FLOODWATERS in Mildura are expected to peak about Thursday, but could fall early next week after a levee breach upstream of Euston.
The breach, which occurred some time on Sunday evening, resulted in flows moving into NSW toward lake Caringay.
Mildura Incident Controller Alistair Drayton said the redirected flows would fill the lake, which has an estimated capacity of 100 gigalitres, and momentarily reduce water levels downstream on the Murray River.
He said this reduction, or dip, in water levels would eventually arrive in the Mildura and result in the peak falling away for a couple of days next week.
At Euston, the river had dropped 220mm within 28 hours of the breach.
“We anticipate that dent in the river ... to arrive here (Mildura) in the next week or so and that the high (peak) levels will drop and fall away for two or three days,” Mr Drayton said.
“Once Lake Caringay fills up, water equalizes back on to the river and the high flows will continue back in.
“The water will go up, but what it goes back up to we just don’t know yet.
“We'll still see heightened river waters … but what it's done is changed the peak – those 10 to 12 days – hopefully shorten it.
“But people need to be mindful that it will have a slight rise again.”
The Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast for Mildura Weir on Monday afternoon was for a peak at 38.3 metres Australian Height Datum about Thursday.
The Murray River at Wentworth may reach 34 metres AHD by December 4th.
