- JoNova - https://www.joannenova.com.au -

Climate change causes full dams

Last week the Maroondah Reservoir, near Melbourne, was full. Thanks to Bob Fernley-Jones for a great shot, perfect for a weekend thread:

Melbourne, Water Storage, December 2016, Photo, Dam.

Observations early on 7/Dec/2016 in Maroondah Reservoir Park  Photo: Bob Fernley-Jones

In 2009 things were dry, the drought was endless, and in a panic, billions were spent  on desalination plants for Victoria (not to mention for Sydney, Adelaide, and Brisbane). Then the rains returned, the desal plants were mothballed. In Victoria alone, up to $18 billion will continue to be spent regardless of whether any water is used.

(Amazing what a desal plant can do for water storage. 😉  )

Water Storage, Graph, Melbourne, December 2016

Water Storage

Water Storage two weeks into summer, Australia:  Melbourne  72% |    Sydney 91%  |  Canberra  98% |    Adelaide     89% |  Hobart 98%   |     Darwin 68%   |  Brisbane 75%  |    Perth  28% *

There is water overflowing from the full dam below.   As Bob says: “Not the greatest overflow it’s ever been but positive, and its only part of an interconnected system that is currently a very healthy collective.”

Overflow, Melbourne Dam, 2016

Bob has added more photos here of the healthy ecosystem in a PDF.

*Perth storage is pathetic for lots of reasons, and has been for some time. Rainfall is down, but streamflow is the big problem. That’s another story…

9.2 out of 10 based on 70 ratings