The Loddon River will receive a significant boost this winter with the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) releasing environmental water to the Loddon River, downstream of Loddon Weir.

The environmental water is Commonwealth environmental water and will be released by the CMA in partnership with the Department of Sustainability and Environment and Goulburn-Murray Water.

North Central CMA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Damian Wells said that while increased rainfall across the catchment during summer had resulted in devastating flooding in some areas, it also provided important high flows to the Loddon River for the first time in a number of years.

‘We acknowledge the negative impact flooding has had, and continues to have on local communities, while also recognising that the high summer rainfall has gone a long way to revive the Loddon River after years of low flows.

“This environmental water release, commencing in early June, will complement those natural flows experienced over summer and help to further rejuvenate the river and provide environmental benefits to riverside vegetation and native plants and animals that depend upon a healthy river system.” 

Mr Wells confirmed that in line with the scientific environmental flow recommendations, 100 megalitres per day will be released to the Loddon during winter and may be followed up with intermittent higher flows of up to 750 megalitres per day later in the year. 

Mr Wells was quick to stress that the environmental water release will not cause flooding along the Loddon River. 

”This is a small environmental water release.  The flow and the planned intermittent higher flows will be monitored closely and will be stopped immediately in the event of significant rainfall or should catchment storages commence to spill again.”

“Residents with land adjoining the Loddon River will notice very little change in river flows from the last few months, during which Goulburn-Murray Water operations maintained flows of this magnitude in the river”

The environmental water release is part of the annual environmental watering plan for the Loddon River, which has been developed by the North Central CMA in partnership with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, DPI Fisheries, Goulburn-Murray Water and community representatives.

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