River

Connecting Catchment & Community - May 2021

	Hats off to our Working for Victoria crews The six GB CMA Working for Victoria teams continue to carry out a power of work to protect and improve the region's natural resources. To date they've collected 18 tonnes of rubbish and completed almost 5.5km of riparian and vegetation fencing. Weed control and seed collection are other activities the crews are undertaking with support from our partners including Goulburn-Murray Water, Euroa Arboretum, Parks Victoria, the Fruit Fly Taskforce and local councils. The main aims off the Victorian Government's Working for Victoria initiative are to provide income and support to community members whose employment has been affected by COVID-19. Pleasingly, of the 34 crew members employed to date 10 have gone on to other full-time employment, some with our partner agencies. Late last month, the crews got together at Winton Wetlands (pictured above) to meet and share their experiences. They also sandbagged drainage lines to spread the flow of water during heavy rain and did fence maintenance and weed control. The program is due to wrap up at the end of June. More information about the crew members and the program can be found here.
	2021 Victorian Landcare Grants Applications are now open for the 2021 Victorian Landcare Grants. The Victorian Government is providing $2.55 million funding to support Landcare and environmental volunteering groups and networks for on-ground works, education, and capacity building projects that protect, enhance, and restore our land and natural environment. Up to $30,000 is available for project grants and up to $500 for support grants. Grants are open to all Victorian Landcare and environmental volunteering groups and networks that have a focus on on-ground land and natural environment improvement work. Applications close 5pm Wednesday 16 June 2021. For more information and to apply click here.
	2021 Victorian Landcare Awards Nominations are now open for the 2021 Victorian Landcare Awards. The awards are an opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of Victorians from urban and rural communities excelling in environmental volunteering, sustainable agricultural practices, environmental protection, conservation of land and waterways, coastlines, and biodiversity. Nominees can be from groups, networks, organisations, and individuals involved in protecting and improving their local environment. Anyone can nominate, so if you know an individual or group that you think should be recognised, please nominate them for an award. There are 15 categories open to Victorians this year. Seven of these are Victorian-only and eight are national categories. Nominations close on 30 June. For more information go to www.landcarevic.org.au.
	Seasonal watering proposals Each year we work with stakeholders to prepare seasonal watering proposals for priority rivers and wetlands in the Catchment. The proposals identify potential environmental watering that could occur during the year (July to June) under a range of weather scenarios (eg. wet, dry, average). The proposals outline optimal timing and volumes and consider previous deliveries, environmental objectives and findings from various monitoring programs (see story below). Opportunities to use water for the environment for social, recreational and cultural benefits are also considered, where possible. The proposals submitted by each of the CMAs are then incorporated into the Victorian Environmental Water Holder's state-wide seasonal watering plan. The 2021-22 seasonal watering plan is due to be released on June 30.
	Monitoring for improved management Water for the environment has been delivered along the lower Goulburn to protect and improve its health for almost 10 years. Regular monitoring is undertaken to measure improvements in native fish numbers and species, water bugs, bank condition and vegetation health. The findings from the monitoring also help us continually adapt flow timing and size to achieve better environmental outcomes. The two main Goulburn River monitoring programs are the Victorian Environmental Flows Monitoring and Assessment Program (VEFMAP) and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office-funded Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program (Flow- MER). Click the links to read the latest reports from VEFMAP and Flow-MER.
	Hooray for the Hollands Early last year the ongoing hot dry weather led to low or very low flows in a several unregulated creeks across the Catchment. GB CMA staff, with staff from other agencies, monitored the situation. Of particular concern was Hollands Creek, home to one of the few populations of threatened Macquarie perch in the Catchment. With support from the Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) and the Tatong Angling Club, a decision was made to translocate 30 or so adult Maccas to the Broken River. This action looks like it's paid off - just last month ARI ecologists picked up 20-plus young Maccas in the creek during surveying. Follow our social media channels for more updates.
	Field days and workshops Our staff have enjoyed getting back out in the paddock and are rolling out a jam-packed program of activities now that COVID-19 restrictions have eased.Upcoming events include: May 22 – Warrenbayne – Join Gecko Clan and Ag Vic Senior Researcher Dr Meredith Mitchelle for a day of native grass identification and learn about management of native pasture grazing systems. Registration is essential. Contact Kim Magnay on 0419 482 409 or geckoadmin@inet.net.au for more information. May 28 – Hilldene – Ag Vic’s Brad Costin will discuss erosion management principles. A paddock walk is also part of the event. Registration is essential. Contact Kerstie Lee on 0437 310 84 or kerstiel@gbcma.vic.gov.au May 29 – Broadford – Join South West Goulburn Landcare and Ron Litjens for an informative discussion about “paddock trees as prime real estate”. Registration is essential. Contact Sonia Sharkey on 0409 515 630 or swg_landcare@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au for more information. To make sure you keep up-to-date check our events calendar.
	Weir campaign We're running a campaign with the Arthur Rylah Institute, Native Fish Victoria, landholders and other groups to highlight the impacts building rock weirs that block flow have on unregulated creeks. As well as stopping native fish such as the endangered Macquarie perch from moving up and down waterways or finding refuge pools during dry times, changing flow can cause erosion. Sometimes landholders create temporary weirs to provide stock watering points but there are grants available to provide ongoing, more secure water supply via the CMA. Find out more here.
	Telling the tree storey Staff from Moira Shire Council and Parks Victoria recently joined us at Broken Boosey State Park at Katamatite to hear from ecologist Chris Tzaros about the importance of the ground layer. Chris spoke about how a healthy ground layer consisting of sticks, leaves, humus, fungi, logs and branches provides homes for invertebrates and assists with nutrient recycling. He also officially launched ‘The Ground Storey’ booklet, which was produced to promote the importance of the ground layer and features his beautiful photos of wildlife and the environment. Download a copy here. The field day and booklet are part of the Grey Box project, which is supported by the Goulburn Broken CMA through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Program.
	Goulburn Broken Regional Catchment Strategy renewal The Goulburn Broken Regional Catchment Strategy (GB RCS) provides a vision for the integrated management of natural resources in the Catchment. It is a blueprint for improving Catchment health in the future and builds on the achievements and learnings from the past. Every six or so years the GB CMA co-ordinates the GB RCS renewal process and over the past 15 months we have consulted extensively with numerous stakeholders including Traditional Owners, councils, government agencies and the individuals and groups who make up the broad range of people that live, work, invest and visit the region. This feedback is being used to develop a draft GB RCS. The strategy is for all organisations, groups and individuals contributing to the Catchment’s natural resource management and we encourage you to get involved in its development and implementation. More information about the renewal process, upcoming workshops and engagement opportunities can be found here.
	Goulburn to Murray Trade Rule Review GB CMA supported community consultation with Traditional Owners, anglers, local government, agencies, community groups and other interested river users on proposed new operating and trade rules for Goulburn to Murray inter-valley trade released by the Victorian Government in March. The GB CMA and the community have been concerned by the effects of high unseasonal flows, due to increased downstream demand, on the Goulburn River's banks and vegetation in recent years. We welcome the government's introduction of interim operating rules during summer and any future efforts to protect the river's health while managing delivery risks for Victorian irrigators. Submissions closed April 30. A final decision on any changes to operating rules, trade rules and tagging arrangements is expected to be announced in July.