Goulburn Valley water makes a long journey with big results

Known as an autumn fresh, the coordinated water delivery released 80 gigalitres of water, which travelled down the Goulburn River throughout March and April, sustaining native plants and helping native fish, including golden perch and silver perch, move into the river. 

Flows then entered the River Murray, boosting flows and supporting river health during a dry time. Approximately 60 gigalitres eventually flowed into the Lower Lakes and through to the Coorong, making a big difference by:

• creating fresher water improved conditions after a long, hot summer
• reducing salt levels in the northern Coorong by 35 parts per thousand from the start of March to the end of April.

In the Lower Lakes, the flow protected wetland habitat from drying, benefiting frogs, waterbirds, native fish (including the Yarra pygmy perch) and culturally important species such as thukabi (freshwater turtles) and kultawarri (yabbies).

The water also helped the Coorong mudflats used as feeding grounds for shorebirds such as oystercatchers and avocets. Fresh water helped support the worms, crustaceans and molluscs that live in the mudflats and are a vital food source for the birds.

At the Murray Mouth, the fresh water helped protect the Meeting of the Waters registered heritage site. This place is very important to the Ngarrindjeri people. 

This autumn fresh shows how water released to benefit an upstream valley, can also help Country and communities far downstream. Careful planning and strong teamwork made these local and Basin-wide benefits possible. 

Planning for the Goulburn environmental flows occurred through extensive collaboration between the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Goulburn–Murray Water, Murray–Darling Basin Authority, SA Water, South Australian Department for Environment and Water, Victorian Environmental Water Holder, Traditional Owners, local communities and river ecologists.