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Latest information about where, when and why environmental water may be delivered to the Tarago River and the environmental objectives being targeted is available in this year’s seasonal watering plan.
The seasonal watering plan also contains information about how environmental flows could support cultural, social, recreational and economic values in the Tarago River.
Watering data for the Tarago River and the wider central region is updated quarterly. Visit current watering releases to find out more.
To find out the current environmental water entitlements held by the VEWH in the Tarago River visit our water holdings.
Waterway manager
Storage manager
Environmental Water Holder
Victorian Environmental Water Holder
Traditional Owners
Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation - statutory authority for the management of Aboriginal heritage values and culture, under the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
System overview
The Tarago River rises in the Tarago State Forest and flows into the Tarago Reservoir at Neerim. The reservoir harvests inflows from all upstream tributaries to supply towns on the Mornington Peninsula and around the Western Port area. Water is released from the reservoir to supply downstream irrigators. Below the reservoir, the Tarago River flows close to Rokeby before meeting the Bunyip River at Longwarry North. From there, the Bunyip River flows through a modified, straightened channel called Bunyip Main Drain that discharges into Western Port. The Bunyip Main Drain supplies many irrigators in the catchment.
Water available under the Tarago and Bunyip Rivers Environmental Entitlement 2009 is stored in and released from Tarago Reservoir. This water is primarily used to meet environmental objectives in reach 2, between the reservoir and the confluence of the Tarago and Bunyip rivers. Water for the environment delivered to reach 2 also supports environmental flow recommendations in reach 6 (Bunyip Main Drain).
Year-round passing flows in the Bunyip and Tarago rivers are stipulated under both the environmental entitlement and Melbourne Water’s bulk entitlement. These passing flows contribute toward meeting the minimum low-flow requirements in summer/autumn and winter/spring, but they are less than the recommended minimum flows. The passing flows do not provide any of the freshes or greater flows that are needed throughout the year to support environmental outcomes.
Water released to meet irrigation demands can create variable flow patterns in the Tarago and Bunyip rivers throughout the year. The magnitude and timing of these releases can influence environmental outcomes, and Melbourne Water continues to work with Southern Rural Water to optimise the shared value derived from irrigation releases.
Environmental values
The Tarago system contains several significant and threatened native animal and plant species, including Australian grayling. The upper catchment (reach 2) has healthy streamside vegetation and diverse in-stream habitat that supports platypus and native fish, including river blackfish, tupong, short-finned eels and mountain galaxias. The lower catchment (reach 6) has been highly modified but still contains patches of remnant vegetation and is a key migration pathway for Australian grayling. It also has healthy platypus populations.
Page last updated: 05/12/24