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Your local representatives
The Edward-Wakool Environmental Water Reference Group provides a local voice in the use of Commonwealth environmental water in the Edward-Wakool River system. Members include local community, landholders and representatives from angling groups, irrigation peak bodies, indigenous groups and state government agencies. Your local members are: Troy Bright, Jeanette Crew, Jeremy Morton, Roseanne Farrant, John Lolicato, Peter McDonald, Rick Webster and Roger Knight.
Above: Reference Group members, CEWO and Murray LLS staff discussing the movement of flows through the Edward-Wakool River system. Photo by Linda Duffy.
2017-18 Commonwealth environmental water: what’s happening in the Edward-Wakool River system
In 2017-18, the Reference Group will continue to work with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) and other partners to build the health of the Edward-Wakool River system by using water to:
improve and create areas of habitat that native fish, such as Murray cod, can move into and spawn
maintain the growth and health of native water plants including common reed, pondweed and milfoil, to provide habitat for animals like water bugs that are a food source for small and juvenile native fish
provide freshes that slow down the rate at which flows recede, so that native aquatic animals such as shrimp and gudgeon don’t get stranded, and to provide benefits to native water plants.
deliver flows that improve water quality, including dissolved oxygen levels, as required and when feasible.
What river flows are expected?
Water has been used in early September to provide (within operational requirements) a gradual recession after a natural high flow period in the Yallakool-Wakool and Colligen-Niemur systems. Flows currently planned for the remainder of 2017-18 include:
Upper Wakool River: up to 70 ML/day from early September to October, December and March-April.
Yallakool Creek : up to 530 ML/day from early September to October, up to 480 ML/day in December and up to 380ML/day in March-April. Not exceeding 600ML/day in the Wakool River downstream of the confluence with the Yallakool Creek
Colligen Creek-Niemur River: up to 400 ML/day from early September, up to 300ML/d in December and up to 350 ML/day in April-May.
The Niemur River after the period of higher natural flows in early September and prior to the use of water to provide a gradual decrease in flows. Photo by Jeremy Morton.
How is Commonwealth environmental water monitored?
The outcomes of environmental watering are carefully monitored through the Edward-Wakool Long Term Intervention Monitoring Project, led by Charles Sturt University. More information is available online by searching for: CSU Edward-Wakool LTIM Project.
Who do you contact?
For more information on Commonwealth environmental watering please contact Damian McRae on [email protected] or 02 6274 2524. You can also visit the CEWO website at www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo and follow us on twitter @theCEWH.
