GWYDIR VALLEY IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION
GWYDIR VALLEY IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION
The Gwydir Valley has a history of flooding that brings both devastation and life to the region. While every flood is different in magnitude, duration and size they can be compared to help be prepared and predict possible behaviours.
Below is a key comparison of the big floods and these are generally ones that are regarded as 1:100 year flood events, our key events.
When a flood warning is issued, we often compare predicted heights to these key events which are largely reported by the Bureau of Meteorology in meters.
River Height in meters
Gauging Location | 23 Oct 2022 | Nov-21 | Mar-21 | 2016 | 2012 | 2011 | 1976 | 1955 | ||
Gwydir at Gravesend | 16.21 | 8.99 | 14.9 | 8.739 | 15.668 | 13.266 | 16.01 | 17.34 | ||
Gwydir at Pally | 10.56 | 7.83 | 10.5 | 7.668 | 10.518 | 10.105 | 9.237 | NA | ||
Gwydir at Yarraman | 7.53 | 7.06 | 7.35 | 6.95 | 7.512 | 7.326 | 7.5 | NA | ||
Mehi at Moree | 10.50 | 3.84 | 10.43 | 4.172 | 10.68 | 10.206 | 10.59 | 10.87 |
The Gwydir River peaked at Gravesend at 11:45pm on Friday 21st October 2022 at a height of 16.20m. At 2:30pm on Sunday 23rd October 2022 the Gwydir was falling at Gravesend, steady at both Pally and Yarraman. The Mehi was steady in Moree at this time.
Gauging Location | Nov-21 | Mar - 21 | 2016 | 2012 | 2011 | 1976 | |
Gwydir at Gravesend | 65,918 | 58,058 | 341,849 | 181,547 | 264,662 | ||
Gwydir at Pally | 58,387 | 162,263 | 56,006 | 169,186 | 141,701 | 145,838 | |
Gwydir at Yarraman | 50,962 | 85,804 | 47,100 | 141,136 | 78,017 | N/A | |
Mehi at Moree | 3,445 | 46,546 | 5,769 | 55,778 | 58,710 | N/A |
To understand the magnitude of these key events, the 2011 and 2012 floods were part of wide-spread significant and extended flooding in the
north west. The first in November/December 2011 and then again later in January/February 2012. During this time 3,450 GL of
total system flows distributed across the valley and floodplains. The Gwydir event was not isolated and 8,600GL was gauged at Bourke as
many valley flooded simultaneously and Menindee Lakes filled and were surged as they were over capacity.
We include 2016 in these records, as this event is a moderate flood level that created substantial flooding in the watercourse, along the lower Gwydir and Gingham area due to operational constraints within the river. The volume of this flood was a third of that in 2011 and 2012 with the majority flowing towards the watercourse and wetlands. Rivers and streams in surrounding valleys also flowed but flooding was limited in those areas. River flows provided for water along the Barwon Darling delivered via water sharing plan rules and Menindee Lakes almost filled at 91% capacity.
The 2016 flood is important to understand the limitations in managing flows in the Gwydir Valley when the flow rate is higher than 20,000ML/day upstream of the Tarelaroi Regulator. For safe operation of the river infrastructure, WaterNSW are required to remove of regulating infrastructure and allow flows to naturally pass. This often results in a lowering of hydraulic pressure at the regulator and limits the management of water by the river operator until flow rates decline. The result, there is limited ability for WaterNSW to direct this water down the Mehi River and flows remain within the Gwydir River system and naturally flows towards the watercourse area west of Moree.
The current flood warning in the Gwydir was issued via the Bureau of Meteorology on 22 March 2021, is larger than the 2016 flood and is more wide-spread with rainfall across the catchment. Its tracking very similar to 2012. A comparison of the predication and actual is presented below as well as the records for December 2020.
Major flood warnings was made by the Bureau of Meteorology, updates are available here via the BOM website.
Gauging Location | Height prediction | Actual peak |
Actual peak flow rate |
Gwydir at Bundarra* | 9.7 | 9.7 | ML/day |
Gwydir at Gravesend* | 14.9 | 14.9 | ML/day |
Gwydir at Pally | 10.5 | 10.48 | 162,263 ML/day |
Gwydir at Yarraman | 7.3 | 7.35 | 85,804 ML/day |
Mehi at Moree | 10.4 | 10.43 | 46,546 ML/day |
* Moderate flood.
Comparison of March 2021 to 2011 and 2012 Flood Table
Gauging Location | Height prediction | Actual peak height | Actual peak flow rate |
Gwydir at Gravesend | NA | 7.2 | 40,000 |
Gwydir at Pally | 7 | 5.7 | 33,159 |
Gwydir at Yarraman | 6.5 | 5.4 | 21,432 |
Mehi at Moree | 5.5 | 3.1 | 3,244 |
In life threatening emergencies, call 000 (triple zero) immediately. If you require rescue, assistance to evacuate or other emergency help, ring NSW SES on 132 500.
For more emergency information, advice, and access to the latest river heights and rainfall observations and forecasts:
NSW SES: www.ses.nsw.gov.au
RMS Live Traffic: www.livetraffic.com