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Media Release - Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Deniliquin: 26 September 2005 BIDGEE WETLANDS GET WATERED Numerous wetlands in the mid-Murrumbidgee have been inundated following the biggest river flows in 5 years.
Mark Neeson, President of the Murrumbidgee Wetlands Working Group said “This would not have happened to the same extent, had it not been for the co-operation of the irrigation community and Corporations.”
“Recent heavy rainfall and run-off in the tributary catchments below Blowering and Burrinjuck dams has created surplus flows and enabled access to supplementary water.
“Coleambally Irrigation and Murrumbidgee Irrigation both voluntarily agreed to delay extracting water from the flow until the peak had passed downstream of their off-takes,” said Mr Neeson.
“This has allowed water to pass into these drought stressed floodplain ecosystems.
"Despite the current low water allocation, irrigators recognised the potential environmental benefits from a flow of this magnitude, and agreed to allow the peak to flow by,” explained Mr Neeson.
“The importance of this agreement in establishing some protocols for preserving some of the bigger flows for wetland inundation is a great step toward improving the aquatic environment of the Murrumbidgee and sets the scene for future co-operative arrangements,” Mr Neeson added.
"Staff from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and State Water have assisted in the effort to maximise the environmental benefit of this flow,” said DNR Wetlands Officer, James Maguire.
“By manipulating weir pools and Tombullen off-route storage, river operators were able to slightly increase the peak height, improving flow into the wetlands without affecting their ability to supply customers."
“It was a win- win situation,” said Mr Maguire.
“Unfortunately, with so many dry wetlands to fill and with very little water in the river prior to this event, the flow flattened out dramatically by the time it reached Carrathool, leaving some wetlands in the lower section dry,” Mr Maguire said.
“Based on previous studies it is estimated that this flow has inundated approximately 200 billabongs and swamps between Gundagai and Hay with a collective area of over 1300 ha,” said Mr Maguire.
“The bird life has responded rapidly to the wetlands filling, with Swans, Pelicans, Ducks, Herons and other waterbirds already present at the various billabongs,” said Mr Maguire.
© NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources
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