Rainfall and runoff into Lake Colac

It was very dry last summerSo will it fill this year ? (Photo - we walked across (south to north) in January this year)
Most Probably not. Infact Lake Colac is likely to dry out again by the end of summer ( assumming average months ahead)
The Flows REQUIRED to help it fill will take some time- most likely series of wetter years.
The real key to understanding Runoff is the condition of the soils in the catchment .
The main source of such flows will be when the heavier soils in the catchment are nearly fully saturated. ( as they are right now ) The problem is that between showers at this time of year ,soils dry out , and so does the often thick wad of pasture now growing well. So unless the rainfall occurs repeatedly within a few days of each other ,at this time of year , high retention .
Lake Colac is unlikley to fill this year because the retention rate can be excpected to be high and the spring components, which over wet years contribute significant flows, are too dry to contribute as yet .