Lake Eildon is holding a high capacity of water.
Photo by
Ray Sizer
Northern Victoria’s dams are full and irrigation allocations are the highest in at least 20 years.
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The region is also looking forward to a positive start for the next irrigation season.
The main Goulburn and Murray systems already have 100 per cent high-reliability allocations, and the latest seasonal determination has increased the low-reliability allocations.
The Murray has increased low-reliability allocations from 25 to 85 per cent and the Goulburn and Loddon systems moved from 67 to 77 per cent low-reliability.
On Friday, February 16, Eildon — the principal Goulburn system storage — was holding 96 per cent of capacity, and Dartmouth — the largest Murray storage — was holding 97 per cent.
Northern Victoria resource manager Mark Bailey said the Murray system has had low-reliability allocations for the past three years and the Goulburn for the past two years.
“The Goulburn system is probably having the best run since about the mid-1990s,” Dr Bailey said.
Contributors to the current situation have been the storage inflows and the continuing rainfall occurring across the catchment and the irrigation areas.
While demand on the storages had been subdued over summer, it was starting to pick up in recent weeks as time elapsed since the last heavy falls.
“The improvements in the Murray system are primarily from rainfall increasing flows into the River Murray,” Dr Bailey said.
“This water has met demand and reduced the amount released from the storages.
“The higher than assumed inflows and releases to manage Lake Eildon levels contributed to the increase in the Goulburn system.
“About 26,000 Ml was released after the mid-January assessment, which is about seven per cent of the volume held in spillable water accounts in the Goulburn system.
“Due to the spills from Lake Eppalock, around 4000 Ml will be deducted from Campaspe spillable water accounts. This represents about 44 per cent of the accounts’ volume.
“Releases from Lake Eildon and Lake Eppalock since late January have been meeting downstream demands.
“The chance of further spills in 2023-24 from the Goulburn and Campaspe systems is about 60 per cent and 50 per cent respectively.”
If average climate conditions occur then Goulburn system customers could look forward to quickly getting access to 100 per cent of their high-reliability water this coming season.
The Murray system could also hit 100 per cent in October.
The prospects for the season ahead for the Goulburn and Loddon systems.
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