendum includes refocused and more specific actions and strategies more relevant to the current operating environment, but which remains true to the vision, themes and intent of the original Plan. Lake Mulwala Land and On-Water Management Plan - 2008 Addendum
Lake Mulwala - Water Quality Brochure
Recreation and Tourism at Yarrawonga Weir
Facilities Available
Large Grassed Area
Car Parking
Boat Ramp
Playground Equipment
Tables & Chairs
BBQ
Toilets
