Flood in Wagga Wagga
The sun sets over flood waters in Wagga Wagga, some 380 km (236 miles) southwest of Sydney March 7, 2012. Floods across eastern Australia forced more than 13,000 people to evacuate their homes on Tuesday after record-high summer rains drenched three states over the past week, swelling rivers and forcing dams to overflow. Reuters

Water managers at over 100 forecast locations across Australia can now predict the level of water in rivers seven days in advance with the Bureau of Meteorology’s new streamflow forecasting service. Officials expect that the service will provide significant economic benefits and environmental outcomes by improving water management.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment Bob Baldwin said that the new forecasting service can provide water managers the information to improve how they will manage water resources in their region. The local farmers would be able to lessen their dependency on allocated irrigation water supply from dams by using natural river flows.

The Australian government believes that the new service will contribute to the Bureau’s products and services supporting informed decision-making by governments, emergency services, industry and the community. The “7-day Streamflow Forecasts” service will be using a combined rainfall and streamflow observations, and rainfall forecasts for better water management, Baldwin said in a press release.

The service was provided under the 10-year $450-million Improving Water Information Programme of the government. Aside from farmers, the irrigators, urban and rural water supply authorities, and hydroelectricity generators may also benefit from the service.

They will be able to release less water from storages when natural flows are expected. In addition, environmental managers would also be able to provide high- and low-flow needs for rivers and wetlands.

“The Australian Government is committed to investing in the essential services provided by the Bureau through initiatives such as the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, [and] the Developing Northern Australia White Paper,” Baldwin said. In 2015, the Bureau of Meteorology will be having its supercomputer as for improving weather forecasting.

During extreme rainfalls, the service could also aid dam operators to optimise water releases based on expected streamflow to avoid unnecessary water releases. For the public, recreational water users can also monitor the water condition, if it is likely to be favourable and safe for camping, boating and fishing.

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