The Goulburn Broken CMA has increased water flow in Broken Creek to save Murray Cod.
The Goulburn Broken CMA has increased water flow in Broken Creek to save Murray Cod.
An extremely low level of dissolved oxygen in the Broken Creek has been threatening the Murray Cod.
Prolonged episodes of depressed dissolved oxygen concentrations of 2 mg/L or less can result in dead fish. Dissolved oxygen concentrations should be above 4 mg/L and currently the levels of dissolved oxygen in the Broken Creek were well below 2 mg/L.
As a result the Goulburn Broken CMA (GB CMA) has asked Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) to deploy some of the Goulburn water quality reserve down the Broken Creek to increase water flows to help restore balance.
"Dissolved oxygen levels have been very low over the last week, which is associated with the warm weather," GB CMA representative Geoff Earl said.
"Hot weather will depress oxygen concentrations and may cause fish to die because warm water cannot hold as much oxygen as cold water."
"Low dissolved oxygen levels are related to decaying organic material in the water. Bacteria require oxygen to decompose organic waste, thus, deplete the water of oxygen."
"Once the dissolved oxygen levels dropped we needed to act promptly to protect the cod population,"
"Things have improved a bit in the last few days, but are still of concern. So, additional flows will be maintained in the creek for another week, and then reviewed." Mr Earl said.
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For more information please contact Stacey Brauman at Impress Publicity on 0400644637 or Geoff Earl on (03) 5820 1128.