Wivenhoe and Somerset dams release after rain
WATER releases are continuing at Wivenhoe and Somerset dams and Seqwater's Flood Operations Centre has mobilised because of the rain.
Low-level releases at the dams were under way at 3.50pm Tuesday, a Seqwater spokesman says.
Wivenhoe releases would affect Twin Bridges and Savages Crossing, but are not likely to affect Colleges Crossing and Kholo Bridge at the current rate.
Seqwater has warned, however, that the water level in the Brisbane River will approach the deck level of Colleges Crossing as the release combines with flows from Lockyer Creek and is impacted by the high tide.
"This situation is being monitored closely. If it appears that the Crossing will be impacted the bridge will be closed temporarily until releases from the dam can be scaled back to allow the bridge to re-open," Seqwater advised Wednesday morning.
Somerset Dam's gates were partly opened for releases of 400 cubic metres per second into Wivenhoe Dam, and the releases were expected to continue for "several days to bring the dam back to full supply level".
Somerset was at 104% before the releases started.
At Wivenhoe Dam, gate releases began around noon, and were recorded at a rate of 150 cubic metres per second at 3.50pm.
Wivenhoe was at 89% before the releases started, and Seqwater would return the dam to the temporary full supply level of 88%.
Releases from Wivenhoe Dam were expected to continue until Monday to achieve the 88% level, taking into account releases from Somerset Dam.
Ungated dams including Atkinson, Moogerah, Clarendon and Wyaralong Dams were spilling after the rain on Tuesday.
The Bureau of Meteorology said wet weather was likely to continue until next Tuesday. Possible storms are forecast for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The State Government-dubbed Australia Day II celebrations planned for this Saturday could be rained out.
Readers can check bom.gov.au/qld for weather updates, and may visit seqwater.com.au for updates on the region's dams.
