Track water storage, capacity and historical trends for major reservoirs in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and beyond.
The current volume at Serpentine is running lower than standard operational thresholds. With the reservoir sitting at just 32.9%, the total available volume is 138 GL. This lower-than-average capacity may trigger preliminary water-saving advisories in Western Australia if dry conditions persist.
Fed primarily by the Serpentine River, this reservoir plays a critical role in the South West Coast drainage division. Hydrological health in this specific drainage basin is vital for downstream ecosystems. Catchment dynamics in the South West Coast are deeply influenced by the retention capacity of Serpentine.
Agriculture in the surrounding areas of Western Australia depends heavily on the water security provided by Serpentine. Farmers and agribusinesses monitor these levels closely to plan their seasonal crop yields. Without the buffer provided by this massive 138 GL storage, regional farming would face extreme volatility.
The surrounding catchment of Serpentine also supports diverse local flora and fauna. During periods of healthy water levels, the area often sees an increase in recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. Authorities must constantly balance the need for human water consumption with the ecological necessity of maintaining healthy river systems downstream.
With a mild reading of 14°C today, surface evaporation is significantly reduced, helping to preserve current volume. The recorded precipitation of 0.1mm indicates active rainfall in the catchment, which is excellent news for inflows.
The Bureau of Meteorology's climate outlooks will play a pivotal role in predicting the future inflows for this catchment. Continuous telemetry and advanced hydrological modeling are employed to forecast storage changes. Given the unpredictable nature of Australia's climate, from La Niña flooding to El Niño droughts, maintaining a dynamic operational strategy for Serpentine is absolutely essential.