While August’s rain helped boost storages across the region, the existence of Lake Eppalock meant the lower Campaspe missed out on most of the benefits.
“More than 100,000 megalitres of water flowed into Lake Eppalock since the start of August, very little of it reaching the downstream section of the waterway,” North Central Catchment Management Authority environmental flows project manager Darren White said.
“While the Campaspe benefited from inflows from tributaries downstream of Lake Eppalock, it didn’t get as much as it should have.”
A spring fresh flow beginning the week of September 14 will help set the waterway up for a bumper spring.
“August’s flows were a good start to the season but backing them up with a spring fresh environmental flow will mean a great start,” Mr White said.
“It will provide yet another boost to our thriving native fish species, create amazing conditions in the lead-up to breeding season.
“The flow will also be a great fillip for platypus and the important aquatic vegetation that is the basis of the food chain.”
The flow will stay well within the banks of the river as it travels to the Murray River.
The flow complements CMA activities undertaken over the past decade, including delivering stock fencing, off-stream watering, weed control and revegetation incentives to restore high-quality riparian vegetation corridors that are resistant to flood-related channel change such as riverbed and bank erosion.
