The Monthly Water Report provides a summary of the status of Victoria's water resources and water supplies at the end of the reporting month. It is based on validated water resource information provided by Victoria's 19 Urban and Rural Water Corporations and the Bureau of Meteorology. Each month's report is published online the following month. For detailed, specific and up-to-date information, please contact the relevant Water Corporation or the Bureau of Meteorology. Links to these organisations are located within the Monthly Water Report. 

Rainfall

Victoria again experienced heavy rainfall and flooding during February, recording the wettest February since at least 1973.  Parts of northern Victoria and western Melbourne recorded the highest rainfall on record. 

Overall, the 2010/11 Victorian summer has been the wettest summer on record.  This is the result of one of the strongest La Niña events on record, with the last event of similar strength being recorded in 1973/74.

Stream flows

Of the 28 representative streamflow gauging stations in Victoria, 23 recorded flows above 100% of the long-term February average at the end of the month.  However, flow in far East Gippsland still indicates drought conditions at the end of February, consistent with the region’s limited rainfall over summer.

Storages

The total volume in Victoria’s major storages was 77.4% of total capacity at the end of the December. The volume in the State’s major regional storages increased by 2.5% to 81.6% of capacity, and Melbourne's storages finished the month at 53.4%.  This is the first time since 1985/86 that Melbourne’s dam levels have increased over the summer period.

Restrictions on Urban Water Supplies

During February, North East Water reduced restrictions for Goorambat to Stage 2.

At the end of the month, 103 Victorian towns were still on restrictions.  However, this is the lowest number of towns on restrictions for almost a decade.

Irrigation Allocations

Irrigation allocations in northern Victoria remained unchanged during February.  Full allocations for high-reliability water shares are available for all systems, and full low-reliability allocations are available for the Broken, Bullarook and Campaspe systems.

Southern Rural Water increased the allocation for high-reliability shares in the Macalister Irrigation District to 100%, and allocated 100% for low-reliability shares.  The low-reliability allocation for Werribee and Bacchus Marsh irrigators was increased to 50%. 

The allocation for the Coliban rural system remained at 70%.

Grampians Wimmera-Mallee Water increased the irrigation allocation to 100% during February, but has deferred an irrigation channel run on the Wimmera Mallee supply system this year in consultation with irrigators.

Restrictions on Unregulated Streams

At the end of February, diversions from a total of 11 unregulated streams and lakes across the state were subject to restrictions. This is significantly less than the same time last year when 175 streams were on restriction.  It is the lowest number of streams on restriction at the end of February for more than five years.

Seasonal Climate Outlook

The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest rainfall outlook for March to May 2011 favours drier than average conditions over southern Victoria.

The Bureau reports that the strong La Niña event which has dominated the Australian climate for the past nine months is showing signs of weakening. The 2010/11 event is one of the strongest on record.  La Niña periods are generally associated with above normal rainfall during the second half of the year across large parts of Australia, most notably eastern and northern regions.