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Shannon Creek Dam Image: Clarence Valley Council.

Shannon Creek Dam on track to reach maximum storage

Water extraction from the Nymboida River is on track to see Shannon Creek Dam reach its maximum storage capacity.


Greg Mashiah, Manager for Water Cycle at Clarence Valley Council said, “As Shannon Creek Dam is the major drinking water storage facility for our Regional Water Supply Scheme, our focus is now to get the dam to 100% full as quickly as possible while river conditions allow.”
“Frequent heavy rainfall events in the Nymboida catchment throughout the summer continued to cause issues with river water quality and delayed the refilling of Shannon Creek Dam. We also experienced issues with extraction infrastructure which further limited the amount of clean water which could be taken from the Nymboida River to replenish water levels in the dam.”
“The river extraction infrastructure is now fixed, environmental releases are completed, and river water quality issues have eased.  Recently we have been able to increase extraction from the Nymboida River into Shannon Creek Dam to around 50 megalitres/day (ML/d), building storage capacity to around 84.”
The smaller Karangi Dam (situated near Coffs Harbour) is now at around 99% capacity. Karangi Dam contributes water storage to our Regional Water Supply Scheme, and the combined water storage of both Karangi and Shannon Creek Dam is considered when introducing or lifting water restrictions.
Despite heavy rainfall and flooding across the region, Clarence Valley and the Coffs Coast have remained on level 1 restrictions. These water conservation measures will be lifted from Wednesday 16 June when Permanent Water Conservation is reinstated.
Permanent Water Conservation Measures were introduced to the Clarence Valley in 2007 and permit hand-held hoses for watering gardens and lawns at any time. Sprinklers can be used but are banned between 9am and 4pm.
Clarence Valley Council currently has their latest draft Water Restriction policy on exhibition and open for public comment. Provide feedback or make a submission by 25 June 2021.

https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/onexhibition