Rising river alert – Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam
11 September 2025
The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water today issued a ‘rising river alert’ for the Snowy River downstream of Jindabyne Dam in southern NSW for Wednesday 17 September 2025.
The river will rise due to the first high-flow event in a series of three planned high-flow environmental releases from Jindabyne Dam to the Snowy River during 2025.
A daily flow volume of 2,000 megalitres will be released over 24 hours from Jindabyne Dam from midnight (00:00 am) on Wednesday 17 September. The release will include a peak flow rate from 8am to 4pm equivalent to 3,000 megalitres per day for the eight-hour period.
The flow rate will drop to a target of 1,473 megalitres per day on Thursday 18 September.
It is expected that the river level at Dalgety will rise by approximately 0.5 m. Rainfall or wet conditions in the catchment may further increase flow rates and water depths.
The environmental benefits from this release are expected to be greatest between the dam wall and the junction with the Delegate River. However, the flow pulse will be noticeable further down into Victoria. Natural tributary inflows will also contribute to water levels as the pulse moves down the Snowy River.
Water released from Jindabyne Dam may take approximately 12 to 13 hours to reach Dalgety Weir at this flow rate and around 4 to 5 days for the flow to arrive at Orbost in Victoria, subject to catchment conditions.
Landholders downstream of the Jindabyne Dam are advised to take all necessary precautions with stock, fencing and property in proximity to the river.
As the release flows through the system people should refrain from entering or crossing swollen waterways.
Conditions will be closely monitored in the lead up to the release. Planned flows may be modified or cancelled subject to climatic, environmental or operational conditions nearer to the time of release.
We will work closely with the NSW State Emergency Service and the Bureau of Meteorology to provide information to the community regarding the management of this release if required.
More information can be found at: Snowy River increased flows
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