Consequently many dams in this area are well below capacity and some are dry. Stream flows and the storage capacities of dams across the Region continued to decline during the month due to the lack of effective rainfall. The current capacities of the Regions major storages should be adequate to see out this year but the smaller storages will need some replenishment later in the year when evaporation and irrigation demands are at their peaks. Stock water and ground water levels remain variable across the Region with reports indicating that some bores have fallen to base levels. The levels of these bores will not recover without a prolonged wet season.
Surface water varies greatly across the Region.
In many areas surface water and permanent creeks supplies are at a record low. Ground water levels in the Region remain variable but generally on the decline. In the central Lockyer Valley bore levels are being maintained but bores further from creeks are continuing to drop. Ground water and surface water supplies are adequate in most areas of the Region with the exception of the Eastern Darling Downs. In this area many producers have indicated that bore levels have fallen considerably over the last few months and surface water supplies are at a critical level on some properties.