Victorian Environmental Water Holder
Edition 9, January, February and March 2013 watering actions
Welcome to the latest edition of the Victorian Environmental Water Holder’s (VEWH) Watering Update. This edition includes an update of environmental watering actions that happened across Victoria in January, February and March 2013. 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, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, 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. In office news, Mike Jensz has left the VEWH to pursue opportunities at the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries as Project Manager - Goulburn-Murray Water connections. We thank Mike for his hard work, dedication and commitment during his time working in environmental water management at the VEWH and prior to that at the Department of Sustainability and Environment. We wish Mike well in his new endeavours. Header image - Dragonfly on Lignum, Keith Ward, Goulburn Broken CMA.
Watering recap Southern Victoria
Lower Latrobe wetlands Where - Diversion from the Latrobe River into Dowd Morass. When - Began and ended in March 2013. What/how much - Partial wetting flows. Actual volume cannot be measured and is determined by river heights. Why - To prolong the availability of shallow water habitat for wetland species, particularly waterbirds. Who - West Gippsland CMA.
Dowd Morass Source - VEWH
Yarra system Where - Release from Maroondah and Upper Yarra reservoirs into the Yarra River.
Yarra River Source - Melbourne Water
When - Two events, one in early January and one in late February 2013. What/how much - Targeted summer fresh of between 200 ML and 750 ML a day for two to three days per event. Why - To improve water quality and increase the availability of habitat for fish and macroinvertebrate communities between Upper Yarra Reservoir and Dights Falls. Who - Melbourne Water.
Tarago system Where - Release from Tarago Reservoir into the Tarago River.
Tarago Reservoir Source - Melbourne Water
When - Began and ended in March 2013. What/how much - Targeted a summer fresh of 100 ML a day for four days. Why - To improve the quality and connectivity of habitat for native fish species in the lower Tarago River. Who - Melbourne Water.
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Werribee system Where - Release from Lake Merrimu into Coimadai Creek, and Melton Reservoir into the Werribee River. When Summer fresh - Began and ended in February 2013. Autumn fresh - Began and ended in March 2013.
Coimadai Creek before and after the fresh Source - Melbourne Water
What/how much Summer fresh - Targeted 5 ML a day for 10 days. Autumn fresh - Targeted 100 ML a day for three days. Why Summer fresh - To provide habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates. Autumn low flows - To allow fish to migrate between freshwater reaches and the estuary, and to improve water quality in the lower reaches. Who - Melbourne Water, Southern Rural Water.
Barwon system Where - Diversion into Hospital Swamps from the lower Barwon River. When - The inlet to Hospital Swamps was opened in early March and closed in mid-March 2013. What/how much - Filling flows. Actual volume cannot be measured and is determined by river heights. Why - A short period of increased flows in the Barwon River was a trigger to provide spring inflows to the wetland to maintain a diverse range of plant communities, provide habitat for waterbirds, and maintain the healthy condition of the wetland. Who - Corangamite CMA.
Moorabool system Where - Release from Lal Lal Reservoir into the Moorabool River.
Moorabool River Source - Corangamite CMA
When Summer freshes - The first fresh began in mid-January and ended in early February; the second fresh began and ended in March 2013. Summer low flows - Began in late March and will continue to May 2013. What/how much Summer freshes - Both freshes targeted 31 ML a day for 10 days. Summer low flows - Targeting an average flow of 20 ML a day when combined with natural flows. Why Summer freshes - To maintain appropriate fish habitat and stimulate recruitment, and to maintain riffle habitat for macroinvertebrates. Summer low flows - To maintain water quality for water-dependent animal species including river blackfish. Who - Corangamite CMA, Barwon Water.
Western Victoria
Glenelg system Where - Release from Rocklands Reservoir into the Glenelg River. When Summer/autumn baseflows - Began in December 2012 and will continue until June 2013. Summer/autumn freshes - Two freshes have occurred during January to March 2013. What/how much Summer/autumn baseflows - Targeting 16 ML a day at Dergholm. Summer/autumn freshes - Targeted 77 ML a day for seven days at Dergholm. Why - Improve water quality and maintain habitat for fish and other aquatic species. Who - Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Grampians-Wimmera-Mallee Water.
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Wimmera River at Antwerp Source - Wimmera CMA
Wimmera system Where Wimmera River - Release from Taylors Lake into the Wimmera River. MacKenzie River - Release from Lake Wartook and Moora Reservoir into the MacKenzie River. When -Summer/autumn baseflows began in December 2012 and will continue to June 2013. A fresh was delivered to the Wimmera River in early March 2013.
What/how much Wimmera River - Summer/autumn baseflows targeting 5 ML a day at the Dimboola gauge. A summer fresh was delivered in early March, targeting flows of 20 ML per day for seven days. MacKenzie River - Targeted summer/autumn baseflows targeting 2 ML a day at Dad and Dave Regulator, with a cease to flow implemented in late February. A fresh commenced in late February, targeting flows of 5 ML a day for seven days. Why Wimmera River - To maintain water quality and habitat for fish including the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act-listed freshwater catfish. MacKenzie River - To maintain water quality and vegetation communities as well as connectivity and habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates. Who - Wimmera CMA, Grampians-Wimmera-Mallee Water.
Wimmera-Mallee wetlands Where - Beulah Weir Pool, Bull Swamp, Morton Plains Reserve, Roselyn Wetland and Sawpit Swamp.
Sawpit Swamp Source - VEWH
When - Water was released into each wetland for varying time-frames during January to March 2013. What/how much - Barbers Swamp: 15 ML; Beulah Weir Pool: 50 ML; Bull Swamp: 25 ML; Morton Plains Reserve: 16 ML; Roselyn Wetland: 20 ML; Sawpit Swamp: 20 ML. Why - To inundate wetland vegetation to improve the condition of the wetlands; provide aquatic habitat for water-dependent species; and provide watering points for animals that live in the adjoining bushland. Who - Mallee CMA, Wimmera CMA, Grampians-Wimmera-Mallee Water.
Northern Victoria
Goulburn system Where - Releases from Goulburn Weir into the Goulburn River. When Summer/autumn low flows - Began in December 2012 and ended in February 2013. Summer/autumn fresh - Began and ended in February 2013. Elevated baseflows - Began in February and will continue as needed into 2013. What/how much Summer/autumn low flows - Targeted low flows of 940 ML a day below the Goulburn Weir. Summer/autumn fresh - Targeted 3,800 ML a day for two days. Elevated basesflows - Maintained a variable level averaging 2,000 ML a day.
Why Summer/autumn low flows - To maintain pool depth and maximise fish habitat. Summer/autumn fresh - To improve water quality. Elevated baseflows - To provide flows for use downstream of the Goulburn to meet South Australian demands. Who - Goulburn Broken CMA, Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Goulburn-Murray Water.
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Campaspe system Where - Release from Lake Eppalock into the Campaspe River.
Campaspe River Source - North Central CMA
When Summer/autumn low flows - Began in December 2012 and will continue to May 2013. Summer/autumn freshes - Began in February and ended in March 2013. What/how much Summer/autumn low flows - Targeted low flows of 20 ML a day at the Campaspe Siphon. Summer/autumn freshes - Targeted 100 ML a day for six days each. Why Summer/autumn low flows - To maintain water quality, aquatic vegetation and habitat for macroinvertebrates and fish. Summer/Autumn fresh - To maintain riparian and in-channel vegetation, provide opportunity for native fish movement, flush pools and sediment build up off snag habitat. Who - North Central CMA, Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, Goulburn-Murray Water.
Loddon system Where - Release from Loddon Weir into the Loddon River.
Loddon River Source - North Central CMA
When Summer/autumn low flows - Began in December 2012 and will continue to April. 2013. Summer/Autumn freshes - Began and ended in February 2013. What/how much Summer/autumn low flows - Targeted low flows of 25 ML a day below Loddon Weir. Summer/Autumn freshes - Targeted 100 ML a day for ten days. Why Summer/autumn low flows - To improve instream habitat and food sources for macroinvertebrates. Summer/Autumn freshes - To improve water quality. Who - North Central CMA, Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, Goulburn-Murray Water.
Northern wetlands and floodplains and the Living Murray icon sites Where - Cardross Basin 1. When - Intermittent delivery through January to April 2013. What/how much - Regular flows to maintain water and salinity levels in wetland (up to 1,000 ML total water use for whole year). Why - To provide habitat for Murray hardyhead. Who - Mallee CMA.
Where - Round Lake. When - Intermittent delivery from January to March 2013.
Round Lake Source - North Central CMA
What/how much - Regular flows to maintain water and salinity levels in wetland (up to 600 ML total water use for whole year). Why - To provide habitat for Murray hardyhead. Who - North Central CMA.
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