The flow, provided from Lake Nillahcootie, is designed to improve habitat and food sources for native fish, platypus and water bugs in the Broken River.
Goulburn Broken CMA environmental water and wetlands manager Simon Casanelia said the water was referred to as the Broken River autumn fresh.
“This will be the third time an autumn fresh has been delivered in the Broken River using environmental water,” Mr Casanelia said.
“The fresh was last delivered in March 2023 and there is now sufficient water available to provide a similar flow for the river.”
He said deliveries of environmental water help promote the growth of in-stream and bank vegetation, maintain water quality and increase habitat for water bugs, platypus and native fish.
“The Broken River supports a diverse and abundant native fish population including Murray cod, Macquarie perch, golden perch, silver perch, Australian smelt, river blackfish, southern pygmy perch and Murray-Darling rainbowfish.
“The river also supports a healthy platypus population.”
The fresh started in the first week of April, and will take about 10 to 12 days to deliver.
It will have a peak magnitude of about 400 Ml/day which is expected to increase water levels by 30cm to 60cm.
Environmental flows are planned by the Goulburn Broken CMA in consultation with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, as well as Goulburn-Murray Water, which manages the releases of environmental flows from its storages.
Timing of environmental flows takes into consideration seasonal conditions, delivery orders by irrigators and other water users and feedback from the community via the Goulburn Broken CMA’s environmental water advisory groups.
For more information about river health, water for the environment and monitoring activities, got to: https://www.gbcma.vic.gov.au
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