Surface Water Resources

This section of the VRO website is a collaborative effort between the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) (external link) and Department of Primary Industries (DPI). Much of the content was developed within the former Department of Natural Resources and Environment. DSE is now the lead agency in Victoria for the management of water resources across the state. Visit the Water section of DSEs website (external link) for up to date information about: Victoria's Water Allocation Framework, River Health, Irrigation, Water in Cities and Towns, Water Saving and Recycling Projects as well as Water Governance Arrangements.

River Basins and Streamflows
This page maps Victoria's 29 major river basins, giving their area and annual streamflow.

Streams, Lakes and Storages
This page maps Victoria's major streams, lakes and water storages, showing storage capacities.

Water Resources in 1944
The 1944 Report on Regional Boundaries provided an overview map of Victoria's Water Resources at the time.

Catchment Runoff
This page maps median annual runoff, expressed as a depth of water across the catchment, enabling comparison of runoff with rainfall.

Streams Flowing During the 1968 Drought
This page maps streams still flowing, and where flows had ceased, at the end of February 1968, towards the end of this severe and widespread drought.

Snowy River in northern Victoria

The average annual streamflow for Victoria is 22.5 million ML. This represents about 5% of all Australian streamflows.

Victorian watercourses range from small, turbulent streams in the steeply graded rocky gullies of the uplands to the broad, meandering rivers of the low hills and plains.

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