Environmental watering in the Loddon River
Photo: Loddon River from Hox bridge ©North East CMA
Environmental watering 2012-13
16 July 2012 - Loddon River
Up to 2,745.5 ML of Commonwealth environmental water has been made available for use in the Loddon River in northern Victoria during 2012-13.
Photo: Loddon River ©North East CMA
Commonwealth environmental water will be used to contribute to supporting variable flows throughout the 2012-13 water year. High priority watering actions targeted include winter/spring base flows between July and October 2012, and a 'spring fresh' planned between September and November 2012. The enhancement of these flows will:
- Support a range of native aquatic species, particularly through enabling native fish movement and improvements to macro-invertebrate habitat.
- Ensure the maintenance of native vegetation within riparian communities is sustained in a healthy, dynamic and resilient condition.
- Support key ecosystem functions, particularly those related to connectivity along the river.
This watering action will be managed in cooperation with the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, Goulburn-Murray Water and the North Central Catchment Management Authority.
What makes this place so special and why Commonwealth environmental water is used here?
- It includes a diverse range of endangered plants and animals, including river swamp wallaby grass, Macquarie perch, plains wanderer and the golden sun moth
- it supports habitat for a number of waterbirds listed under migratory agreements, including the white-bellied sea eagle
- it provides breeding habitat for fish species such as the Murray cod
- it supports important vegetation including remnant river red gums.
Environmental watering 2011-12
8 March 2012 - Loddon River
The watering action in the Loddon River was completed on 22 October 2011.
22 October 2011 - Loddon River
Up to 2 GL of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered to the Loddon River from 8 June 2011.
The purpose of this action was to support vegetation health and maintain water quality. The action did this by providing a winter-spring baseflow that:
- maintained in-stream and riparian vegetation and contributed to vegetation condition
- reduced encroachment by terrestrial vegetation
- improved water quality.
The watering action was managed in cooperation with the Victorian Environmental Water Holder and the North Central Catchment Management Authority.