This year’s spring environmental flow release from Goulburn Weir near Nagambie is due to begin Monday, September 28.
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Environmental Water Co-ordinator Meegan Judd said the aim of the flow was to help re-establish river bank and in-stream vegetation.
“The flow is designed to encourage germination of aquatic and amphibious (bank edge) vegetation,” Ms Judd said.
“Aquatic and amphibious plants help stabilise the river bank and provide valuable habitat and food for native fish, birds and water bugs. “This is an annual event, however, this flow is timed earlier than last year’s October flow to improve the chances of seed germination and plant growth before the hot weather arrives.”
The fresh is planned to start on September 28 and gradually rise to about 8,500 ML/day at Murchison on October 6. The flows will then gradually reduce to about 800 ML/day by October 23. Flows are planned to be above 3,000 ML/day at Murchison from September 30 to October 18. The flow will occur at McCoy’s Bridge about four days after being released from Goulburn Weir. The flow will see river heights in the Goulburn River rise to a maximum of 4.3m at Murchison, 5.5m at Shepparton and 5m at McCoy’s Bridge as measured at each local gauge.
The flow will use a combination of Commonwealth and The Living Murray environmental water.
Environmental flows are planned by the Goulburn Broken CMA, managed by Goulburn-Murray Water in line with the Victorian Environmental Water Holder’s Seasonal Watering Plan 2015-16, and take into consideration delivery orders by irrigators and other water users.
The Living Murray is a joint initiative funded by the New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, Australian Capital Territory and Commonwealth governments, coordinated by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority.
For more information visit www.gbcma.vic.gov.au
The Seasonal Watering Plan 2015-16 is available at www.vewh.vic.gov.au
GMW publishes river flow forecasts on its website at www.g-mwater.com.au/managing-water-storages