Goulburn-Murray Water is increasing its releases to cope with the inflows and is using available airspace to reduce the potential peak flow from a storage spill, without exacerbating impacts from downstream tributaries.
Falls of more than 100mm have been recorded above Lake Eildon, prompting warnings of minor flooding between Eildon and Seymour.
Minor flooding is possible at Trawool on Thursday.
Farmers immediately below Lake Eildon in the Thornton and Molesworth area are concerned that the Eildon storage has been run at too high a level to cope with spring rains.
EIldon is holding about 98 per cent of capacity and G-MW pushed up releases from Wednesday afternoon to 12,000 Ml/day.
From 9am on Thursday, October 5, releases will gradually increase to 17,000-20,000 Ml per day.
Goulburn River farmers below Lake Eildon, have been checking pumps and moving stock to higher ground.
Due to a wet catchment and rainfall in June, G-MW has moved to the wet operating scenario when determining its filling targets, in line with its obligations under the Victorian Water Act.
G-MW said these targets seek to protect the reliability of water entitlements while offering some flood mitigation. This means filling targets remain relatively high throughout the season.
The new scenario adopted earlier this year aimed to have Eildon full by November 1 instead of October 1.
The Goulburn River was rising at Seymour and Murchison yesterday.
The rain has come at an opportune time for Goulburn Valley farmers and, provided the weather clears, should boost spring crops.
