Seqwater has started controlled operational releases from Somerset Dam into Wivenhoe Dam this morning due to heavy rainfall.
Seqwater Chief Executive Officer Neil Brennan said operational releases commenced from Somerset Dam around 10am and would continue over the coming days.
“Seqwater is releasing water from Somerset Dam into Wivenhoe Dam via sluice gates to manage inflows and balance the water storage levels across both dams,” he said.
Somerset Dam is currently 78.8% capacity, while Wivenhoe Dam is 37.3%.
Over the last week, rainfall between 50 mm and 200 mm has occurred at different locations in the Somerset Dam catchment – with the overall catchment average being around 100 mm.
No downstream impact is expected from the operational releases.
The full flood storage compartments of both Wivenhoe and Somerset dams are available should further rainfall occur.
Thirteen of the region’s un-gated dams are spilling as a result of continuing rainfall in the dam catchments.
The spilling dams are:
- Baroon Pocket Dam
- Cedar Pocket Dam
- Enoggera Dam
- Gold Creek Dam
- Hinze Dam
- Lake Macdonald
- Lake Manchester
- Leslie Harrison Dam
- Little Nerang Dam
- Nindooinbah Dam
- Sideling Creek Dam
- Wyaralong Dam
- Wappa Dam
“We strongly advise people to take care downstream of spilling dams and exercise caution near waterways and floodplains,” Mr Brennan said.
Mr Brennan said Seqwater maintains a 24/7 watching brief on the dam catchments and will update this advice if the rainfall forecast changes significantly. The Seqwater Flood Operations Centre is at Alert level activation in response to the weather event.
Visitors to Seqwater’s dam recreation areas are also urged to remain vigilant and play it safe over the coming days.
The heavy rain may have changed the conditions at the dams and recreation areas, and Seqwater urges all visitors to take extra care.
Signage has been placed at the recreation areas to advise of the closures. Plan ahead and play it safe by checking Seqwater’s recreation and safety notices online before visiting and observe all signage on site.
Seqwater will continue to monitor the condition of recreation areas and will provide further updates on the Seqwater website and through social media.
South East Queensland residents can be alerted of gated releases or dams which are spilling through our free dam release notification service.
To register for Seqwater’s dam release notification service, visit www.seqwater.com.au/dam-release-information-service.
For Seqwater dam levels, visit www.seqwater.com.au/water-supply/dam-levels or phone Seqwater’s dam release hotline on 1800 613 122 (free call).
