PART THREE The Wimmera’s Flowing Tale is an initiative of Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, working to protect the values The Wimmera’s Flowing Tale of the Wimmera River for the benefit of the entire community. …going with the flow Looking back to 2009 It’s a celebration! People flock to the banks of the Wimmera River when it rains in September 2009 to walk ahead of the life-giving trickle irrepressibly pushing north to the river’s end – capturing national media attention, sparking riverbank celebrations and seeing the return of birds, fish, plants and activity from the Pyrenees all the way to Lake Hindmarsh. Dimboola-based Hindmarsh Shire councillor Cliff Unger estimates the water has overnight lifted All dried up, Wimmera River early 2009 the value of river-front properties by $30,000 old Horsham weir site by David Fletcher - highlighting that more than just the local environment benefits from this fresh water. The drought bites hard, then breaks “If we can get some guarantee of a return While contractors work at a furious pace to complete the Looking forward Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project, the Wimmera River of water, the place will boom again.” remains in a critical condition. to 2022 Jeparit residents describe the value of the Wimmera The Wimmera River’s condition is markedly In May 2008 Grampians water storage levels drop to River to their community, 2009 improved despite some periods of very dry their lowest on record… just 3.3%. During the late 2000s, the longest drought on record conditions. This improvement is, in part, thanks to continues to deal the Wimmera a mighty blow – businesses By September pools within the lower Wimmera River vary increased environmental water availability via the close, community groups lose their sense of purpose, between green, pink and black and produce a strong Wimmera and Northern Mallee pipelines and other fishing and rowing clubs and the numerous events they rotten-egg-gas odour that permeates the air in Jeparit. In on-ground works such as fencing off river frontage hold go into recess, tourist numbers dwindle, fishing and ski stark contrast, Wimmera River pools watered the previous from stock and other erosion-control activities. boats gather dust and families have to look elsewhere for year via environmental water releases from Taylor’s Lake to Next week: Water brings communities, weekend and holiday recreational activities. Quantong are able to sustain life. wildlife and ‘zombie trees’ to life Thankfully, soon after it starts to rain. Water flowing past Dimboola weir Environmental in late 2009 by David Fletcher water fast facts • Environmental water releases are just one Wimmera River, salinity rises to half that tool that addresses water quality issues such of seawater. This is more than what many A common query is around the need to as salinity and excess nutrients. species of fish can tolerate. provide regulated environmental water releases in drier months, especially given the • Summer releases are much smaller than • Work including revegetation and erosion Wimmera River generally doesn’t flow during those undertaken during winter and spring control that Wimmera CMA, Landcare summer leading into autumn. and without these flows, experience has groups and farmers in the upper catchment, shown that fish kills and algal blooms are combined with ongoing environmental • Catchment-scale issues mean that flows much more common. water releases, are also critical in reducing during dry periods are now crucial to the water quality issues that the Wimmera River • Within a few weeks without flow in the lower Wimmera River system. faces today. www.wcma.vic.gov.au Phone: 03 5382 1544.