VICTORIAN ENVIRONMENTAL WATER HOLDER
Watering Update
Edition 11: July to September 2013
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 from July to September.
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 managers and land managers to deliver environmental water. A full list of VEWH Water Holdings is available in the Seasonal Watering Plan 2013-14 and at www.vewh.vic.gov.au. If you have any feedback, or wish to subscribe to this update, please email kate.newton@vewh.vic.gov.au. Pictured: regional reference map of systems.
Congratulations!
Glenelg-Hopkins CMA has earned Australia’s biggest environmental award, the Riverprize award, in recognition of their Glenelg River Restoration Project.
Northern Region Northern wetlands and floodplains
Where Round Lake, Brickworks Billabong, Cardross Lakes and Lake Koorlong When Intermittent delivery throughout season What/how much Top-up flow of up to 600 ML throughout season Why To maintain water and salinity levels in wetland suitable for Murray hardyhead, to provide waterbird habitat Who North Central CMA, Goulburn-Murray Water, and Mallee CMA
Where Release from the River Murray into Hird and McDonalds Swamp
The Living Murray icon sites
When Began in late September 2013 and continues up to early December 2013
When Began July 2013 and continues throughout the year
What/how much Filling flows totalling 2,000 ML (Hird) and 1,000 ML (McDonalds)
What/how much Consumptive water is being delivered through Gunbower Creek, with any losses being met using water made available by the Commonwealth
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 through Gunbower Creek
Why Provide habitat refuge, spawning and recruitment for fish Who North Central CMA, Goulburn-Murray Water, Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
Campaspe River at Avonmore by NCCMA
w w w. v e w h . v i c . g o v. a u
Page 1 of 3
Where Mulcra Island
Who North Central CMA, Goulburn-Murray Water
When Began early August 2013 and continues to October 2013
Campaspe system
What/how much Consumptive water is being used to inundate the Mulcra Island floodplain, with any losses incurred being met using water made available by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Why Increase the diversity, extent and abundance of wetland vegetation Who Mallee CMA, Murray-Darling Basin Authority
Loddon system Where Release from Loddon Weir into the Loddon River When Began May 2013 and continues to October What/how much Targeting 100 ML/day low flows Why To improve instream habitat, food sources for macroinvertebrates, channel form and reduce encroachment of terrestrial vegetation
Where Release from Lake Eppalock into the Campaspe River When September 2013 What/how much Spring fresh targeted up to 1,500 ML/day for four days Why Stimulate fish movement and spawning opportunities Who North Central CMA, Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, Goulburn-Murray Water
Goulburn system Where Releases from Goulburn Weir into the Goulburn River When Began July 2013 and continues to November What/how much Targeting winter/spring baseflows of up to 500 ML per day at Murchison and/or 540 ML per day at McCoy Bridge
Why Provide habitat and food resources for fish and macroinvertebrates Who Goulburn Broken CMA, Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Goulburn-Murray Water
Lower Broken Creek Where Release from the Murray and Goulburn systems into lower Broken Creek When Began August 2013 (low flows); spring/ summer high flows commenced September, continuing to December What/how much Targeting low flow rates of 40 ML/day at Rices Weir; spring/summer high flows targeting 250 ML/day at Rices Weir Why Provide native fish passage; 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 Office, Goulburn-Murray Water, Murray-Darling Basin Authority
Wimmera River by WCMA
w w w. v e w h . v i c . g o v. a u
Page 2 of 3
Western Region Wimmera system
Wimmera-Mallee wetlands
Where
Where Sawpit Swamp, Barbers Swamp, and Roselyn Wetland
Wimmera River - Release from Lake Lonsdale via Mt William Creek, and Taylors Lake into the Wimmera River MacKenzie River - Release from Lake Wartook into the MacKenzie River Distribution Heads Weir via Moora Channel to the MacKenzie River and Burnt Creek
When Water will be released into each wetland for varying timeframes throughout 2013-14 What/how much Sawpit Swamp: 50 ML
When All flows began in early June and will continue into November 2013
Barbers Swamp: 15 ML
What/how much
Why To improve the condition of wetland vegetation; provide aquatic habitat for water-dependent species; and provide watering points for animals that live in the adjoining bushland
Wimmera River - Targeting winter/spring baseflows of 18 ML a day downstream of Dimboola MacKenzie River - Targeting winter/spring baseflows of 10 ML/day and freshes of 35 ML/day at MacKenzie Creek reserve gauge Burnt Creek - Targeting a fresh flow of up to 45 ML/day
Roselyn Wetland: 20 ML
Who Mallee CMA, Wimmera CMA, Grampians-Wimmera-Mallee Water
Why Wimmera River - To maintain water quality and habitat for fish including the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act-listed freshwater catfish
Glenelg system
MacKenzie River and Burnt Creek - To maintain water quality, habitat, vegetation communities and connectivity for fish and macroinvertebrates
When Began in early June and will continue, as required, into November 2013
Where Rocklands Reservoir into the Glenelg River
What/how much Targeting winter/spring baseflows of 100 ML a day at Harrow, when not met by natural flows Why To provide connections for fish movement and to inundate low areas along the river bank (channel margins) and low islands (bars) to promote the growth of shrubs, reeds and trees Who Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Grampians-Wimmera-Mallee Water
Central Region
Lower Barwon Wetlands Where Reedy Lake When Year round
What/how much Keep inlet to wetland open and outlet from wetland closed to maintain water level in wetland with natural variation resulting from changes in river flows
Who Wimmera CMA, Grampians-Wimmera-Mallee Water
Glenelg River release at 5 Mile Outlet by GHCMA
w w w. v e w h . v i c . g o v. a u
Page 3 of 3
Why Promote waterbird breeding opportunities, promote fish breeding and recruitment opportunities, promote the growth of fish and improve conditions for migration and dispersal of fish between the river, lake and estuary Who Corangamite CMA Where Hospital Swamps When Winter, spring and summer What/how much Keep inlet open to wetland to maintain water level in wetland over winter, spring and summer (June to December 2013) Why Stimulate fish and waterbird breeding, allow fish to colonise from river, allow soil and surface water salts accumulated over summer to be diluted over winter, promote and sustain growth of important wetland vegetation communities, create habitat and invertebrate populations, initiate decomposition of organic matter on the wetland bed.
Gippsland Region Macalister system
Where Lake Glenmaggie release to Macalister River When From May to July 2013 What/how much Autumn/winter baseflows targeted 140 ML/day at Maffra Weir Why Maintain self-sustaining populations of flathead gudgeon, southern pygmy perch, Australian smelt, short-finned eel and tupong; restore self-sustaining populations of long-finned eel, Australian grayling and river blackfish Who West Gippsland CMA, Southern Rural Water
Who Corangamite CMA
Macalister River by WGCMA
w w w. v e w h . v i c . g o v. a u
Page 4 of 4