Environmental watering in Lower Broken Creek
Photo: Broken Creek at Numurkah ©Mattinbgn, Flickr
Environmental watering 2012-13
2 July 2012 – Lower Broken Creek
Up to 59,000 ML of Commonwealth environmental water has been made available for use in the lower Broken Creek in Victoria during 2012-13.
Commonwealth environmental water will be used to contribute to enhancing the baseflows in the lower Broken Creek from August 2012 and May 2013. The enhancement of these flows will:
Gum trees line Broken Creek ©MDBA Photographer: David Kleinert
- Facilitate fish movement through the fishway at Rices Weir
- Maintain native fish habitat, particularly during fish migration and breeding seasons (by maintaining optimal levels of dissolved oxygen and restricting excessive aquatic plant growth), and
- Contribute to increased flows to the lower River Murray channel, Lower Lakes and Coorong for the purpose of maintaining aquatic habitat, supporting targeted lake levels, barrage releases and flows through the barrage fishways.
This watering action will be managed in cooperation with the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, Goulburn-Murray Water, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority and the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.
What makes this place so special and why Commonwealth Environmental Water is used here?
- It contains native fish populations, particularly Murray cod, and riparian plant species of conservation significance in a greatly modified landscape.
- It also complements the habitat and biodiversity values of nearby systems such as the Lower Goulburn River and the Murray River.
Environmental watering 2011-12
31 May 2012 – Update to watering action
Commonwealth environmental water delivery re-commenced 3 May 2012 after extended flood flows subsided. The action was completed on 15 May 2012 in line with the end of the irrigation season.
14 March 2012 – Update to watering action
Commonwealth water was suspended due to the large amount of rainfall in the catchment on 27 February 2012.
23 December 2011 – Lower Broken Creek
Up to 30 GL of Commonwealth environmental water has been made available for use in the lower Broken Creek in Victoria during 2011-12. Commonwealth environmental water will be used to contribute to enhancing the baseflows in the lower Broken Creek from December 2011 to May 2012. The enhancement of these flows will support native fish habitat, particularly for large-bodied species such as the nationally vulnerable Murray cod, by:
- Maintaining water quality and dissolved oxygen levels
- Providing flows for fish passage through fishways
- Providing connectivity for fish passage between the lower Broken Creek and the Murray River.
This watering action will be managed in cooperation with the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, Goulburn-Murray Water and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.