Releases from Lake Eppalock increased to 800 ML/day on Monday, July 10.
Goulburn-Murray Water water storage services general manager Martina Cusack said releases were based on projected inflows.
“G-MW manages the lake, it doesn’t own the water,” she said.
“Coliban Water, environmental water holders and farmers are the main entitlement owners. To release more water from Lake Eppalock, G-MW would generally require the water holders to order more water.
“However, G-MW is able to release water from Lake Eppalock when the storage is expected to fill and forecast inflows will replenish the water released. This ensures that water holders are not losing the water being stored in Lake Eppalock for them.”
The storage is sitting at 99.8 per cent capacity.
Water levels at Lake Eppalock are currently reaching the spillway level; however, even if the storage spills, the design of the spillway means inflows are temporarily kept back in the storage, and outflows are less than inflows.
Ms Cusack said G-MW would continue monitoring conditions to determine if releases needed to be increased.
“We are constantly assessing catchment conditions and working with the Bureau of Meteorology to see if any changes to releases should be made,” she said.
G-MW recently held a webinar on managing Lake Eppalock.
To view the webinar and learn about how Lake Eppalock is managed, head to the G-MW website: www.gmwater.com.au/managing-eppalock