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Water for the Rivers Seasonal Watering Plan for Environmental Flows for Rivers in 2020-21

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Water for the Rivers Seasonal Watering Plan for Environmental Flows for Rivers in 2020-21 Water for the rivers Seasonal watering plan for environmental flows for rivers in 2020-21 Thomson Macalister We’re delivering coordinated flows across all systems for fish and estuary benefits. 1 35 GL 21.8 GL These West Gippsland rivers provide important breeding grounds for migratory fish like grayling, tupong Latrobe 34.5 GL 20.4 GL and Australian bass. Recent bushfires in The Seasonal Watering Proposal East Gippsland mean its more important than ever to deliver targeted fish flows tells the story of what flows we’re 22 GL 3 freshes planning for the river over the 4 freshes to support healthy fish populations. coming year. We can’t give specific 15.2 GL3 dates because we adapt our flows to 2 baseflows seasonal conditions using ongoing 2 baseflows monitoring and the best available science A We work closely with storage M v 4 freshes a o to make the best use of every drop for n c operators including Southern a R l i i the benefit of the river. v s e Rural Water, Melbourne Water. t e r Thomson r Dam R iv As needed e r T h o m Lake T a s Glenmaggie Our flows are designed to support n o j i n l target species – like grayling, R R Heyfield i i L v v a e Wetlands e t r tupong and bass – but they support r r o b life in and around the river. e Maffra R iv e Blue Rock Heyfield r Lake Sale Heart Gippsland Morass Common Lake Lakes Lake Wellington Narracan Latrobe River Sale Moe Dowd Traralgon Morass Expected water Planned water Number of Number of System available in 2020-211 usage2 freshes baseflows Morwell Thomson 35 GL 34.5 GL 4 freshes 2 baseflows Thorpdale LEGEND Macalister 21.8 GL 20.4 GL 3 freshes 2 baseflows Macalister Irrigation Latrobe 22 GL 15.2 GL3 4 freshes Baseflows if District M needed o r w Native vegetation e l Register here to receive 1 l Figures based on average expected inflows throughout the year and climate conditions, R i v Roads e notifications of our upcoming and may change (see full plan for more detailed info on climate and flow delivery scenarios) r 2 Unless provided naturally environmental flow releases Unregulated rivers 3 6.8 GL water carried over for next year Regulated rivers LEGEND M Macalister River | JA Our watering actions are designed to help support BER NUA T EM RY Thomson River C these environmental values E D S UM L Latrobe River M | MER E Fish – Helping native fish to spawn, migrate and SUM R | LY AR Fresh E have healthy populations; resident and estuary fish F E and eel populations B Baseflow R R E U B A Macroinvertebrates – Support and improve the M R E Y bugs that fish and other animals rely on V O Spring-Autumn fresh T L N Spring-Summer baseflow M Allows fish and fauna to move to other L A Birds, turtles, frogs and reptiles – Help breeding T | habitats in the drier season, and flushes pools Provides connection between E G and habitat for frogs, turtles, birds and reptiles habitats & freshwater to wetlands S N U | I M R M P E Platypus and rakali – Support platypus and rakali S R M (water rat) habitat A R R E Spring fresh M C B H Vegetation – Support condition of riparian veg and Flow trigger for upstream O M T Autumn fresh in-stream veg; control invasive plants T Watering G migration of adults and Triggers grayling to migrate C N I juvenile fish O downstream to spawn R actions to P Geomorphology –Maintain or improve the physical S form of the rivers and improve habitat | support the | Connectivity – Provide freshwater to connect T Autumn-Winter fresh estuaries and wetlands; support connections Winter-Spring fresh T environment Recruit juvenile native fish from Triggers tupong and bass to between habitats A R estuary (especially grayling) migrate year round E Water quality – Avoid poor water quality P A B R conditions, including managing salinity in the U I M L T E estuary, algal blooms, low dissolved oxygen etc. U T M P A N U E Critical Watering – Provide critical watering to T S T Winter-Spring baseflow U avoid catastrophic conditions M Autumn-Winter baseflow M Connects habitats to allow fish and N | Provides passage for migration fauna to move, and helps recruits | juvenile grayling and tupong G N I R Please supply a heading for the chart below P Winter fresh M S - M T E Flow trigger for downstream R S A P U Y migration of fish (tupong and Overbank G U bass) A Winter R Bankfull E T /Spring N I | W I N T R W E Fresh | Summer For more information /Autumn J U Y N visit wgcma.vic.gov.au L Fresh E U J | Flow volume Winter /Spring Summer/Autumn Baseflow Baseflow Example of a river cross section J F M A M J J A S O N D.
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