Edition 7, September and October 2012 watering actions
Welcome to the latest edition of the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) Watering Update. This edition includes an update of environmental watering actions that happened across Victoria in September and October 2012.
VEWH staff and Commissioners at Goulburn Weir
The VEWH is an independent statutory body responsible for holding and managing environmental water entitlements in Victoria. The VEWH works with waterway managers (catchment management authorities and Melbourne Water), the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Commonwealth Environmental Water, storage operators and land managers to deliver environmental water. A full list of VEWH Holdings is available in the Seasonal Watering Plan 2012-13 and at www.vewh.vic.gov.au. If you have any suggestions or feedback, or wish to subscribe to this update, please email adam.miller@vewh.vic.gov.au. Header image - Kangaroos at Richardson’s Lagoon, North Central CMA.
VEWH news ‘Reflections - environmental watering in Victoria 2011-12’ launch You’re invited to celebrate the launch of ‘Reflections environmental watering in Victoria 2011-12’ and witness the first environmental release specifically targeting environmental values in the Werribee Estuary.
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be the first to get a copy of ‘Reflections – environmental watering in Victoria 2011-12’
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Reflections is the VEWH’s first annual watering booklet which summarises Victoria’s environmental watering program in 2011-12. Each chapter includes an interview with a catchment management authority or Melbourne Water representative, providing a unique and personal look at environmental watering in each system.
hear about the benefits of the environmental watering program.
Event details:
Come along to: •
find out more about the environmental work and projects being done along the Werribee River and Estuary and see water spilling over the Diversion Weir
When: Thursday 6 December 2012 Time:
11.00am- 1.00pm - formalities to begin at 11.30
Where: Werribee Diversion Weir, Werribee River Historical Park, Heaths Road Wyndham Vale RSVP:
Adam Miller - adam.miller@vewh.vic.gov.au by Tuesday 4 December
Watering recap Southern Victoria
Snowy system1 Where - Release from Jindabyne Dam into the Snowy River. When - Began mid September and ended mid October 2012. What/how much - Targeted a spring fresh with a peak flow rate of 10,000 ML a day for three days. The entire release totalled 79,600 ML. Why - Scour built up silt and mud and rejuvenate the bed of the Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam. Who - New South Wales Government, Snowy Hyrdo Limited. The VEWH holds water entitlements in trust for the Snowy program , a joint initiative with the New South Wales and Commonwealth governments. Decisions about the preferred environmental water releases for the Snowy are made by the New South Wales Ministerial Corporation, on recommendation of the Snowy Scientific Committee. The VEWH does not have a direct role in planning for or delivering this water. 1
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Thomson system Where - Release from Thomson Dam into the Thomson River.
Juvenile Australian grayling from the Thomson river Source - West Gippsland CMA
When - Began early October and will continue until the end of November 2012. What/how much - Targeting minimum spring baseflows of 230 ML a day. Why - Encourage the recruitment of juvenile Australian grayling into the Thomson River. Who - West Gippsland CMA, Melbourne Water.
Werribee system Where - Release from Lake Merrimu into the Werribee River.
Werribee River Source - Melbourne Water
When - Began mid October and will continue until the start of November 2012. What/how much - Targeting a baseflow of 10 ML a day for 14 days. Why - Extend winter/spring baseflows to maintain and improve black bream habitat in the estuary. Who - Melbourne Water, Southern Rural Water.
Western Victoria
Glenelg system Where - Release from Rocklands Reservoir into the Glenelg River. When Baseflows - Began in early June and will continue into November 2012. Spring fresh - Began and ended in October 2012. What/how much Baseflows -Targeting winter baseflows of 150 ML a day at Harrow. Spring fresh - Targeted spring fresh of 450 ML a day for 10 days at Harrow. Why Baseflows - Provide connections for fish movement and to inundate low areas along the river bank (channel margins) and low islands (bars) to promote
Release from 5 Mile Outlet, Glenelg River Source - Glenelg Hopkins CMA
the growth of shrubs, reeds and trees. Spring fresh - Maintain deep pools, prevent choking of the main channel by vegetation and encourage plant growth along the edge of the river. Who - Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Grampians-Wimmera-Mallee Water.
Wimmera system Where Wimmera River - Release from Lake Lonsdale via Mt William Creek, and Taylors Lake into the Wimmera River. MacKenzie River and lower Burnt Creek - Release from Lake Wartook and Moora Reservoir into the MacKenzie River and lower Burnt Creek.
Wimmera River near Jeparit Museum Source - Wimmera CMA
When All flows - Began in early June and will continue into November 2012. What/how much Wimmera River - Targeting winter/spring baseflows of 37 ML a day and winter/ spring freshes of up to 334 ML a day upstream of Dimboola gauge. MacKenzie River - Targeting winter/spring baseflows of 20-80 ML a day and winter/spring freshes of up to 80 ML a day at MacKenzie Creek reserve gauge. Lower Burnt Creek - Targeting winter/spring baseflows of 2-10 ML a day at the outfall into lower Burnt Creek. Why Wimmera River - Maintain water quality and habitat for fish including the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act-listed freshwater catfish. MacKenzie River and lower Burnt Creek - Maintain water quality, habitat, vegetation communities and connectivity for fish and macroinvertebrates. Who - Wimmera CMA, Grampians-Wimmera-Mallee Water.
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Northern Victoria
Goulburn system Where - Releases from Goulburn Weir into the Goulburn River. When Baseflows - Began September, continuing into December 2012. Spring fresh - Began and ended in September 2012. What/how much Baseflows - Targeting winter/spring baseflows of 830 ML a day at Goulburn Weir. Spring fresh - Targeted a spring fresh of 5,600 ML a day for two days at Goulburn Weir.
Why Baseflows - Provide improved habitat for native fish and macroinvertebrates. Spring fresh - Trigger breeding of golden perch and move fine sediment from the stream bed to improve macroinvertebrate habitat. Water will then be used for to help meet environmental objectives in South Australia. Who - Goulburn Broken CMA, Commonwealth Environmental Water, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Goulburn-Murray Water.
Broken system (lower Broken Creek) Where - Release from the Murray and Goulburn systems into Broken Creek.
Lower Broken Creek Source - Goulburn Broken CMA
When - Began September and will continue into December 2012. What/how much - Targeting spring/summer high flows of 250 ML a day at Rices Weir. Why - Increase habitat for fish during their migration and breeding season and minimise risks to fish from low dissolved oxygen levels. Who - Goulburn Broken CMA, Commonwealth Environmental Water, GoulburnMurray Water.
Campapse system Where - Release from Lake Eppalock into the Campaspe River.
Campaspe River at Cox Reserve Source - North Central CMA
When - Began in October and will continue into November 2012. What/how much - Targeting low flows of 125 ML a day at Lake Eppalock. When passing flow volumes from Lake Eppalock decline due to reduced inflows, Commonwealth environmental water will be used to maintain low flows at the targeted rate. Why - Improve in-stream habitat and food sources for macroinvertebrates. Who - North Central CMA, Commonwealth Environmental Water, Goulburn-Murray Water.
Loddon system Where - Release from Loddon Weir into the Loddon River. When - Began and ended in October 2012. What/how much - Targeted winter low flows of 100 ML a day downstream of Loddon Weir. Why - Trigger fish movement, flush organic material and water riparian vegetation in the lower reaches of the river. Who - North Central CMA, Commonwealth Environmental Water, Goulburn-Murray Water.
Northern wetlands and floodplains and the Living Murray icon sites Where - Release through Gunbower Creek. When - Began in early July 2012 will continue throughout the year. What/how much - Consumptive water is being delivered through the creek, en route to water users by Goulburn-Murray Water, with any additional use in the Creek being underwritten with a combination of Commonwealth, Living Murray and Victorian environmental water. Why - Provide habitat refuge, spawning and recruitment for fish. Who - North Central CMA, Commonwealth Environmental Water, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Goulburn-Murray Water.
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Where - Barmah Forest.
CSIRO collecting water from the River Murray Source - CSIRO
When - End of October 2012. What/how much - 4,000 litres (0.004 ML) pumped from the River Murray. Why - The CSIRO are conducting an experiement to inform the management of any new Giant Rush invasions at Barmah-Millewa Forest. Specifically, they will be testing the effects of flooding on plant height/age; submergence duration and depth. Who - Goulburn Broken CMA, CSIRO, Goulburn-Murray Water.
Where - Release from the River Murray into Round Lake.
Murray hardyhead at Round Lake Source - North Central CMA
When - Began and finished in October 2012. What/how much - Top-up watering of 124 ML over 14 days. Why - Maintain habitat for Murray hardyhead. Who - North Central CMA, Goulburn-Murray Water.
Where - Release from the River Murray into McDonalds Swamp. When - Began in late October and will continue to late November 2012. A top-up volume will be delivered at the end of November
McDonalds Swamp Source - North Central CMA
What/how much - Filling flows totalling 900 ML. Why - Provide habitat for waterbird species including great egrets and royal spoonbills, and support wetland vegetation. Who - North Central CMA, Goulburn-Murray Water.
Where - Release from the River Murray into Richardson’s Lagoon.
Richardson’s Lagoon Source - North Central CMA
When - Began in late October and will continue into December 2012. What/how much - Pumping filling flows of 1,200 ML. Why - Provide habitat for waterbird species including great egrets and royal spoonbills, and support wetland vegetation. Who - North Central CMA, Goulburn-Murray Water.
Seven facts about the Murray hardyhead
Murray hardyhead
1. Adult Murray hardyheads grow to between 70 and 75 mm in length. 2. They have a silvery to golden body, with a paler silvery sheen on their belly and a silvery black stripe along their side. The two dorsal (back) fins are quite small and low, and the tail fin is forked. 3. Individuals live for a maximum of 18 months, so they must breed every year for the species to survive. 4. Murray hardyhead can survive in quite saline environments but prefer slightly brackish water (slightly saltier than the sea) to quite saline (almost half as salty as the sea). 5. Murray hardyhead are omnivorous, eating very small crustaceans, some aquatic insects and small amounts of algae. 6. In Victoria, the species is considered extinct at nine of the 13 historical sites. Round Lake and Cardross Basin 1 are two of the remaining historic populations. Up until recently
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Woorinen North Lake maintained a Murray Hardyhead population; however, annual surveys have been unable to confirm the species presence since May 2010. Two additional populations have also been established - one translocated to Lake Koorlong and another discovered at Lake Kelly following the 2011 floods. To date Round Lake is considered the only stable Murray Hardyhead population in the Kerang region. 7. The Murray hardyhead is listed as threatened (critically endangered) in Victoria. Information sourced from the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, North Central CMA, and the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
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