October environmental water flows

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October environmental water update

Posted on 21 October, 2013 - GBCMA

The Living Murray Program environmental water, provided through the Goulburn River, is supplying water to the Hattah Lakes near Mildura. Without rain, the Goulburn River flow will average 1,300 ML/ day from now to the end of November. These flows will also provide the desirable minimum flow through the lower Goulburn (930 ML/day at McCoys Bridge), and will be varied over the period around this average flow rate.

Two flow pulses are being planned for November and December in the Goulburn River from Goulburn Weir to the Murray River. These aim to encourage breeding of Golden perch as there hasn't been a successful breeding event in the last 12 years. Under dry conditions, flows could be raised up to 8,500 ML/ day for a day or two. One pulse will fall slower and last longer, aiming to allow time for the water to seep into the river banks to provide water for vegetation on the lower banks. This vegetation is important to encourage as it was lost during the 2010/11 floods and is only slowly returning. Flows could be different if wet conditions are occurring at the time.

Commonwealth environmental water continues to be delivered in the lower Broken Creek. Fish ladders are open to allow fish movement along the creek, and flows are now being increased to 250 ML/day at Rices Weir to provide better fish habitat all along the creek during the important fish migration and breeding season. Flows are being provided by diverting water from the Murray and Goulburn rivers to the creek through Goulburn-Murray Water's channel systems.