New open data release: Water Modelling-Water Models-Without Development-Murrumbidgee

We are pleased to announce the release of a new hydrological model on the SEED portal: Water Modelling-Water Models-Without Development-Murrumbidgee | Dataset | SEED 

This dataset provides a “without development” representation of the Murrumbidgee River system — model scenario that focuses on natural hydrological processes, including:

• headwater catchment runoff
• local residual catchment runoff
• river reach flow routing
• transmission losses

A model scenario that excludes: 

• water infrastructure such as dams, storages, and weirs
• water extraction
• water management actions
• operating rules

Without Development models are derived from the fully calibrated river system models built using observed data.

🔧 SOURCE Model: Murrumbidgee_Natural-395.rsproj (v5.40.0, ewater.org.au)

🌏 Geographic Extent

The model covers the headwater catchments and river reaches of the Murrumbidgee River system, including the Murrumbidgee River downstream of Burrinjuck Dam, the Tumut River, key smaller tributaries, the Beavers–Old Man Creek anabranch, the Yanco Creek system, and the Lowbidgee floodplain, extending downstream to Balranald.

⚙️ Configuration Summary

• Time step: Daily
• Input period: 1/01/1890 to 31/07/2025
• Climate data: Climate data was sourced from the SILO climate database.
• Runoff models: calibrated Sacramento rainfall runoff models and calibrated GR4JSG models
• Gauge and reach details: Included in the dataset

📌 Why this release matters

These Without Development models are essential for NSW water planning, management, and policy development. Their release on SEED strengthens transparency, supports better decision-making, and enables wider research and data reuse.

This new dataset adds to the growing collection of Without Development models already available for the Peel, Castlereagh, Richmond, Lachlan, Macquarie, Gwydir, and Namoi catchments — all accessible via the SEED portal.

💬 Join the conversation

We invite you to engage with this release on the SEED Forum. How might this model support your work, research, or understanding of river system behaviour? Click Reply below to share your feedback, comments, or questions — and help us continue improving water knowledge and management for communities across NSW.