Encouraging signs in South-West water storage

11/2/04
The Water Corporation's South-West irrigation dams are holding more water than at the same time last year.
Compared with 2003, there is significantly more water being stored in irrigation dams near Waroona - Samson Brook Dam, Drakesbrook Dam and Waroona Dam.
Wellington Dam, the largest in the South-West, is holding 25,000megalitres more than at the same time last year.
The new Harvey Dam is storing an additional 9,000megalitres (16 per cent) more water compared with the corresponding period of 12 months ago.
Government Enterprises Minister Nick Griffiths said the corporation's 23 water supply and irrigation dams had stored more water from the winter of 2003 than in the previous two years when the South-West was in the grip of severe drought.
"Harris Dam which supplies Collie, plus 33 towns in the Upper Great Southern and hundreds of farms, is still only half-full," Mr Griffiths said.
"At this stage the only South-West community on water restrictions outside the Perth - Mandurah area is Manjimup.
"Manjimup is served by two water supply dams - Phillips Creek Dam which is empty and Manjimup Dam, currently about 60 per cent full.
"It is vital that storage in those dams be allowed to fully recover from the effects of drought to avoid a more serious situation in the event of poor run-off over the coming winter.
"The corporation is taking advantage of the empty Phillips Creek Dam to complete upgrade works over the next few months.
"The dam's existing spillway will be demolished and replaced with a new structure constructed to current national dam safety guidelines.
"The existing outlet pipe will also be replaced and attached to a new floating off-take to provide the best possible water quality from the reservoir."
Improvements to the instrumentation at the dam would be effected through the installation of additional piezometers in and around the embankment, the Minister said.
SOUTH-WEST DAM STORAGES

WATER SUPPLY DAMS	Capacity	Current wk
	Kilolitres	Feb 5 2004
Kirup	59,690	37,090
Balingup	61,330	21,400
Greenbushes 1	94,630	70,820
Greenbushes 2	98,410	39,880
Hester	127,760	68,000
Boyup Brook	129,380	66,100
Millstream	452,140	271,000
Nannup (Tanjanerup)	156,319	108,350
Phillips Creek	263,360	0
Manjimup	1,581,170	969,120
Big Brook	627,000	566,600
Mungalup	681,290	311,170
Quinninup	713,030	637,350
Ten Mile	1,690,810	1,155,440
Harris	72,000,000	34,721,200
IRRIGATION	Capacity	Current wk
	Megalitres	Feb 5 2004
Glen Mervyn	2,054	1,408
Drakesbrook	2,290	2,181
Samson	7,993	5,240
Waroona	14,930	5,156
Harvey (new)	56,442	19,422
Logue Brook	24,321	3,945
Wellington	186,000	94,168