Wyangala Dam filled on Wednesday night after this week's rains, WaterNSW has announced.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Recent releases had reduced the dam level to 94 per cent at the start of the week, but this week's rain event is predicted to deliver 200 billion litres - 200 gigalitres - into the storage.
Inflows peaked at 80 to 90GL per day on Wednesday, and were easing to about 55GL on Thursday.
Releases - which had dropped to 3GL per day to allow for the predicted inflows into downstream tributaries - have been increased to 22GL a day in response.
Manager of system operations Adrian Langdon said ongoing release targets had been discussed with the local airspace advisory panel.
Those earlier releases had created capacity to capture and hold 70GL of inflow, allowing time for large tributary flows downstream of the dam to peak and move downriver before higher dam releases resumed.
The rain of the past few days was at the upper end of the forecasts, and it was anticipated the storage will reach 100 per cent Wednesday night.
"Even with inflows peaking at up to 90GL/day, having 70GL of airspace capacity has allowed us to keep releases at just over 20GL/day, greatly reducing potential downstream flow peaks," Mr Langdon said.
READ MORE NEWS STORIES:
Minor flood levels forecast at Forbes
The Lachlan River is expected to reach minor flood heights at Forbes this weekend following this week's rain and big inflows into tributaries including the Belubula.
The water may exceed the minor flood level of 3.5m at Cottons Weir as early as Thursday evening and there's a chance it will reach moderate flood levels of 5.3m on Monday.
The Lachlan River at Forbes Iron Bridge may reach the minor flood level (8.80 m) during Sunday. Further rises are possible.
Residents in the vicinity of the river are being urged to monitor Bureau of Meteorology advice and prepare to be cut off or move livestock and machinery from low-lying areas.
At predicted heights:
Nanami at minor flood levels - during Friday August 27 - Landholders adjacent to the river east and west of Gooloogong have access problems and Kangarooby Creek could flood Gooloogong-Cowra Road (Lachlan Valley Way).
Forbes Iron Bridge at minor flood levels - during Sunday August 29 - park land and footpaths around the lake may flood.
Cottons Weir increasing to moderate flood levels during Monday August 30 - local roads can become flooded including New Grenfell Road at Bundaburrah Creek and the Escort Way - preventing access south and east between Forbes, Grenfell, Gooloogong and Eugowra.
Alternative access available via the Newell Highway.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
Bookmark www.parkeschampionpost.com.au
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram