Water for the environment will be released into the Goulburn River this month to stimulate fish movement and promote the growth of native plants to help protect the riverbank.
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Environmental Water and Wetlands Manager, Simon Casanelia, said the annual water release was referred to as the Goulburn River spring fresh and was expected to run from approximately 13 September to 12 October.
“Environmental water will greatly benefit native vegetation by wetting the river’s banks and then receding, encouraging new growth,” Mr Casanelia said.
“Establishing the bank vegetation is a high priority. Without this vegetation growth in spring, the bank would stay bare and be more prone to damage.”
This delivery of water for the environment helps long-term stabilisation of the riverbank as native grasses, sedges, rushes and flood-tolerant native species will grow and thrive at this time of year. The roots of the plants help stabilise the bank.
The timing of the fresh is similar to last year’s spring fresh which proved successful for vegetation establishment.
Mr Casanelia said this delivery of water for the environment would also increase habitat and food resources for native fish such as Murray Cod, Trout Cod and Golden Perch, platypus and waterbugs.
“Because fish are more actively migrating and spawning in spring, there is great value in the spring fresh, even with the high winter flows we’ve had.”
Water for the environment is water allocated and managed to improve the health of rivers, wetlands and floodplains. Use is adapted based on climatic conditions, water availability and ecological needs.
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, and in particular the spring fresh, is vital for improving the health of the Goulburn River.
Environmental flows are planned by the Goulburn Broken CMA in consultation with the local community, river ecologists, Goulburn-Murray Water, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH), the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the Murray Darling Basin Authority.
These flows complement 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.
The spring fresh is expected to benefit the whole length of the Goulburn River downstream of Lake Eildon. Flow will gradually increase to approximately 9,300ML/day at Trawool and Shepparton before slowly dropping back to approximately 1,000ML/day in mid-October.
Peak flows will be well below minor flood levels along the Goulburn River. At Trawool the river will reach 2.3m - the minor flood level is 4m. At Shepparton the river will reach 5.6m - the minor flood level is 9.5m. 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.
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: Goulburn River and Northern Victorian Tributaries
Native fish, including Murray Cod, will benefit from the spring water delivery. (Wayne Koster, ARI).
A delivery of water for the environment down the Goulburn River in spring will promote native vegetation to grow on the river’s banks.