The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and Goulburn-Murray Water will be using water that is being delivered to irrigators on the Murray system to help provide a freshening environmental flow for the lower Campaspe River downstream of the Campaspe Siphon near Rochester. This Inter-Valley transfer commenced earlier this season as an option to ensure limited water resources achieve the maximum possible benefits for the region without impacting on irrigator's allocations.

"The freshening flow provides some relief to this section of the Campaspe River using water en route to Murray system irrigators - it's a good outcome for all of our regions water users in times of scarce water supplies," said North Central CMA River Health Manager, Brad Drust.

The water is allocated to the Murray System following water trades from the Goulburn to the Murray system and will flow via the lower Campaspe to reach its destination downstream.

The current flow down the river is being increased on a temporary basis for approximately 2 weeks to mimic a summer freshening flow that would occur after a summer storm. This 'fresh' will be in line with the scientific environmental flow recommendations for the Campaspe River and will help maintain good quality water in the river for its fish populations.

At present all other environmental flows in the Campaspe system have ceased due to the current water shortage.

The North Central CMA, in conjunction with G-MW, DSE, DPI Fisheries, EPA and Coliban Water, has developed a plan to manage environmental risks within the Campaspe River during times of such limited water supply. Delivering intermittent flushes as per the environmental flow recommendations are a part of the plan and similar actions have been undertaken in previous years.

G-MW and the North Central CMA will continue to monitor the water quality of the Campaspe system.

For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au