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Murray-Darling Basin
Commission – August 2007, E-letter No 69
Welcome to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission monthly e-letter with reports of happenings across the Basin. Contributions are welcome. Please send items (no more than 250 words) to the editor at sam.leone@mdbc.gov.au An online html version is available at: www.mdbc.gov.au/communications/s-scribe/eletter_menu Please feel free to pass this e-letter along to anybody who might be interested. To subscribe online go tohttp://mdbc.gov.au/communications/s-scribe To be removed from the mailing list, please reply to this message with “unsubscribe” in the subject heading. This month this newsletter
has 1403 subscribers.
Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik AM said the next operation, to be carried out over the next few months, would be at Lake Mulwala in New South Wales. “The level of the Lake will be gradually lowered below the normal minimum operating level of 124.6 m (AHD), by up to 1 metre. This lowering will take place over the coming weeks. “The lower Lake level will enable future high inflows from the Ovens and Kiewa Rivers to be re-regulated within the lake, so that releases from the Lake can be maintained as far as possible at rates within the river’s channel capacity downstream. “This operation will minimise water losses downstream by avoiding as far as possible overbank flows. It will increase the volume of water that can be later captured in Lake Victoria further downstream. “During the next few months, the lake level can be expected to fluctuate within the range of 123.6 to 125.15 m (AHD) while water availability remains low. “When the situation improves, lake levels will be returned to the normal operating range of 124.6 to 125.15 m,” Dr Craik said. The level of Euston Weir (Lock 15) will be partially lowered from early August to reduce evaporation losses as part of a series of water saving measures being implemented throughout the Murray River system. Lake Benanee and Dry Lake are connected to the Euston Weir pool. Evaporation from these lakes is normally re-supplied from the River Murray. The water level of Euston Weir pool will be gradually lowered to 30 cm below the Full Supply Level (FSL) from early August and will be maintained at that level until the end of September unless inflows improve substantially. If inflows are low over the next few months the Euston Weir pool level will be further lowered at a rate similar to the rate of evaporation. However, it is more likely that inflows will improve sufficiently to return to normal operating levels. “In effect, evaporation losses from Dry Lake and Lake Benanee will not be replaced by water from the River Murray until water availability improves sufficiently,” Dr Craik said. “The combined annual evaporation loss at Dry Lake and Lake Benanee is about 25 GL, which is about half of the annual water requirements of all NSW and Victorian towns supplied from the Murray and Edward Rivers.” Dr Craik said water will be made available to refill Dry Lake and Lake Benanee once the NSW High Security allocation reached 97% (maximum), or earlier if sufficient unregulated flows became available. “Refilling will greatly depend on rainfall and river flows over the coming months.” Lowering the Euston Weir pool is part of the drought contingency planning measures to reduce evaporation losses and hence increase water availability during this critical period. Although Euston Weir pool has been lowered often in the past, the effects of the drawdown will be monitored. River diverters, boat skippers and other river users are advised that they should take into account the lower weir pool levels in their activities. The level of the Torrumbarry Weir pool will be gradually lowered below the full supply level of 86.05 m AHD by up to 40 cm from Monday 6 August. The lower weir pool level will enable future peak flows along the River Murray or inflows from the Goulburn River to be partially captured, so that the releases from the weir can be maintained as far as possible at flow rates that can be later diverted into Lake Victoria further downstream. During the next few months the level of Torrumbarry Weir pool can be expected to fluctuate within the range of 85.65 and 86.05 m (AHD) as high flow events are partially captured and then later released. Further advice will be provided in late August if further lowering of the Euston Weir pool becomes necessary. See www.mdbc.gov.au/rmw/river_information_centre. New $5.7 million
fishways for Edward River system announced
The announcement was recently made in a joint statement by the Chairman of the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull and the NSW Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water, the Hon Phil Koperberg MP. Mr Turnbull, who is also Australian Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, said the structures were now at the design stage and were scheduled to be completed in three years’ time. “I am pleased to announce that the funds are being made available through the Murray-Darling Basin Commission’s Living Murray program and Native Fish Strategy – a visionary program which aims to restore native fish populations to 60 per cent of their estimated pre-European settlement levels within 50 years,” Mr Turnbull said. Edward River is part of the Edward-Wakool anabranch system of the Murray River in NSW. The new fishways will be located at Stevens Weir downstream of Deniliquin and the Edward River Offtake Regulator near Mathoura. “The Edward River system is important to the Barmah-Millewa forest – one of the six major ‘icon sites’ targeted for environmental improvement under The Living Murray program,” Mr Turnbull said. “The new fishways will help restore migratory native fish populations and help them access off-river habitats in the Barmah-Millewa forest. The passage will also provide a link between the Ramsar listed ecosystems of the Werai and Barmah-Millewa forests.” Mr Koperberg welcomed the funding of the fishways by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and said ownership and operation of the Stephens Weir and its new fishway would remain with the NSW Government, consistent with The Living Murray water arrangements. “The two weirs are the only barriers to fish migration in the 380 km of the Edward River,” he said. “Adding the new fishways will enhance passage for native fish for the 1350 km of river between Hume Dam and Lock 11 at Mildura.” Mr Turnbull said the new fishways would complement the “Sea to Hume” fish passage program and the fishways already built at Locks 7, 8, 9, 10, 15 and the barrages near the Murray Mouth. Work has begun on a fishway at Lock 1 at Blanchetown in South Australia. Media contacts:
MDBC
RiverHealth organiser is PM’s Environmentalist of the Year
The Murray-Darling Basin has been the major sponsor for the RiverHealth Conference since it began in 1999. It forms part of the MDBC's wide range of environmental education activities in the Basin. The Banksia Environmental Foundation, established in 1989, is a national not-for-profit organisation that promotes environmental excellence and sustainability through its Awards program and other associated events. The Banksia Environmental Awards are regarded as the most prestigious environmental awards in Australia. The Banksia Environmental Foundation also organises the Prime Minister's Environmentalist of the Year Award and is in partnership with other environmental and sustainability awards. The Foundation said Arron Wood's International RiverHealth Conference had inspired a generation to become involved in environmental education. “His events are viewed with the same excitement as a Rock Eisteddfod, no mean feat when considering the early image of environmental education among younger people,” a media release said. “With massive program expansion, international uptake and unprecedented media coverage (in 2004 alone a half hour Channel Seven special and ABC Australian Story have profiled Arron and the program), the River Health Program is cutting edge.” This year the conference will be held in Canberra and has already sold out participant places to more than 700 students and teachers from around the Australia and the from overseas. The River Health Program is an initiative which culminates in a bi-annual student-run River Health Conference at which students present workshops to their peers on environmental issues researched over a six month period with industry mentors. The program, which involves year five to 11 students and their teachers around Australia, and internationally, is striking for the level of student involvement in the design and delivery of conference topics. This is the first and only kids teaching kids environmental event in Australia. This is Australia's opportunity to lead environmental education worldwide through the kids teaching kids concept. In 2001 Arron was named the
Young Australian of the Year in the environmental
For more information on the Banksia Foundation Awards go to http://www.banksiafdn.com/ For more information on the MDBC RiverHealth Conference go to www.onelifeoneworldourfuture.com Ovens trout
cod beat drought and bushfires
“Despite a cease to flow event in the lower Ovens due to the drought and sediment from post fire run-off, the trout cod and Murray cod populations appear to have come through ok,” Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Glen Johnson said recently. “Their survival is most likely due to the good health of the lower Ovens River,” he said. “The abundant native vegetation would have provided shading to stop the pools heating up too much and there are lots of large woody snags that would have provided shelter from predators.” Part of the lower Ovens River is a demonstration reach, showcasing the benefits to both native fish and the riverine environment of addressing several problems simultaneously, under the MDBC's Native Fish Strategy During the past decade about 300,000 Trout Cod fingerlings have been released into the Ovens River to re-establish a natural population. The restocking and monitoring program, funded by the National Heritage Trust, is a key action of the National Recovery Plan for the species. DSE’s Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (ARI) has undertaken the works with the support of the North East Catchment Management Authority. ARI is a leading centre for applied ecological research, with an emphasis on flora, fauna and biodiversity issues. Institute Fish Ecologist, Jarod Lyon, said recent surveys had confirmed that the stocking program had been successful in establishing an adult population of the critically endangered species. “Early results show that there are many Trout Cod in the Ovens River, especially below Wangaratta, and that some of these fish are successfully breeding,” he said. “Later this year researchers will be collecting more critical information about the species to gain a better understanding of growth rates and spawning maturity and patterns.” The project is using fish otoliths, earbones of fish which have rings like a tree, to age fish and determine the proportion of hatchery reared and naturally spawned fish. Once fairly wide-spread in north-eastern streams flowing into the Murray River, the Trout Cod is listed as critically endangered under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. Anglers who mistakenly catch a Trout Cod are being urged to the help survey team by recording information about the fish prior to its release. Information including the size, timing and location of the catch, can be reported by phoning DSE’s Trout Cod Information line on 1800 134 093. For more information on trout cod visit www.dse.vic.gov.au or phone the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186. Training to help
land managers
Education Officer Col Easton urges anybody interested in undertaking training of any type to help them manage water, landscape and natural ecosystems to contact him. He says an example of good training is an advanced course in grazing management to be run from August 6 to 9 by Resource Consulting Services in Tamworth. “This is an intensive 4-day course on the principles and practices of cell grazing including how to design, manage and control a grazing cell,” Col says. “The course will show how to tap into the combined knowledge of the group and summarise the collective experience of graziers throughout Australia.” Normally costing $1750, Namoi CMA is able to offer a significant contribution toward the course for people from the Namoi catchment to attend. For more information go
to http://www.rcs.au.com/index.html
or contact Col Easton on 6764 6819.
Free forum
explores climate change in western NSW
Organised by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Lower Murray-Darling & Western Catchment Management Authorities the forum will explore topics such as:
(NSW DPI). The Murray-Darling Basin Commission sees climate change as one of the major future risks to shared water resources. The Commission is a major supporter of, and chairs the South Eastern Australian Climate Initiative (SEACI). For more information call (02) 6391 3902 or download an information flyer at http://www.western.cma.nsw.gov.au/pdf/Bhill_Climate_Change_Forum.pdf Landholders
wanted for invasive native scrub demo sites
The catchment management authority has committed $140,000 to establish sites in the Walgett, Broken Hill, Bourke and Cobar districts. Landholders will be paid
$5 for every $1 they contribute to establish the site, manage
The sites, which will be monitored over 20 years, will demonstrate best practice management of invasive native scrub. Managing invasive native scrub is essential to encouraging native grasses and restoring balance in the landscape. It results in improved water, vegetation and soil health and protects the variety of plants and animals in the Catchment. Western CMA Catchment Coordinator,
Karen Kneipp, says information gained from the
“The sites will be a realistic and practical demonstration of how invasive native scrub can be managed on land that is representative of each of the districts,” Ms Kneipp said. Interested landholders should apply to the Western Catchment Management Authority before 31 August. More information, funding guidelines and expression of interest forms are available at Western CMA offices or go to www.western.cma.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 032 101. Improving biodiversity,
water quality for Murrumbidgee River
Funded through Australian and NSW Governments the activity is projected to cost $50,000. The project at Hay’s Sandy Point / Bushy Bend Reserve will see a community reserve undergo much needed stream-bank stabilisation with native tree revegetation. “Protecting endangered native vegetation including River Red Gum and Black Box communities will boost biodiversity in the area by providing native habitat,” said Murrumbidgee CMA Chair, Mr Lee O’Brien. “Stabilising and revegetating banks will alleviate the erosion causing established trees to fall into, and pollute, the Murrumbidgee River. “The construction of three interlinked wetlands will help filter stormwater run-off from the Hay Township.” For more information go to www.murrumbidgee.cma.nsw.gov.au/ Tackling urban
salinity in Cootamundra
The project will help the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and Cootamundra Shire Council identify management actions needed to alleviate the effects of salinity on urban infrastructure. The project has received $155,000 the Australian National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, with Cootamundra Shire Council contributing $35,000 of in-kind support. Urban salinity is caused by rising watertables resulting from clearing vegetation, over watering of parks and gardens and leaking sewerage and drainage pipes, said Lee O’Brien, Chair of the Murrumbidgee CMA Board. “Cootamundra Shire Council have proven to be progressive and very enthusiastic when addressing the issues of urban salinity on an operational, strategic and monitoring level,” said Mr Lee O’Brien. Cootamundra Shire Council
staff recently took part in an urban salinity training workshop for Local
Government, conducted by the Murrumbidgee CMA and Earth Tech.
They learnt about the causes of urban salinity, the effects of salinity and high groundwater tables on infrastructure (roads, buildings and parks), methods of sampling the groundwater monitoring bores, and salinity management strategies. The Murrumbidgee CMA has formed partnerships with 12 local councils across the Murrumbidgee catchment to tackle urban salinity. For more information go to http://www.murrumbidgee.cma.nsw.gov.au/ Catchment kids
watch out for salt
“We had 45 students and moe than 10 teachers and parent helpers come together at the Richards Campground for a day of Saltwatch related activities and presentations,” said North Central CMA’s Waterwatch Facilitator, Melanie Barrot. “What made this event so unique was that it involved students from three different CMA regions getting together on a patch of common ground that bordered each CMA’s region.” The forum, organised by Waterwatch Facilitators from North Central CMA, Wimmera CMA and Glenelg-Hopkins CMA, brought together students from Tarnagulla Primary School grades 3-6, Elmhurst Primary School grades 3-6 and Maroona Primary School grades 3-6. “Salinity is a national environmental issue that affects agricultural and urban areas alike and large areas of land throughout Central Victoria are already affected by the problem. “Having students come together at the border of their three regions gave them the opportunity to share their respective thoughts and ideas on catchment based environmental issues such as salinity,” said Melanie. “Each school shared their own Saltwatch presentation, joined in some interesting activities including discovering more about aquatic macroinvertebrates (water bugs), learnt about forest animals and insect food webs (how and what the feed on), as well as a walk through the forest.” Depending on feedback, the CMA is exploring how this type of forum could become an annual event. For more information go to http://www.nccma.vic.gov.au/ ends
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