Campaspe catchment
Legend
Ramsar site
DIWA site
| Security | Registered entitlements (ML) | Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) |
|---|---|---|
| High* | 6,547 | 6,219 |
| Low | 395 | 194 |
| Total | 6,942 | 6,413 |
* This includes 30 ML of entitlement in the Coliban River system. This entitlement was obtained as part of the Murray-Darling Basin Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant Package. It is not possible to trade this entitlement out of the Coliban system for use in the wider Campaspe system or for use in the connecting Murray River.
For more information regarding the characteristics of entitlements and the water resource plan held in the Campaspe catchment please refer to Victoria's Department of Environment and Primary Industries
| Security | Registered entitlements (ML) | Long Term Average Annual Yield (ML) |
|---|---|---|
| High | 575,105 | 541,103 |
| General/Low | 508,090 | 365,466 |
| Conveyance | 8,886 | 8,238 |
| Supplementary | 20,876 | 2,956 |
| Total | 1,112,957 | 917,763 |
*Water allocations in southern-connected Basin catchments can, with some restrictions, be traded to other catchments in the southern-connected Basin. This gives the Commonwealth the capacity to move water between catchments of the southern-connected Basin to get the best outcomes for the environment.
Planning for 2013-14
Commonwealth environmental water use options 2013-14: Victorian Rivers identifies potential Commonwealth environmental watering actions for 2013-14. Decisions on using Commonwealth environmental water will be made throughout the year based on seasonal, operational and management considerations. If you wish to provide suggestions for Commonwealth environmental water use please contact us at ewater@environment.gov.au or send us your suggestion by visiting: Your suggestions for potential water use options.
Environmental watering in the catchment in 2012-13
| Watering action | Status of Commonwealth action |
|---|---|
| Campaspe River | Completed |
A summary of Commonwealth environmental watering from previous years in the Campaspe is included below. For further information about Commonwealth environmental watering in the Campaspe catchment and the outcomes achieved, please refer to the Commonwealth environmental water Outcomes Reports and Annual Reports.
Water availability and portfolio management
The Campaspe catchment is part of the northern Victorian rivers system which includes the Goulburn, Broken, Campaspe, Loddon and Ovens rivers and Broken Creek.
Portfolio management statements for the northern Victorian rivers provide information on the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office's approach to the management of Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the catchment. The portfolio management statement identifies the type and amount of entitlements held, the forecast of water available and the proposed approach to trading, carryover and use of the water.
Environmental watering in the catchment in previous years
| Watering action | Amount of water delivered (ML) | Status of action |
|---|---|---|
| Campaspe River | 6 532 | Completed |
| Total in 2011-12 | 6 532 |
| Watering action | Amount of water delivered (ML) | Status of action |
|---|---|---|
| Campaspe River | 2 140 | Completed |
| Total in 2010-11 | 2 140 |
Catchment profile
Where is it?
The Campaspe catchment, located in north-central Victoria, is based around the Campaspe River and its major tributary, the Coliban River. Other significant tributaries include the Axe, McIvor, Mt Pleasant, Forest, Wild Duck and Pipers Creeks. The Campaspe River originates in the Great Dividing Range near Trentham. It flows for 150 km before joining the Murray River at Echuca.
The total area of the Campaspe catchment is 4,279 km2. Major townships include Echuca, Rochester, Elmore, Heathcote, Bendigo and Kyneton.
What makes this place so special?
The Campaspe catchment is an ecologically significant area because it:
- includes flora and fauna of national, regional and local conservation significance including the Murray cod and the trout cod
- supports populations of the iconic platypus
- provides important ecological links to the Murray River by enabling species to travel between the two river systems
- provides important refugia for species in times of drought, including pools at the Campaspe Siphon and Campaspe Weir.
What does the latest science say about the ecological health of the catchment?
The Sustainable Rivers Audit (SRA), coordinated by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, provides scientifically robust assessments of the ecological health of the Basin's river valleys. The overall ecosystem health of the Campaspe catchment as reported by the SRA is summarised below.
| SRA Report | Overall ecosystem health of catchment |
|---|---|
| SRA 1 (based on data collected from 2004 to 2007) | Very poor |
| SRA 2 (based on data collected from 2008 to 2010) | Very poor |
The CSIRO Sustainable Yields Report for the Campaspe indicated that the current level of surface water extraction in the region is high, with 36 per cent of average available water being diverted for use. Under the best estimate 2030 climate conditions, average surface water availability would reduce by 16 per cent and diversions by 5 per cent. It should be noted that the boundaries of the Campaspe catchment as defined in this report do differ slightly to the catchment area defined on this webpage.
Environmental water delivery references
Environmental Water Delivery: Campaspe River collates current knowledge of the operational and administrative arrangements for the delivery of environmental water to the Campaspe River. The document provides an overview of the environmental assets and potential environmental water use options. This work has been undertaken to support the efficient and effective use of environmental water and to engage communities on how this may best be achieved. This aims to encourage community discussion and feedback on the use of environmental water, to identify future opportunities and recognise operational risks and constraints. Comments on the document are encouraged and can be provided to: ewater@environment.gov.au