WIMMERA waterways are starting to feel the affects of the drought, as the region continues through one of the driest starts to the year on record.
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So far this year, Horsham has received 15.8 millimetres of rain.
The last time it was this dry was in 1923, when the city received 12.9mm in the first four months of the year.
New Bureau of Meteorology rainfall maps show majority of the region has had a severe rainfall deficiency so far this year.
Wimmera Catchment Management Authority chief executive David Brennan said the region was experiencing the full force of the dry conditions.
"Many parts of the Wimmera River and creeks in the catchment are in desperate need of rain," he said.
"Plenty are areas are bone dry and a lot of the river systems have become a series of pools.
"It is extremely dry out there."
Mr Brennan said the region had received well below average rainfall for the past 18 months.
"We've also had above average temperatures, which equally has a big impact on the waterways," he said.
"The heat causes a lot of water loss through evaporation."
Mr Brennan said most of the region's fish population had moved to deeper water around weir pools at Horsham, Dimboola and Jeparit.
GWMWater water resources manager Kym Wilson said overall the region's storage system was sitting at 34 per cent full.
This time last year it was at 46 per cent.
"There has been a draw down of water levels over summer, and autumn is when we will typically see the lowest storage levels," he said.
"It's been quite a dry season and hot temperatures have increased evaporation form the reservoirs."
Lake Lonsdale is currently sitting at nine per cent full, while Lake Toolondo is at 26 per cent, Lake Wartook is at 32 per cent and Green Lake is at 43 per cent.
Mr Wilson said while low water levels could affect the water quality in reservoirs, that wasn't an issue in the region at this stage.
Warracknabeal farmer Ross Johns said conditions were very dry around his area, but he started sowing about a month ago.
"If we can get average rain from now until the end of the season, we will get an average or better crop," he said.
"But we've just got to get that rainfall to get it all happening. I think it will be close to the middle or end of May before we see any big rains."
Bureau of Meteorology Richard Russell said the west of Victoria was incredibly dry for this time of year.
"Right now, the western part of Victoria is on a knife edge, we will definitely see some rain soon, but how much all depends on where the system lands," he said.
"It could be just one millimetre or so, or it could be up to more than 20mm, it just depends on where the storms will fall."