Thought I would start a thread on water storage levels as we head into the warmer months.

Dam storage levels are very low around my area & several towns that rely on them for water are heading for some harsh restrictions if we do not get decent rainfall soon. Coming into the summer cropping season the amount of water available for irrigation will be minimal & the effect on the local economy of these towns will be affected, possibly leading to job losses.

Dam storage levels from around my area:

Gwydir Valley
Copeton Dam - nearly three times as large as Sydney Harbour.
Currently at 8.6% (134,701 ml of 1,364,000 megalitres) Irrigation & water supply for Inverell, population 11,000.

Namoi Valley
Keepit Dam - nearly as large as Sydney Harbour.
Currently at 0.9% (10,621 ml of 425,000 megalitres) Mainly used for irrigation.

Splitrock Dam - three-quarters the volume of Sydney Harbour.
Currently at 1.9% (10,638 ml of 397,370 megalitres) Back up for Keepit & water supply for 1,410 people.

Chaffey Dam - 40,000 Olympic Pools.
Currently at 20.7% (23,188 ml of 100,500 megalitres) Mainly for the city of Tamworth with a population of 45,000

Tamworth are currently on Level 4 restrictions & I think the trigger point for Level 5 is 20%. Many other towns are out of water & are relying on water being trucked in.
Luckily my home town does not have any restrictions at the moment as there was a pipeline constructed from Splitrock Dam around 8 years ago, but this could change if the drought persists.