Business as usual is returning for the animals and plants of the Campaspe River after the 2022 floods, with a summer fresh water for the environment flow beginning in the coming weeks.

As well as having devastating effects on towns and farmland, last year’s floods damaged some sections of the Campaspe River, stressing native fish, platypus, and rakali populations and altering the in-stream and riverbank vegetation they need to survive.

North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Environmental Flows Project Manager Darren White said assessments of the damage are ongoing.

“Immediately following floods, we see vegetation uprooted, erosion, and a lot of silt movement,” he said.

“Floods also decimate platypus puggles (babies), so it’s important we do what we can as soon as we can to return river flows to more normal levels for the adults.  

“Water for the environment is something we can do immediately to help the river settle into a new life after the flood and re-establish revegetation for the animals that rely on a healthy river to survive and thrive.”  

About 50 megalitres a day of water for environment has already been flowing down the Campaspe from the Eppalock dam since it stopped spilling last year, helping pools stay connected and keeping the water flowing.

“The Campaspe River has seen good quality water in the sections of the river not influenced by the Murray, creating a safe haven for native fish,” Mr White said. 

“In the next couple of weeks, we’ll up that flow to about 200ML a day for three days for our summer fresh, then bring it back down to 50ML a day. 

“That will wet the banks, help stabilise them, and promote further vegetation growth. It will also help the fish and platypus move safely up and down the river to find food and maintain water quality.”

This fresh will be the first of three through to May.

The Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) has authorised the flow in line with its Seasonal Watering Plan 2022-23. 

Updates of water deliveries will be posted on the North Central CMA’s website.

North Central CMA is also keen to hear from landholders in the area who have noticed damage done to local waterways and the assets built to protect them, such as fences or revegetation areas.

To register damage please go to www.bit.ly/cmarepair, call on 03 5448 7124. Or go to www.nccma.vic.gov.au