Streamflows - March 2007
Despite the reasonable rainfalls in many locations, streamflows across the State continue a generally similar pattern to last month, with the only significant improvement being in limited alpine areas. The limited improvement in flows is because catchments are very dry and it will take some time for the soil store to “wet-up” .
By the end of the month, 12 out of the 28 representative stations recorded no flow compared with 10 last month with a further four stations having flows between 1-10% of the long-term average for March. Flows at 21 stations are lower than at the same time during the 1982/83 drought and 12 stations have lower values than the historical minimum. (see map, graphs, and table)
Overall, around 60% of the State continues to have streamflows that are below 10% of the long-term average for the month.
At the other end of the spectrum, exceptionally high flow (over 1200% of the long-term average) was experienced in the Macalister River at Glencairn. This was a result of heavy rain over the fire-affected catchment, resulting in very high (and turbid) runoff. Similarly, high flows of 440% of the long-term average were recorded in the Goulburn River at Doherty’s.
In this section
The following are graphs for the 28 streamflow guaging stations, showing long-term average daily streamflow, recorded minimum streamflow, streamflow in the 1982/83 drought and current daily streamflow.
- Glenelg/Wimmera (Glenelg Hopkins catchment, Wimmera catchment)
- Northern Victoria (North Central catchment, Goulburn Broken catchment, North East catchment
- South Central Victoria (Port Phillip catchment, Corangamite catchment)
- Gippsland (West Gippsland catchment, East Gippsland catchment)