Lake Rowlands, which supplies water for Woodstock, Canowindra and Grenfell, has benefited from the wide-spread snow event the region enjoyed earlier this month, with the water level at the lake boosted significantly.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Central Tablelands Water (CTW) general manager Gavin Rhodes says Lake Rowlands has increased from 50 per cent to 58 per cent as a result of the recent snow.
"Although the level of Lake Rowlands had been holding steady at 50 per cent over the past month, it was very pleasing to receive approximately 50mm of rain and a decent dump of snow in the Lake Rowlands catchment over the past seven to 10 days," Mr Rhodes said.
"(It's) very encouraging leading into the warmer periods of spring and summer.
Now the catchment has been saturated by the recent snow event, we need more follow-up rain and subsequent run-off.
- Central Tablelands Water (CTW) general manager Gavin Rhodes
"Now the catchment has been saturated by the recent snow event, we need more follow-up rain and subsequent run-off.
"It just goes to show what a great catchment Lake Rowlands is as we (CTW) continue to lobby both State and Federal governments to fund additional storage."
Enlarging Lake Rowlands has been proposed since 1977 and CTW's chairman, Cr David Somervaille said an enlarged Lake Rowlands would help secure water for town water supply, environmental flows, industrial development and continued investment in the region.
"Lake Rowlands has the potential to be a strategic water supply asset for the entire region," Cr Somervaille said.
"With the prolonged drought gripping 98 per cent of the state, we need to plan and put strategies in place both short and long term to increase water security for the region."
Despite the recent increase to the level of Lake Rowlands, Level 3 water restrictions remain in place for the entire CTW supply network.
CTW will continue to closely monitor the inflows into Lake Rowlands and long term rainfall forecasts of the Bureau of Meteorology.