Latest information about where, when and why environmental water may be delivered to the northern region 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 northern region.
Region overview
The northern region has six river systems, four major floodplain sites and many wetlands that can receive water for the environment. The Broken, Campaspe, Goulburn, Loddon and Ovens river systems are tributaries of the Murray River. The four major floodplain sites along the Murray River corridor are Barmah Forest, Gunbower Forest, Hattah Lakes and Lindsay, Mulcra and Wallpolla islands. The other wetlands are distributed across the Broken, Goulburn, Loddon and Murray floodplains. The Goulburn Broken, Mallee, North Central and North East CMAs manage the rivers and wetlands in the northern region.
The major river systems of the northern region flow north from headwaters in Victoria’s Great DividingRange into the Murray River. Most environmental waterused in the northern region is sourced from major storagesin these systems including Lake Eildon (Goulburn system)Hume Reservoir (Murray system), Lake Eppalock (Campaspesystem) and Cairn Curran Reservoir (Loddon system). Thesestorages hold water for all entitlement holders including forirrigation, urban and environmental use.
Floodplains are an important feature along the Murray River corridor because they provide variable ecosystems as the river flows through areas with different climates, soils and topography. Noteworthy floodplain systems on the Murray River include Barmah Forest, Gunbower Forest, Hattah Lakes and Lindsay Island, which are all included in the Victorian environmental watering program. There also are thousands of floodplain wetlands and billabongs along the Murray River and its tributaries.
Many of the water systems in the northern region are connected through infrastructure (such as Goulburn Weir and the Waranga Western Channel), which physically delivers water from the Goulburn River to the Loddon and Campaspe systems. Water trading can also transfer allocation between systems. Within operational limitations, water for the environment can be moved between systems for delivery to environmental sites across northern Victoria, although most water for the environment is used to provide benefits in the systems in which the water is held.
Environmental values
The northern region’s vital network of rivers, wetlands and floodplains provide homes for ancient river red gums and a diversity of other plants and animals.
Improving native fish populations is an important objective for environmental watering in the northern region. The endangered Murray hardyhead lives in wetlands in the Mallee and North Central CMA areas. Murray cod, silver perch and golden perch benefit from environmental flows in the Goulburn River, lower Broken Creek, Loddon River, Pyramid Creek, Gunbower Creek and Mullaroo Creek.
The vast network of wetlands across the northern region support many species of waterbirds that can benefit from environmental water deliveries. For example, magpie geese use Lake Cullen near Kerang to breed after releases of environmental water, and breeding pairs of brolga can be found at Moodies Swamp near Shepparton.
The giant bullfrog and the growling grass frog can be found in floodplain wetlands in the lower Murray River and the Hattah Lakes.
Native vegetation has also benefited from environmental watering across the northern region including river swamp wallaby grass in Barmah Forest, the water nymph in Black Swamp and the jerry-jerry at Lake Yando.
River red gums and black box are found beside rivers and on floodplains across the northern region and these species provide habitat for birds, reptiles, mammals and insects.
Page last updated: 05/12/24