Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority environmental water and wetlands manager Simon Casanelia said the annual water release was referred to as the Goulburn River spring fresh and was expected to run from about September 13 to October 12.
“Environmental water will greatly benefit native vegetation by wetting the river’s banks and then receding, encouraging new growth,” Mr Casanelia said.
“Establishing the bank vegetation is a high priority. Without this vegetation growth in spring, the bank would stay bare and be more prone to damage.”
This delivery of water for the environment helps long-term stabilisation of the riverbank, as native grasses, sedges, rushes and flood-tolerant native species will grow and thrive at this time of year. The roots of the plants help stabilise the bank.
The timing of the fresh is similar to last year’s spring fresh, which proved successful for vegetation establishment.
Mr Casanelia said this delivery of water for the environment would also increase habitat and food resources for native fish such as Murray cod, trout cod and golden perch, platypus and waterbugs.
“Because fish are more actively migrating and spawning in spring, there is great value in the spring fresh, even with the high winter flows we’ve had,” he said.
Water for the environment is water allocated and managed to improve the health of rivers, wetlands and floodplains. Use is adapted based on climatic conditions, water availability and ecological needs.
Decisions about using water for the environment are based on science, including research by river ecologists and long-term environmental monitoring.
Environmental flows are planned by the Goulburn Broken CMA in consultation with the local community, river ecologists, Goulburn-Murray Water, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
The spring fresh is expected to benefit the whole length of the Goulburn River downstream of Lake Eildon. Flow will gradually increase to about 9300ML/day at Trawool and Shepparton before slowly dropping back to about 1000ML/day in mid-October.
Peak flows will be well below minor flood levels along the Goulburn River. At Trawool the river will reach 2.3m — the minor flood level is 4m.
At Shepparton the river will reach 5.6m — the minor flood level is 9.5m. Timing and height of the fresh may vary depending on natural flows in the river. Delivery of water for the environment will reduce or stop if there is any flood risk.
To check how water for the environment changes flows in the Lower Goulburn, view the hydrograph on Goulburn Broken CMA’s website: fchmccoys.hydronet.com (updated weekly).
The flows are authorised by the VEWH in line with its Seasonal Watering Plan 2025-26. The plan is available for download from vewh.vic.gov.au, with regular watering updates posted on the Goulburn Broken CMA website, gbcma.vic.gov.au
Learn more about about the Goulburn River and Northern Victorian Tributaries at tinyurl.com/yd676nvv
Up to 125GL of environmental water will be used to deliver the spring fresh. Unregulated flows and irrigation water delivered to the Murray River may contribute to the spring fresh and reduce the volume of environmental water used. The environmental water used to deliver the spring fresh will also be used to meet Gunbower Forest and South Australia environmental water needs.
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