MELBOURNE Mildura LEGEND Existing Weirs Weirs Upgraded Existing Fishways New Fishways Environmental Regulator Existing Regulators New Regulators New Embankments New Channel Floodplain Chowilla Bridges ADELAIDE To Wentworth To
d oa R th r o w t n VICTORIA
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0 SOUTH AUSTRALIA To Renmark To Schematic diagram of the proposed Chowilla Floodplain water management structures. water Floodplain Chowilla of the proposed Schematic diagram Planned works on the Chowilla Floodplain
About The Living Murray The floodplain environment is undergoing a severe decline The regulator incorporates fish passage for large, medium due to the reduction in the frequency of flooding from the and small-bodied native fish. Smaller ancillary structures on The Living Murray is one of Australia’s largest river Murray River and impact of highly saline groundwater. Woolshed Creek and Chowilla Island, along with blocking banks, restoration programs, a major step towards ensuring that This has resulted in the death of long-lived vegetation, and a channel to the Chowilla Island Loop Wetland will assist the Murray is a healthy working river into the future. rising soil salinity and decreased breeding opportunities for with managing flows while the regulator is operating. Chowilla Floodplain is one of six sites along the Murray River floodplain fauna. Floods that naturally occurred about 45 Further complementary work includes upgrading the weirs that have been identified as priority ‘icon sites’ under The times in 100 years now occur about 12 times in 100 years. on Pipeclay and Slaney creeks to enhance environmental flow Living Murray program. It is part of the Riverland Ramsar The Living Murray project for the Chowilla Floodplain aims to management and provide fish passage; replacing Bank E with a wetland of international importance and a National Parks reverse this decline by enabling inundation of large areas of rock ramp fishway; and replacing the Boat Creek bridge, and Wildlife Service game reserve. the floodplain at frequencies more like the natural conditions to improve access and fish passage. Under The Living Murray, a program of works is being under which plants and animals have evolved. developed at the icon sites to make sure that environmental Progress to date water, recovered as part of The Living Murray, is used Planned works efficiently and ecological benefits are maintained. Construction of the Chowilla Creek environmental regulator The Chowilla Floodplain project involves constructing a began in January 2010. High flows during 2010–11 and 2011–12 The Living Murray is a joint initiative funded by the New major environmental regulator on the Chowilla Creek and a meant that work had to stop, resulting in significant delays to South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, Australian Capital range of complementary works. The environmental regulator the project. Completion of the project is now scheduled for 2014. Territory and Commonwealth governments, coordinated by will allow flows to be managed to enable flooding across the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. the floodplain under relatively low river flow conditions. Rigorous environmental assessments have been completed. It consists of 12 concrete piers and removable stop logs. Operating strategies and a comprehensive monitoring program, funded by The Living Murray, are being developed to The Chowilla Floodplain All stop logs will be removed when the regulator is not in operation so that flow and fish passage will not be impeded. maximise the environmental benefits and manage potential The Chowilla Floodplain covers 17,750 ha, mostly in South risks. Ecological experts have concluded the project is realistic Constructing a major environmental regulator on Chowilla Creek Australia and also extending into New South Wales. The regulator is being designed specifically for and viable, offering substantial and achievable environmental will help to reverse the decline in the health of the Chowilla It contains wetlands and flowing waterways in a semi-arid environmental management and will enable inundation of benefits to the floodplain. Learnings from the project will also Floodplain. (Photo by Ben Dyer, Murray–Darling Basin Authority) environment and retains much of the natural character of 30–50% of the floodplain depending on flow conditions. help to inform the development of the Basin Plan. the area. The floodplain is recognised for its high diversity It will be operational for only three to four months, on of both terrestrial and aquatic habitats and supports average one year in three. The design also ensures The program of works has been developed recognising that, populations of rare, endangered and nationally listed continuous flow through the creek is maintained with climate change predictions, future Murray River flows are threatened species and many sites of Aboriginal and during operation. unlikely to be sufficient to protect the values of the site, so European cultural significance. large-scale intervention is necessary. Community support for this major undertaking is essential.
Operation of the regulator will complement the natural flooding regime. Although it cannot recreate all the features of a natural flood, it will provide great benefits and help to ensure that the significant values of the icon site are maintained for future generations.
Further information
The Living Murray State Partnerships Coordinator (SA) Department for Water GPO Box 2834, ADELAIDE SA 5001
Ph: (08) 8453 7615
For more information on The Living Murray visit the Murray–Darling Basin Authority website: www.mdba.gov.au/programs/tlm. Floods that naturally occurred about 45 times in 100 years now Future Murray River flows are unlikely to be sufficient to protect the values of Chowilla Floodplain without intervention. (Photo by Erin Lenon, only occur about 12 times in 100 years. (Photo by Erin Lenon, Department for Water, South Australia) February 2012 Department for Water South Australia) Planned works on the Chowilla Floodplain
About The Living Murray The floodplain environment is undergoing a severe decline The regulator incorporates fish passage for large, medium due to the reduction in the frequency of flooding from the and small-bodied native fish. Smaller ancillary structures on The Living Murray is one of Australia’s largest river Murray River and impact of highly saline groundwater. Woolshed Creek and Chowilla Island, along with blocking banks, restoration programs, a major step towards ensuring that This has resulted in the death of long-lived vegetation, and a channel to the Chowilla Island Loop Wetland will assist the Murray is a healthy working river into the future. rising soil salinity and decreased breeding opportunities for with managing flows while the regulator is operating. Chowilla Floodplain is one of six sites along the Murray River floodplain fauna. Floods that naturally occurred about 45 Further complementary work includes upgrading the weirs that have been identified as priority ‘icon sites’ under The times in 100 years now occur about 12 times in 100 years. on Pipeclay and Slaney creeks to enhance environmental flow Living Murray program. It is part of the Riverland Ramsar The Living Murray project for the Chowilla Floodplain aims to management and provide fish passage; replacing Bank E with a wetland of international importance and a National Parks reverse this decline by enabling inundation of large areas of rock ramp fishway; and replacing the Boat Creek bridge, and Wildlife Service game reserve. the floodplain at frequencies more like the natural conditions to improve access and fish passage. Under The Living Murray, a program of works is being under which plants and animals have evolved. developed at the icon sites to make sure that environmental Progress to date water, recovered as part of The Living Murray, is used Planned works efficiently and ecological benefits are maintained. Construction of the Chowilla Creek environmental regulator The Chowilla Floodplain project involves constructing a began in January 2010. High flows during 2010–11 and 2011–12 The Living Murray is a joint initiative funded by the New major environmental regulator on the Chowilla Creek and a meant that work had to stop, resulting in significant delays to South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, Australian Capital range of complementary works. The environmental regulator the project. Completion of the project is now scheduled for 2014. Territory and Commonwealth governments, coordinated by will allow flows to be managed to enable flooding across the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. the floodplain under relatively low river flow conditions. Rigorous environmental assessments have been completed. It consists of 12 concrete piers and removable stop logs. Operating strategies and a comprehensive monitoring program, funded by The Living Murray, are being developed to The Chowilla Floodplain All stop logs will be removed when the regulator is not in operation so that flow and fish passage will not be impeded. maximise the environmental benefits and manage potential The Chowilla Floodplain covers 17,750 ha, mostly in South risks. Ecological experts have concluded the project is realistic Constructing a major environmental regulator on Chowilla Creek Australia and also extending into New South Wales. The regulator is being designed specifically for and viable, offering substantial and achievable environmental will help to reverse the decline in the health of the Chowilla It contains wetlands and flowing waterways in a semi-arid environmental management and will enable inundation of benefits to the floodplain. Learnings from the project will also Floodplain. (Photo by Ben Dyer, Murray–Darling Basin Authority) environment and retains much of the natural character of 30–50% of the floodplain depending on flow conditions. help to inform the development of the Basin Plan. the area. The floodplain is recognised for its high diversity It will be operational for only three to four months, on of both terrestrial and aquatic habitats and supports average one year in three. The design also ensures The program of works has been developed recognising that, populations of rare, endangered and nationally listed continuous flow through the creek is maintained with climate change predictions, future Murray River flows are threatened species and many sites of Aboriginal and during operation. unlikely to be sufficient to protect the values of the site, so European cultural significance. large-scale intervention is necessary. Community support for this major undertaking is essential.
Operation of the regulator will complement the natural flooding regime. Although it cannot recreate all the features of a natural flood, it will provide great benefits and help to ensure that the significant values of the icon site are maintained for future generations.
Further information
The Living Murray State Partnerships Coordinator (SA) Department for Water GPO Box 2834, ADELAIDE SA 5001
Ph: (08) 8453 7615
For more information on The Living Murray visit the Murray–Darling Basin Authority website: www.mdba.gov.au/programs/tlm. Floods that naturally occurred about 45 times in 100 years now Future Murray River flows are unlikely to be sufficient to protect the values of Chowilla Floodplain without intervention. (Photo by Erin Lenon, only occur about 12 times in 100 years. (Photo by Erin Lenon, Department for Water, South Australia) February 2012 Department for Water South Australia) MELBOURNE Mildura LEGEND Existing Weirs Weirs Upgraded Existing Fishways New Fishways Environmental Regulator Existing Regulators New Regulators New Embankments New Channel Floodplain Chowilla Bridges ADELAIDE To Wentworth To
d oa R th r o w t n VICTORIA
e
W
d
l
O
Tareena
k
e
e
r
C
t NEW SOUTH WALES l
a k
S e re Island C Hypurna Lake Lake Littra
d Lindsay Point Lindsay Island
Grand Grand a
Junction a
o rn R
u p h k
t e y
r e H o r
C
w t
h n
a e
k
Island W
n Punkah Lock 6 Lock
u R
P E
V k I e
e r R
C y R Island Island
e Y E n Chowilla Lake Lake a
Limbra
l V A S I
R
Island R
Slaney
d R Isle Isle a
of Man Y
o Island Chowilla Channel Loop & Regulator Chowilla Island Island Chowilla Channel Loop & Regulator
Chowilla Island Island Chowilla Regulator Loop Chowilla Island Island Chowilla Regulator Loop U R
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2 o
lay Ck R M
c h
R
e t r
p U i u
P M M
k C
t 1 a Coombool o (outstation)
B
kilometers The Living Murray Lock 6 Lock Swamp Coombool 0 Island
Monoman
k Creek Woolshed Southern Regulator
Woolshed Creek Woolshed Southern Regulator Woolshed Creek Woolshed Regulator Eastern Chowilla Creek Chowilla Environmental Regulator Creek Woolshed Regulator Eastern Planned works on the Chowilla Floodplain e
e
r
C Island
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Chowilla e
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C h a o l
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C
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W h s o l o
Murtho
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R 2 N
Chowilla h
t Homestead
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t kilometers
n
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W
0 SOUTH AUSTRALIA To Renmark To Schematic diagram of the proposed Chowilla Floodplain water management structures. water Floodplain Chowilla of the proposed Schematic diagram