Golden Perch (Yellowbelly) breeding has been triggered in the Goulburn River by the environmental water flows (pulses or freshes) sent down the river mid-November.
Golden Perch (Yellowbelly) breeding has been triggered in the Goulburn River by the environmental water flows (pulses or freshes) sent down the river mid-November.
A second fresh started on November 29 from Goulburn Weir and peaked at between 6,000 to 8,500 ML/day between December 2-4. Flows will stay above 5,600 ML/day until about December 16 then reduce back to minimum flows by December 20 at Goulburn Weir. The flows will see the river level (at Shepparton) increase from about 2.7m to 5.5m.
Please note that as a result of recent rain, these flows and times could change.
This second pulse also aims to encourage breeding of Golden Perch. It will fall slower and last longer, aiming to allow time for the water to seep into the river banks to provide water for vegetation on the lower banks. This vegetation is important to encourage as it was lost during the 2010/11 floods and is only slowly returning.
Commonwealth environmental water also continues to be delivered in the lower Broken Creek. Flows are 250 ML/day at Rices Weir and fish ladders are open to allow fish movement along the creek during the breeding season. Flows are being provided by diverting water from the Murray (Commonwealth water) and Goulburn (irrigation water going to the Murray) rivers to the creek through Goulburn-Murray Water's channel systems.