A delivery of water for the environment into the Goulburn River during June and July will sustain the health of the waterway and benefit platypus, native fish and waterbugs.
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Known as a winter fresh, water released from Lake Eildon will increase the height of the mid Goulburn River for a short period as it flows through Alexandra, Molesworth, Seymour, Murchison, Shepparton and further downstream.
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority environmental water manager Simon Casanelia said the water delivery would help maintain the health and functioning of the Goulburn River through increasing habitat by moving sediment out of deep pools and putting it on the banks.
“While it’s occurring, the fresh will increase the habitat available for native fish, platypus and water bugs by inundating connected anabranches and wetlands,” Mr Casanelia said.
“Winter is when platypus forage for food and build their nests. The winter fresh reminds the platypus to build their nests nice and high to keep their eggs and young from drowning if the river rises later in the year.”
Mr Casanelia said water for the environment, which is water allocated and managed to improve the health of rivers, wetlands and floodplains, was designed to mimic natural flows that would have occurred before the river was dammed and regulated.
“By providing this water we can do our bit to help replicate natural flows,” he said.
Platypus will benefit from a delivery of water for the environment down the Goulburn River. Photo: Australian Platypus Conservancy
As the water flows out of the Goulburn River it will benefit the Murray River downstream by improving water quality and helping to flush a blue-green algae problem, coinciding with a delivery of water for the environment from the Lower-Darling.
The fresh is planned for delivery from June 21 with flows exceeding 8000 Ml/day.
It will peak in July at about 9500 Ml/day (a river height of 5.6m at Shepparton) before slowly dropping back to about 1000 Ml/day (a river height of 2.7m at Shepparton) in late July.
Peak flows are well below minor flood levels (9.5m at Shepparton). In the case of forecast rain, environmental flow releases may be reduced or stopped.
Environmental flows are planned by Goulburn Broken CMA in consultation with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the Victorian Environmental Water Holder.
The flows are authorised by the VEWH in line with its Seasonal Watering Plan 2023-24. The plan can be downloaded at: https://www.vewh.vic.gov.au
To check how Water for the Environment changes flows in the Lower Goulburn River, view the hydrograph on Goulburn Broken CMA’s website (updated weekly): http://fchmccoys.hydronet.com/
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