A Review of the Existing Literature on the Environmental Effects of Wyangala Dam Adam Richardson Gavin Rees Darren Baldwin ….. August 2005 Murray–Darling Freshwater Research Centre P.O. Box 991 Wodonga VIC 3689 An MDFRC Consultancy Report for State Water P.O Box 3720 Parramatta NSW 2124 A Review of the Existing Literature on the Environmental Effects of Wyangala Dam A report prepared for State Water Corporation by the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre. For further information contact: Adam Richardson, Gavin Rees or Darren Baldwin Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre PO Box 991 Wodonga VIC 3689 Ph (02) 60582300 Fax (02) 60597531 e-mail:
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] August 2005 Disclaimer – The Murray-Darling Basin Commission and CSIRO Land and Water (Trustee and Centre Agent) as joint venture partners in the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre do not guarantee that this publication is without error of any kind, nor do they guarantee the information contained in this report will be appropriate in all instances and therefore, to the extent permitted by law, they exclude all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to, all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation arising directly or indirectly from using this report (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it. ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Lachlan Valley is one of the most important agricultural regions in Australia; it covers only 10% of New South Wales yet accounts for 14% of the state’s agricultural production. Lake Wyangala is the major water storage in the Lachlan Valley and is located downstream of the junction of the Abercrombie and Lachlan rivers, about 45 km south-west of Cowra.