Author Topic: Munyang Snowy River (Read 34975 times)

klevo · « **on:** March 04, 2013, 10:33:21 AM »

Apparently Munyang Power Station is running constantly the Mountains had close to 6 inches of rain last week so all the
rivers up in the hills are working well. We might look at an afternoon this week to go to Island Bend or the weekend may still
be working.

Big thanks to all for the Shoalie run had an absolute ball.

Cheers
John

Mickg · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2013, 11:32:28 AM »

What day mate are you keen for

klevo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2013, 12:11:03 PM »

Probably wednesday but I will make some calls see if I can get some certainty for water

Griff · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2013, 05:28:37 PM »

hmmm

Could we leave Canberra at 1500 and still get a run in?

Keen!

mad_zook · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2013, 09:06:40 AM »

Keen for saty but I'm not chasing water

klevo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2013, 10:16:29 AM »

The best info I can get is that they have stopped running 24/7 and are now running from 12:30 into the night to catch peak hour so not sure if the weekend will be running. So maybe Friday in before the weekend would be more certain. They will definitly be running today. let me know your thoughts??

Cheers
John

Tom · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2013, 02:25:32 PM »

Ill be there saty anyway if anyone is around and keen let me know.

James
0409045727

Bok · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2013, 09:38:27 AM »

I'll be camped with the family at the take out (Island Bend - most upstream part - ~50 m from river) this weekend. I am interested in a Munyang run (I done it a few times).

We can also help with the shuttle.

Look for the silver Captiva with kayak and topoduo.

Cheers Bok (mobile 0407 228192)

klevo · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2013, 11:09:25 AM »

No water yesterday they were doing maintenance on both turbines and the water level at Guthega is at 55% so not much chance of water.
We need to organise somthing with snowy hydro that lets us know when the water is running before we head up.

klevo · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2013, 01:17:51 PM »

I have made some more enquiries at Snowy Hydro. The visitor centre has a Computer Schematic of the entire Snowy Hydro Scheme showing the Dam levels and what turbines are running in real time. So I would advise anyone wanting to paddle Munyang to Island Bend to ring the visitors centre to find out if 1 or 2 turbines are running before you head up for the drive. They can also tell you what percentge of water is left in the Dam. My guess is that anything above 70% would deliver a good chance of power generation. Ring Visitors Centre Ph 1800 623 776 or 6453 2004. If coming from Canberra it may be a good idea to drop in and see if the turbines are still running before the next leg of your drive.

The only information we can't get are planned releases and for how long the releases may last. But if it is a hot day, its a Friday the Dam is near full there will be a good chance of water being released through peak time electricity which would be into evening hours.

Hope this may help future trips to Munyang

Cheers John

mad_zook · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2013, 05:21:51 PM »

John
I rang the numbers thismorn only to be told they couldn't tell me anything after a short drive up there there was no water... Wasn't expecting it anyway!

Griff · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2013, 05:50:33 PM »

Bok

Hmmm Topoduo? You have caught my attention

Bok · « **Reply #12 on:** March 11, 2013, 08:29:57 PM »

Griff -topoduo belongs to Canberra Canoe Club

klevo · « **Reply #13 on:** March 11, 2013, 09:02:21 PM »

James

They make it hard. The lady I spoke to said she would be happy to tell me over the phone if the Turbines were working. The real time schematic is on public display for any one to see so its strange that they could not tell you what was currently working. Having said that they can't tell you if the water will or won't be released. I will give them a call through the week and see if they can tell me what is working.

Cheers
John

uwhnick · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2013, 09:57:06 AM »

Thank you wholesale electricity markets!

alex · « **Reply #15 on:** March 12, 2013, 12:30:24 PM »

We should arrange a secret webcam on the schematic.

BJ · « **Reply #16 on:** March 12, 2013, 07:23:03 PM »

Maybe brad can act like an innocent kid again, stroll into the control room at the power station and bug the joint.

uwhnick · « **Reply #17 on:** March 13, 2013, 10:04:28 AM »

Quote from: alex on March 12, 2013, 12:30:24 PM

We should arrange a secret webcam on the schematic.

I think that this idea actually has potential. There's been a webcam on the Capilano in Vancouver for years.

Something like this maybe?

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=QC3368

alex · « **Reply #18 on:** March 13, 2013, 09:06:17 PM »

Need something that uploads via 3G i reckon. I like the idea of Brad's innocent kid routine.

Edit - you could probably just use a android mobile phone... Just need to work out how to get it power and not have it unplugged.

uwhnick · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2013, 11:33:54 AM »

I reckon this is the go;

* The cheapest 3g camera phone you can get
* A big battery jerry rigged to it
* A hollowed out imitation rock (like they used in "The Cove") to house and hide the phone and battery
* A gauge stick somewhere halfway down the munyang run
* An app that takes a photo every 20 minutes and uploads it to a website, then puts the phone to sleep each night to save batteries

Griff · « **Reply #20 on:** March 14, 2013, 05:43:11 PM »

Nick

Sounds like you have the plan. Happy to contribute 20% of the intial acquisition costs and 20% of the sustainment costs for the first 6 months. When are you going to demonstrathe capability?

alex · « **Reply #21 on:** March 15, 2013, 12:07:33 AM »

Now we are getting close...

I reckon you could throw this up a tree. Get Paul on the job of a waterproof solar charging set-up and we will be well on the way.

http://www.instructables.com/id/GSM-Android-phone-as-HD-outdoor-webcam/

http://www.iwebcam.free.fr/index_uk.php

uwhnick · « **Reply #22 on:** March 15, 2013, 10:20:00 AM »

Yep that first link is exactly what I was thinking, just with more batteries. Its nice that the application has been written already!

uwhnick · « **Reply #23 on:** March 15, 2013, 10:24:08 AM »

Sounds like the solar panel is more trouble than its worth. I reckon set it up at munyang with a butt load of batteries sometime around the start of september then take it home in december to charge it would be the go.

goofy · « **Reply #24 on:** March 17, 2013, 06:35:36 PM »

Guys

I'm happy to chip in. I'll follow suit with Griff's offer. Happy to go more if needed.

Geoff

BJ · « **Reply #25 on:** March 17, 2013, 06:42:58 PM »

I like your thinking fellas. The boss had something similar set up in a tree to monitor a job we had out in the country. I think it had a YouTube feed.
Ill try to ask him about it sometime.

wombly · « **Reply #26 on:** March 17, 2013, 10:22:50 PM »

If they're any use, I've got a couple of 12V 7ah lead acid bricks that have never seen a charge

uwhnick · « **Reply #27 on:** March 18, 2013, 08:54:06 AM »

I think the phones use a 3.7V battery, so 12V batteries would need a dc-dc convertor, which is probably again too much hassle. I think just pulling apart some old dead laptop batteries to scavenge the cells would be the go, so if anyone has got some of those lying about...