Monthly Water Update

Rainfall was average across 52 per cent of the Basin and above average rainfall for 37 per cent of the area, spread throughout the drainage division. Very much above average (including highest on record) rainfall occurred across nine per cent of the area, mainly in the central west and central east. Below average rainfall occurred in two per cent of the area in the south. Total rainfall was 41 mm, 24 per cent higher than the long-term mean of 33 mm for August.

Streamflows were average or lower than average for 83 per cent of the sites, spread throughout the drainage division. Due to the high rainfall in the central east, the Lachlan River at Narrawa had the highest streamflow for August since 1980. The Murray River Downstream Yarrawonga Weir had the fourth lowest streamflow for August since 1980.

Median streamflow salinity (electrical conductivity) varied between sites from 36 to 6129 μS/cm. Streamflows were high quality for 71 per cent of the sites, fresh for 19 per cent of the sites and brackish for six per cent of the sites. Burra Creek at Worlds End (Low Flow) and and Bremer River at Harrogate (Opposite Tennis Court) had the highest salinity of all sites. High salinity in the Burra Creek at Worlds End (Low Flow) is due to discharge from unconfined aquifers.

During August, storage volumes increased in 14 systems, decreased in two and remained stable in two. By the end of the month, the volume of water stored across the drainage division was 52 per cent of the total accessible capacity, which is 16 per cent higher than the previous year.