Flows at Torrumbarry are likely to peak between 18,000 and 20,000 Ml/day. This could see water reaching parts of the floodplains between Torrumbarry and Euston, including at Nyah-Vinifera, Poon Boon Lakes and the Murrumbidgee Junction Wetlands.
The last time mid-Murray wetlands were connected was in October 2021, when a combination of environmental flows (from the Goulburn River) and naturally high inflows, saw the Murray River peak at 24,500 Ml/day at Torrumbarry, a Commonwealth Environmental Water Office spokesperson said.
The current Goulburn flow — which was expected to peak around 9000 to 9500 Ml/day (at Shepparton) in late July/early August — will combine with the Murray flows and eventually natural inflows from the Murrumbidgee River to provide benefits down the length of the Murray.
Regional agency staff will work with the community to confirm where the water goes, which will help water managers understand how well environmental flows can reach wetlands and floodplains in these areas under current operating limits.
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Hilton Taylor said by co-ordinating environmental flows with natural inflows across multiple valleys “we get the biggest bang from every drop”.
“That said, there is more to be done,” he said.
“Operating rules can limit our ability to deliver environmental flows to reconnect rivers with their floodplains — this is why measures to relax constraints and undertake environmental works under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan are so important.”
The Victorian Environmental Water Holder said benefits of water from the Goulburn River below Torrumbarry Weir should be seen from late July.
“We know when rivers are connected to wetlands and floodplains, plants, animals and people living along rivers can thrive because our rivers are healthy,” VEWH co-chief executive officer Sarina Loo said.
“Floodplains are a major food source for rivers, creating important outcomes for our native fish as we saw in 2021,” Dr Loo said.
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