Despite above average rainfall, current flow rates suggest that Lake George may not need to be opened to the sea at Beachport before November.
This is the opinion of Lake George Management Committee chairman and former South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage Board general manager Lee Morgan.
“As of August 5, the Lake George level is 0.24m Australian Height Datum,” Mr Morgan said on his group’s social media site.
“This equates to 82 gigalitres of water volume in the combined upper, middle and lower lakes.
“Discharges to the sea from Lake George outlet are considered by the Drainage Board at around 0.58m AHD or 102 GL water volume.
“The 0.58m AHD trigger point was agreed to in the mid 2000’s following consultation including with the Lake George Management Committee and was acknowledged in the detailed 2015 Worley Parsons study.
“Currently flows of up to 230 megalitres per day are flowing in from Drain M and recorded near Magarey’s Lane.
“However, this flow is decreasing daily as rainfall declines.
“At current flow rates, to reach the outlet opening trigger point it might take 2.5 months.
“This could change if we have some significant rainfall events.”
Some of the data quoted by Mr Morgan came straight from the Drainage Board.
