Water for the environment will be released into the Goulburn River in autumn to encourage native fish movement and plant growth on the banks.
Golden Perch caught in the Goulburn River
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Environmental Water and Wetlands Manager, Simon Casanelia, said the water release was referred to as the ‘Goulburn River autumn fresh’ and was expected to run from early March to early April.
“Conditions have been dry, with multiple heatwaves over summer and below-to-well-below average rainfall in the Goulburn River catchment over the past 12 months,” Mr Casanelia said.
The Autumn fresh will reinvigorate mid-bank vegetation along with the potential to attract Golden and Silver perch fish into the river.”
Mr Casanelia said the timing of the water delivery had been planned with the community in mind.
“Autumn is a popular time for people to enjoy the Goulburn River, especially during public and school holidays. This year the autumn fresh has been scheduled to avoid the key Easter and school holiday periods. The water level will have returned to base flows before the Easter long weekend.”
Water for the environment is water allocated and managed to improve the health of rivers, wetlands and floodplains.
This complements on-ground activities such delivering stock fencing, off-stream watering, weed control and revegetation incentives to restore high quality riparian vegetation corridors that are resistant to flood related channel change such as river bed and bank erosion.
Mr Casanelia said the autumn fresh is targeted for the lower Goulburn River. It will have a peak flow of approximately 6000ML/day at Shepparton before slowly dropping back to below 1500 ML/day in late March.
“The water delivery is likely to incorporate Inter Valley Trade (IVT) allocated water which would otherwise have been delivered separately,” he said.
“By combining the two it reduces the amount of time bank vegetation is under water. The IVT pulse component will be delivered first with a small peak of approximately 3000 ML/day followed by the larger peak of 6000 ML/day.
“This double peak will mimic natural variable flows and will encourage fish movement into the Goulburn River and bank vegetation structure diversity.”
Goulburn River at Darcys Track - drying vegetation pre Autumn Fresh
Peak flows will be well below minor flood levels along the Goulburn River. At Shepparton the river will reach 4.3m - the minor flood level is 9.5m. The timing and height of the fresh may vary depending on natural flows in the river. Delivery of water for the environment will reduce or stop if there is any flood risk.
“Environmental flows are planned by the Goulburn Broken CMA in consultation with the local community, Traditional Owners, river ecologists, Goulburn-Murray Water, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the Murray Darling Basin Authority.
“Decisions about using water for the environment are based on science, including research by river ecologists and long-term environmental monitoring. The research and monitoring clearly demonstrates water for the environment is improving the health of the Goulburn River.”
To check how water for the environment changes flows in the Lower Goulburn, view the hydrograph on Goulburn Broken CMA’s website: http://fchmccoys. hydronet.com/ (updated weekly).
The flows are authorised by the VEWH in line with its Seasonal Watering Plan 2025-26. The plan is available for download from www.vewh.vic.gov.au , with regular watering updates posted on the Goulburn Broken CMA website www.gbcma. vic.gov. au
Learn more: Selected Area: Lower Goulburn River | Flow-MER Program