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Melbourne's water
storages are currently at:
41.9%
breakdown by reservoir
(you can click on each reservoir
for more information)
Thomson: 27.2%
Cardinia: 43.4%
Upper Yarra: 69.9%
Sugarloaf: 84.1%
Silvan: 88.9%
Tarago: 60.5%
Yan Yean: 54.6%
Greenvale: 66.6%
Maroondah: 100.0%
O'Shannassy: 100.0%
the natural river system
About one third of Melbournians choose to live within a kilometre of a river or creek. Yet what we see when we visit our local river or creek is only part of its story.
Major changes have taken place around our rivers and creeks as the land around them has been modified to create farms and towns.
In spite of this, about 87 per cent of the rivers and creeks in the Port Phillip and Westernport area are natural. These rivers and creeks are home to many different types of native plants and animals.
How rivers are made
When it rains, there are two pathways for the water:
- Across the land, or
- Into the ground
Water flowing across the land is called surface water. Surface water collects in creeks. Creeks later flow into larger rivers.
Water that soaks into the ground, through the soil and rocks is referred to as groundwater. Groundwater eventually seeps into the bottom of rivers, providing a steady flow of water even after the rain has stopped.
The plants growing in and along our river and creeks play a very important role. These plants:
- Provide a home for native animals and insects
- Stabilise the river bed and banks, stopping soil from being washed away
- Filter the water, improving the river or creek's water quality