Chief Executive Officer of the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA), Mr Chris Norman, today announced that environmental water will be released down the Goulburn River during November and December in line with the Victorian Environmental Water Holder’s (VEWH) Seasonal Watering Plan.
Chief Executive Officer of the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA), Mr Chris Norman, today announced that environmental water will be released down the Goulburn River during November and December in line with the Victorian Environmental Water Holder’s (VEWH) Seasonal Watering Plan.
The flow of 130,000 ML is the biggest ever environmental release in the Goulburn River. Water has been provided from The Living Murray Program and the Commonwealth Environmental Water and is aimed at improving the health of the Goulburn River and contribute to flows that provide ecological benefits as far down stream as the Lower Lakes, Coorong and the Murray Mouth.
“The flow release pattern in the Goulburn is aimed at triggering the spawning of the Golden Perch to continue rebuilding the population after last year’s spawning, which occurred for this first time in eight years,” Mr Norman said.
“This release will also provide other environmental benefits including improving instream vegetation and providing macro invertebrate (bug) habitat, in particular in between Goulburn Weir and the River Murray.”
Releases from Goulburn Weir will begin today, peaking at a flow rate of about 5,600 ML/day. Flows should peak at Shepparton at about 6,000 to 7,000 ML/day for about the next 2 weeks. This should result in river level rises of approximately 2.5 metres above recent levels between Goulburn Weir and the River Murray.
“The flows to be released are well within the river channel capacity. However, if significant rain occurs, they will be reduced or ceased to avoid any flooding impacts on private property,” he said.
This watering event is a collaboration between Goulburn Broken CMA, VEWH, Goulburn-Murray Water, Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder.
Further detail about the annual plan for environmental watering in the Goulburn can be found in the VEWH Seasonal Watering Plan 2011-12 at www.vewh.vic.gov.au
The Living Murray is an initiative of the Victorian, New South Wales, South Australian and ACT governments, coordinated by the MDBA.
For more information on the environmental water release, please contact Geoff Earl at the Goulburn Broken CMA on 5820 1100.
For more information on the environmental water release for the Lower Lakes please contact the MDBA media team on 02 6279 0100