PREMIUM
Water

More rain pushes river levels higher

Lake Eildon.

Rain continued to fall last week, soaking already drenched catchments across northern and north-east Victoria.

Minor to moderate flood warnings have been issued for a number of waterways, especially in the north-east, as inflows from rain push stream levels higher.

Storages across the region are close to capacity, with water being released to leave air space for more inflows into the dams.

The Goulburn River was expected to reach minor flood levels between Eildon and Seymour on July 10 and the Murray River was heading for minor flood levels at Corowa, but the minor flood warning for Seven Creeks at Euroa has been lifted.

Goulburn-Murray Water last week warned that increased releases from Lake Eildon could exceed the minor flood level in the Goulburn River downstream of the reservoir.

G-MW is currently releasing 12,000 Ml/day from Lake Eildon to create room for further inflows into the storage, which on July 3 was 97.3 per cent full.

A flow of about 12,700 Ml/day would lift the Goulburn River to minor flood level.

G-MW water storage services general manager Martina Cusack said the releases would be adjusted depending on further rainfall.

“Depending on the rainfall received and catchment response, it might mean we are required to increase releases from Lake Eildon,” she said.

Releases are determined by various factors, including catchment conditions, storage levels, downstream impacts and rainfall forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Rainfall figures for June across the region were: Shepparton 118mm, Echuca 91mm, Benalla 122mm, Eildon 167mm, Mangalore 125mm, Strathbogie 225mm, Kerang 79.2mm, Yarrawonga 80mm, Kyabram 102.4mm and Deniliquin 58mm.

Rainfall for the first nine days of July was: Shepparton 12.6mm, Echuca 10mm, Benalla 23.9mm, Eildon 21mm, Mangalore 10.4mm, Strathbogie 38.6mm, Kerang 10.4mm, Yarrawonga 22.4mm, Kyabram 10mm and Deniliquin 14.8mm.

More information and the latest updates on Lake Eildon can be found at the G-MW website: www.gmwater.com.au/eildon-management