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Latest information about where, when and why environmental water may be delivered to the Boort wetlands 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 Boort wetlands.
Watering data for the Boort wetlands and the wider northern 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 Boort wetlands visit our water holdings.
Waterway manager
North Central Catchment Management Authority
Storage manager
Environmental Water Holders
Victorian Environmental Water Holder
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
Traditional Owners
Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation has a Recognition and Settlement Agreement with the Victorian Government and is the statutory authority for the management of Aboriginal heritage values and culture, under the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. Lake Boort at Boort is in the Dja Dja Wurrung Registered Aboriginal Party boundary.
Traditional Owners with connections to the Boort wetlands region also include the Barapa Barapa and Wamba Wemba people.
System overview
The Boort wetlands are on the floodplain west of the Loddon River, below Loddon Weir. They consist of temporary and permanent freshwater lakes and swamps: Lake Boort, Lake Leaghur, Lake Yando, Little Lake Meran and Lake Meran. Together, the Boort wetlands cover over 800 ha. Numerous other wetlands in the district are not currently managed with water for the environment.
The natural watering regimes of wetlands throughout the broader Loddon system have been substantially modified by the construction of levees and channels across the floodplain and by constructing and operating reservoirs and weirs along the Loddon River. Water is delivered to the Boort wetlands through Loddon Valley Irrigation Area infrastructure.
The availability of water for the environment for the Boort wetlands is closely linked to water available for the Loddon River system. Channel capacity constraints sometimes limit the ability to deliver water for the environment to the wetlands. The VEWH and the North Central CMA work with the storage manager (Goulburn-Murray Water) to best meet environmental objectives within capacity constraints.
Environmental values
The Boort wetlands provide habitat for a range of plant and animal species. At Lake Yando, 12 rare plant species have been recorded, including the jerry-jerry and water nymph. Bird species recorded at Lake Boort, Lake Leaghur and Lake Meran include the white-bellied sea eagle, Latham’s snipe and eastern great egret. Little Lake Meran is a swampy woodland with black box trees on the higher wet margins and river red gums fringing the waterline.
Page last updated: 05/12/24