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Hume Dam

MDBA Asset

Water Storage Levels

Last Updated 10/04/2025

Current Volume	753104
Current AHD	176.39
% of Capacity	25.06
Capacity (ML)	3005157

Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr
54.9%	42.8%	34.6%	25.9%	25.1%

Historical water levels for Hume

Duck hunting

Duck hunting is permitted in certain areas of GMW storages during the Victorian duck hunting season, including at Hume Dam For more information, including maps, visit the duck hunting webpage.

About Hume Dam

Hume Dam is jointly managed by Victorian and New South Wales authorities on behalf of the MDBA. Goulburn-Murray Water manages water and land located in Victoria, and WaterNSW is responsible for day-to-day operation and maintenance and the management of major remedial works.

Location

Hume Dam is located immediately downstream of the Murray River and Mitta Mitta River confluence, 16 kilometres east of Albury-Wodonga. The dam is 305 km from the mountain source and 2,225 km from the Murray mouth at Goolwa.

History

The construction of the Hume Dam commenced on 28 November 1919 and was completed in 1936. The construction site was initially referred to as ‘the Mitta Mitta Dam site', but in February 1920 the River Murray Commission adopted the name ‘Hume Reservoir' to honour Hamilton Hume, who was one of the first Europeans to see and cross the River Murray.

Operations

Hume Dam is the major operating storage of the River Murray system. The storage regulates the River Murray, and re-regulates water discharged from the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme.

Releases from Hume Dam and downstream tributary streams supply irrigation, domestic and stock and urban demands to Victoria and New South Wales, and provide about one-third of South Australia's entitlement. In very dry years, releases are made specifically for South Australian requirements and are supplemented by transfers from Dartmouth Dam.

Hume Dam follows an annual cycle of filling and drawdown. The storage usually receives inflows during winter and fills by the end of spring each year. Releases generally occur between December and May, with Hume Dam regularly drawn down to less than half of capacity by the end of autumn.

Facts & Figures

Name	Hume Dam
Stream	Murray River
Year of Completion	1936
Construction	Concrete and Earthfill
Full Supply Level	192.0 m AHD
Capacity	3,005,157 ML
Area Submerged	20,019 ha
Main Embankment Length	1,616 m
Main Embankment Height	51 m
Hydro-electric Generation	60 MW

Recreation and Tourism at Hume Dam

Facilities Available

Large Grassed Area

Car Parking

Boat Ramp

Fishing

Camping

BBQ - Electric

Toilets

Please observe all signs and directions around our storages for information on recreational activities. Refer to the Land and On-Water Management Plan (if provided above) for detailed information on the facilities available.

Further Information

In November 2007, new boating zones were implemented for the Victorian waters of Lake Hume. These changes simplify the zoning rules for the lake and improve public safety and access to the lake at low levels. The changes have been introduced following extensive consultation with affected stakeholders over a period of many months.

, opens in a new wind Marine Safety Victori Visitors are reminded that there is a risk of vessels colliding with submerged objects or running aground. All boat operators are therefore asked to exercise great caution and to be aware of and adhere to all safety restrictions.

No boating restrictions apply at Lake Hume while water levels are at or above 169.499 mAHD. Below this level, 5 knot restrictions in the waters south of Bethanga Bridge and north of an east-west line extending from the southern end of the Hume Dam embankment apply. Normal boating operations apply in other areas.

Boat ramp operation levels

Boat ramp operating levels

This table shows at what level boat ramps at Lake Hume can be used. The percentage indicates the lowest the storage can get before the ramp becomes unusable.
Boat ramp	Operational when storage is above
Tallangatta	51%
Huon	20%
Ebden - high level	42%
Ebden - mid level	35%
Kookaburra Point - north ramp	29%
Kookaburra Point - south ramp	45%
Hume Weir Park	47%
Kurrajong (Bulko Reserve)	6%
Lake Hume Resort	8%
Bowna Waters - high level	31%
Bowna Waters - low level	15%

Boating regulations

For your safety and that of others all boating is subject to State regulations. Just like the road laws you must know these boating laws and can be fined for breaches. A few key points:

Registration - all power boats (with some exceptions for low powered vessels in NSW) require registration.
Safety equipment is compulsory.
Even where speed limits are not marked, distance-off regulations apply whenever you are within set distances from the shoreline, other boats, swimmers, anglers, structures and so on.
Special regulations apply to water skiing - in particular a proper observer is compulsory and skiing after dark is prohibited.
Refer to relevant State boating regulations for more information.

Marine Safety Victoria

Boating licence requirements

Lake Hume is divided at the Bethanga Bridge between Victoria and NSW for boating only. All vessels south of the Bethanga Bridge are operating in Victorian waters. All vessels north of the south part of the Bethanga Bridge are operating in NSW waters. Reciprocal licencing, registration and safety equipment regulations apply between both states.

Victorian Waters

A boat licence is required for any person operating a powered vessel in Victorian waters regardless of the speed of the vessel. A PWC licence is required to operate a personal water craft in either state. For further information regarding boating regulations/licensing contact either NSW Maritime or Transport Safety Victoria.

New South Wales Waters

If you wish to drive a power boat on NSW waters at a speed of 10 knots or greater you must have a current NSW boating licence. If you wish to drive a Personal Water Craft (PWC) such as a Jet Ski or Wave Rider you must have a current NSW Personal Water Craft Licence, regardless of the speed you travel at. In NSW a PWC can only operate between sunrise and sunset.