Lake Dartmouth Land and On-Water Management Plan 1 2016 Lake Dartmouth Land and On-Water Management 2 Lake Dartmouth Land and On-Water Management Plan Contents Executive Summary 4 Objectives of the Plan 5 Context 5 Vision 5 Lake Dartmouth 6 Lake Banimboola Regulating Pondage 6 Scope 6 Land Status 7 Legal Status 7 A Plan for the Management of Lake Dartmouth 8 Plan Implementation 8 Community Awareness and Involvement 8 Recreation and Tourism 10 Water Quality 13 Healthy Ecosystems 14 Appendices 17 Appendix A 17 Appendix B 18 Appendix C 19 Appendix D 26 3 Lake Dartmouth Land and On-Water Management used to regulate releases from the dam into the river Executive Summary downstream. The pondage wall is concrete and incorporates 3 sets of regulating gates, 3 penstocks Lake Dartmouth is located within the and a spillway. It has a hydroelectric power station, which has a maximum capacity of 12.5 MW. Both Mitta Mitta catchment downstream of the regulating pondage and the power station the confluence of the Mitta Mitta and are operated remotely or locally by AGL. Since Dart Rivers, approximately 24 km east construction, access to the pondage foreshore has of Mitta Mitta in north-east Victoria. The been prohibited. main river rises on the slopes of Mount Community interaction is a prominent element Bogong as the Big River which joins associated with the management of GMW water the Cobungra River at Anglers Rest to storages. Planning, management and resourcing of form the Mitta Mitta River. The Big River land and on-water issues has in the past tended to and Mitta Mitta River, from the Big River be reactive rather than proactive, with no integrated overarching plans for the management of land and Bridge on the Omeo Highway to the tail on-water issues. This is currently being addressed waters of Dartmouth Dam, has been through the development of Land and On-Water declared a Heritage River, recognised Management Plans for most GMW storages. Each for a number of values including scenic plan is being developed through an extensive process of engagement with communities to landscapes, canoeing, and significant ensure they have strong community support for flora and fauna. implementation. Lake Dartmouth is the largest capacity dam in The Lake Dartmouth Land and On-Water Victoria. Its primary purpose is for the storage Management Plan aims to identify and protect of water for irrigation, domestic and stock use important values associated with the waterways by in Victoria and New South Wales. The dam outlining priority land and on-water management was constructed by the Victorian Rural Water issues and identifying key actions to be implemented Commission on behalf of the then River Murray over the next five years. Most importantly, this plan Commission. Construction began in 1973 and was aims to increase communication, consistency, completed in 1979. Goulburn Murray Water (GMW) coordination and cooperation between agencies, manages the lake bed and the immediate foreshore stakeholder groups and the community to protect land (50 vertical metres above the high-water mark) the values and attributes of the storages and their under direction of the Murray Darling Basin Authority surrounds. (MDBA). The Dartmouth power station commenced operation in January 1981 and consists of a single The development of this plan has been supported 180 MW hydro-generator. The power station is and informed by a community and stakeholder remotely operated by AGL Hydro and is strictly consultation process, which included community controlled to give precedence to downstream water forums, focus groups and interviews. Ongoing requirements. Whenever possible, releases for stakeholder engagement for the implementation irrigation are made through the power station. The of the plan will be facilitated through GMW in power station is located at the base of the dam wall collaboration with Parks Victoria and Towong Shire. and its maximum permissible flow is 12,000 ML/day. It is a dynamic document and will continue to evolve as the various actions and strategies identified are A small regulating lake, known as Lake Banimboola developed and implemented. It is proposed that the Regulating Pondage, was constructed about six plan will be reviewed every five years by GMW and kilometres downstream of Dartmouth Dam. It is the stakeholders and community. 4 Lake Dartmouth Land and On-Water Management Plan Land and On-water Management Plans take into Objectives of the Plan account the needs and interests of all users of the lake, including adjoining landholders and licensees, Land and On-Water Management Plans are viewed recreational users, local government, government as an integral component of GMW’s water storage agencies and local communities. To this end, management planning portfolio. The plans are a comprehensive community and stakeholder intended to be a key reference document, not only consultation program was an important component for GMW but also for the communities and the many of the development of the plan. stakeholders that interact with these storages. The main objectives of the Lake Dartmouth Land and On-Water Management Plan are to: Context • recognise the diverse range of values and uses associated with the storage, Vision • provide a strategic framework for management The following vision statement describes clear of the storage, long-term outcomes from the prioritisation and • identify important social, economic and implementation of key actions outlined in the plan. environmental issues, and develop a series Stakeholders involved in the development of the plan, of actions to address these issues to be particularly GMW, Towong Shire Council and Parks implemented over the next 1–5 years, Victoria, will play an important role in achieving this vision. • protect the natural and cultural values by obtaining broad-scale agreement between “Lake Dartmouth is the largest capacity dam in agencies on principles relating to sustainable use Victoria and provides a well-maintained place and development of the lake and surrounding for visitors to enjoy the environment and pursue foreshore, and recreational activities without compromising its • protect the long-term quality of the water primary role as a water storage”. resource for local and downstream users. 5 Lake Dartmouth Land and On-Water Management The Dartmouth power station, operated by AGL, is located at the base of the dam wall and can operate unrestricted when water level is between 434 and 483.5 m above sea level. GMW is the waterway manager for the lake and manages it on behalf of the MDBA. Lake Dartmouth is a major tourism asset for Towong Shire and the vast majority of land above the foreshore is part of the Alpine National Park. Lake Banimboola/Dartmouth Regulating Pondage A small regulating lake known as Lake Banimboola Regulating Pondage was constructed six kilometres downstream of Dartmouth Dam. The prime purpose of the pondage is to regulate releases from the dam into the river downstream. Since construction of Lake Dartmouth, access to the pondage foreshore for fishing has been prohibited due to perceived risks concerning the rise and fall of water levels from hydro power generation, exposure to cold water, and risk Lake Dartmouth to infrastructure as a result of increased visitation. In May 2018, a 700m section of the pondage foreshore Lake Dartmouth is the largest capacity storage was opened to land based fishing and the pondage in the River Murray system and has the highest stocked with 20,000 trout to accelerate the fishery’s embankment of any dam in Australia. It is located development (VFA’s Target One Million campaign). downstream of the confluence of the Mitta Mitta and This resulted from the establishment of a multi- Dart Rivers, approximately 24 km east of Mitta Mitta agency Advisory Committee identifying mitigation (95 km from Wodonga, 75km from Tallangatta) in actions to enable land-based recreational fishing on north-east Victoria. The catchment is located entirely the section of the pondage. The regulating pondage within Victoria and has an area of approximately has a hydroelectric power station, which has a 3,600 km², less than 25% of the catchment of Hume maximum capacity of 12.5 MW. Water levels are Reservoir and only about 0.3% of the Basin. Despite managed to meet water discharge responsibilities the catchment’s size, almost 10% of the inflow to and the needs of hydro electricity generation. Water the River Murray system comes from upstream levels therefore vary and are independent of the of Dartmouth Dam. Its primary purpose is for the water levels in Dartmouth Dam. storage of water for irrigation, domestic and stock use, and environmental flows. In dry seasons, the storage supplements releases from Lake Hume and increases supplies to the River Murray system. Scope Lake Dartmouth offers a variety of passive water The geographic scope of this plan is limited to the sports and recreation facilities. It is a favourite lake and the land immediately surrounding the spot for fishing, especially for trout and Macquarie Full Supply Level (FSL). While the plan focuses perch. Camping (with limited facilities) is permitted on the lake and foreshore areas, it also aims to in designated areas around the lake. Boat launching positively influence activities throughout the broader facilities are available for motor boats, however water catchment. Land and On-Water management Plans 6 skiing and house boating are not permitted. Boats do not address water levels in the storage. are required to keep at least 700 metres away from the dam wall (GMW, 2018). Lake Dartmouth Land and On-Water Management Plan Land Status Legal Status GMW manages the lake bed and the immediate The Water Act 1989 outlines the appointment of foreshore land, 50 vertical metres above the high- water storage managers and their functions. As water mark (see Appendix C).