An investigation of the potential benefits of hydroclimate forecasts for irrigators in Northern Victoria

Abstract

Australia is not only the driest inhabited continent, but it also has low and highly variable runoff. Furthermore, apart from the northernmost regions of the country, the water in most Australian rivers is currently either fully or, in some cases, over committed. As a consequence the annual availability of water for irrigation is both limited and uncertain. The recent extended drought throughout much of Australia has resulted in below average irrigation allocations in many areas. This has prompted a renewed interest in the probabilistic forecasting of these allocations prior to the opening of the irrigation season, such as is currently provided by Goulburn-Murray Water. The question arises h..