Residents in Lowood, Queensland, face a lower risk of flooding today after Seqwater officially stood down its Flood Operations Centre on 23 February, 2026. The water authority confirmed that controlled water releases from the Wivenhoe, Somerset, and North Pine dams are not required following a recent period of heavy rain and monitoring. This decision means the immediate threat of river rises caused by managed dam releases has passed for downstream communities.
As of 8:01 AM on Monday, water levels at the major gated dams remained below the safety limits that would trigger a release. Somerset Dam is currently at 76.7 per cent capacity, Wivenhoe Dam is at 77.6 per cent, and North Pine Dam is at 46.5 per cent. The operations centre had been on alert for about four days while officials watched for heavy forecast rain that could have led to water being let out of the dams.
While the immediate threat from the dams has eased, the Somerset Regional Council continues to maintain flood warning sirens in Lowood and Fernvale to alert the community to any sudden risks. Residents are encouraged to stay alert and keep watching for weather updates from the Bureau of Meteorology, as heavy rain can still cause flash flooding in areas away from the dams.
People living near the river can sign up for the free Dam Release Notification Service to receive alerts by text, email, or landline. Meanwhile, Seqwater is continuing safety work on its dams, including a strengthening project at North Pine Dam which is expected to be finished in late 2026.
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