Arthur Rylah Institute staff monitoring Campaspe River bank health.
The health of the Campaspe River continues to improve, with the latest monitoring by catchment authorities pointing to a continued restoration from the 2022 floods.
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The one-in-500-year floods damaged parts of the Campaspe downstream of Lake Eppalock, stripping bank and aquatic vegetation and impacting fish populations.
Since then, the North Central Catchment Management Authority has been working with Goulburn-Murray Water and the Victorian Environmental Water Holder to slowly make things better.
“We have been really happy with how things have been progressing since 2022,” North Central CMA environmental flows project manager Darren White said.
“Our water for the environment program is making a difference, and the latest monitoring data from the Arthur Rylah Institute shows that trend has continued.”
Monitoring has recorded higher numbers of the vulnerable golden perch, and critically endangered silver perch were captured just below Lake Eppalock for the first time.
Murray cod numbers were also recorded along all reaches, with numbers much higher than last year.
Adult trout cod were also recorded in surveys for the first time, and small-bodied-fish numbers have also increased.
“Importantly, carp numbers have dropped,” Mr White said.
“On the vegetation side of things, we have seen significant recovery on the river’s lower banks since 2022.
“Red gums that recruited after the floods have persisted and matured, and the data is telling us aquatic species are abundant with only limited long-term flood impacts.
“Overall bank health is also on the improve, with the recovery of vegetation in the lower sections.”
Arthur Rylah Insitute staff monitoring the Campaspe River using a drone.
Restoration of the river is set to continue when the yearly autumn/winter low flows begin in June.
Between 100 and 200 megalitres a day will flow from Eppalock until November.
“Our region’s rivers and everything that relies on them to survive have evolved with regular flows at this time of the year,” Mr White said.
“These environmental flows will be well within the banks of the river. The Campaspe’s banks can hold between 9000 and 11,000 megalitres a day.
“The water will provide the right conditions for everything from fish to vegetation, water bugs, and platypuses.
“Delivering the right amount of water at the right time is a key step in protecting our waterways in the face of climate change across the region.”
The flow is authorised by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder in line with its Seasonal Watering Plan.
The plan is available for download from vewh.vic.gov.au with regular watering updates posted on the North Central CMA website nccma.vic.gov.au
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