Inflows in the last week of July have allowed northern Victoria resource manager Mark Bailey to make marginal increases in irrigation allocations in the Murray and Goulburn systems.
As of August 1, Eildon was holding 57 per cent, Dartmouth 67 per cent, Hume 46 per cent and Eppalock 56 per cent.
Rainfall of about 25mm across northern Victoria in late July delivered inflows of about 50,000 megalitres to Eildon, reaching almost up to 10,000 Ml/day on several days, the highest rates since July last year.
There was only a marginal increase in volume, as there were some environmental releases at the same time.
Goulburn-Murray Water river operations manager Andrew Shields reported that for Dartmouth, the inflows generated were about 30,000 Ml over the same week.
Nillahcootie on the Broken River fared better, with a substantial increase in volume taking the level to about 60 per cent of capacity.
Further increases will allow G-MW to make higher allocations to irrigators.
Mr Shields said although some of the increases were small, the catchments and waterways were wetted up in preparation for the traditionally bigger inflow periods over August and September.
On Friday, August 1, Dr Bailey announced the Murray system seasonal determination for irrigators had increased from 40 per cent of high-reliability water shares to 49 per cent.
The Goulburn and Loddon systems increased from 33 per cent to 38 per cent HRWS.
The Campaspe system remained at 100 per cent. The Broken and Bullarook systems both remain unchanged at zero per cent.
Dr Bailey said flows into the storages after recent rainfall provided welcome resource improvements.
“Since the last assessment in July, rain over the catchment areas has increased the flows into the major storages to the highest rates observed so far this winter,” he said.
“This provided more water to allocate in the Murray, Goulburn and Loddon systems.
“Flows into the Bullarook storages were relatively small and did not significantly change the available resources.
“More rainfall is needed over the coming months to secure the system’s operating requirements and increase seasonal determinations.”
The 2025-26 irrigation season opens on August 15.
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