Murray River hits peak in Echuca Moama

High: Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said today the peak of the Murray River at Echuca Moama had arrived at 94.94m AHD, the third highest flood in our history. Photo by Steve Huntley

The Murray River at Echuca Moama has peaked.

Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said the Murray hit a peak of 94.94m (AHD — from sea level) late on Monday night into Tuesday.

“We’ve seen a peak at Echuca on the Murray, just shy of the forecast 95m,” Mr Crisp said during his daily briefing with media on Tuesday.

“There is still more to be done in Echuca, we must remain vigilant.

“We are going to see water levels remain at this level for a number of days and the major flooding level for at least seven days.

“There is still the potential for significant impact in Echuca.”

As of 1pm Tuesday, the Murray in Echuca-Moama was at 94.93m, just shy of that peak reading and rated steady.

With the peak now confirmed, it is the third highest flood in Echuca’s history, only behind 1870 (96.20m) and 1867 (95.34m).

Mr Crisp also touched on communities downstream of Echuca.

“We have a watch and act warning downstream of Echuca, whether that is Torrumbarry, Cohuna, up to Koondrook and Barham,” he said.

The Murray River was at 7.84m at Torrumbarry at 2pm on Tuesday and rated steady.