Design and operation of Euston Weir Euston WeirEuston Weir is located in the Sunraysia region on the River Murray near Euston (NSW) and Robinvale (Victoria). Prior to the construction of Euston Weir, the area around Euston and Robinvale was mainly used for dryland grazing and supported a small population. The Weir was completed in 1937. A soldier settlement area was established following World War 2, in 1946. Euston Weir raises the water in the River Murray to a level so that it permanently inundates the Euston lakes; Dry Lake and Lake Benanee. Lake Carrringay would also be inundated if it were not for levee banks isolating it, which allows the lakebed to be used for agriculture. Water is now pumped from the Euston Weir pool to supply the Robinvale Irrigation District in Victoria, private diverters in NSW and urban supplies.
PurposeWater drawn from the Euston Weir Pool supports the irrigation regions of Sunraysia and Robinvale, encompassing an area of 2 000 hectares. The significant irrigable industries in these areas are viticulture and horticulture. The other major purpose of the weir pool is to provide urban water to the towns of Robinvale in Victoria and Euston in New South Wales. The Weir can also maintain adequately high water levels in the river for navigation and has been equipped with a lock. The position of Euston Weir and Lock 15 upstream of Mildura Weir and Lock 11 means that navigation beyond the Mildura Weir pool is subject to the constraints of the river channel and the flow in the channel. The level of the weir pool can also be varied to regulate flows between Hume Dam and the South Australian Border. The weir pool is popular for water based recreational pursuits with the Robinvale water ski race held on the weir pool on an annual basis.
The CatchmentEuston Weir is located 1 110 km upstream of the river mouth, and 1 420 km downstream of the source. It is located downstream of all of the major tributaries of the River Murray, with the exception of the Darling River. |
RIVER MURRAY WATER
