Goulburn irrigators gain 35 per cent allocation, but Murray gets a dribble
Water allocations have surged on good Eildon dam inflows but the Murray has fallen short.
NORTHERN Victoria’s Goulburn irrigators have already gained 35 per cent of their allocations for the 2020-21 season, but Murray allocations have opened at just 8 per cent of high reliability water shares.
“Flows into the major storages since the start of April have helped secure operating requirements for 2020-21 and enabled water to be allocated at the start of the new water year,” Northern Resource Manager Mark Bailey said.
“The catchments are wet and responding to rain. This means we are more likely to see run-off entering the storages when rain falls. We need the rain to continue in coming months to increase storage levels and the seasonal determinations.
“The latest Bureau of Meteorology seasonal outlook slightly favours below-average rainfall across the catchment areas during the July to September period.
“The Bureau has issued a La Niña watch meaning the chance of a La Niña forming is around 50 per cent in late winter or early spring.
“La Niña events may support rainfall across southeast Australia.”
The risk of spill is consistent with the June 2020 assessment. Victoria’s share of the volume in Lake Hume gives the Murray system about a 60 per cent risk of spill. The risk of spill from Lake Eildon in the Goulburn system is about 20 per cent and the risk of spill from Lake Eppalock in the Campaspe system is about 50 per cent.
Dr Bailey advised entitlement holders to use the seasonal determination outlooks and weather information when planning their water needs in 2020-21.
The outlook for the season shows that under average conditions allocations should reach 100 per cent in the Goulburn by December 15 and 100 per cent in the Murray by February 17.
As of today seasonal determinations on high reliability water shares for northern Victorian water systems are:
MURRAY 8 per cent
BROKEN 17 per cent
GOULBURN 35 per cent
CAMPASPE 32 per cent
LODDON 35 per cent
BULLAROOK zero.
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