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Latest information about where, when and why environmental water may be delivered to the Broken River and upper Broken Creek 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 Broken River and upper Broken Creek.
Watering data for the Broken River and upper Broken Creek 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 Broken River and upper Broken Creek visit our water holdings.
Waterway manager
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority
Storage manager
Environmental Water Holders
Victorian Environmental Water Holder
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
Traditional Owners
Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) 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.
Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation (YYNAC) 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.
System overview
The Broken River is a tributary of the Goulburn River, rising in the Wellington-Tolmie highlands and flowing northwest to Benalla and then west for a total distance of 190 km before it joins the Goulburn River near Shepparton. Lake Nillahcootie is the main storage on the Broken River. It is about 36 km upstream of Benalla and harvests water from the river to support stock and domestic supply and irrigated agriculture. The main tributaries of the Broken River are Hollands Creek, Ryans Creek and Lima East Creek.
Lake Nillahcootie has a storage capacity of about half the mean annual flow of its upstream catchment, so it fills in most years. The operation of Lake Nillahcootie has modified the river’s natural flow pattern: winter/spring flow downstream of the reservoir is less than natural because a large proportion of inflow is harvested, while the summer/autumn flow is greater than natural because water is released to meet downstream irrigation demands. These impacts are most pronounced in the reach between Lake Nillahcootie and Hollands Creek. Below Hollands Creek, the river retains a more natural flow pattern due to flows from unregulated tributaries, although the total annual flow is considerably less than natural. The catchment has been extensively cleared for agriculture, including dryland farming (such as livestock grazing and cereal cropping) and irrigated agriculture (such as dairy, fruit and livestock).
Water is released from Lake Nillahcootie to meet downstream demand and minimum-flow requirements specified under the bulk entitlement for the Broken River system. Releases from storage may be less than 30 ML per day as tributary inflows immediately below the storage (such as from Back Creek) can supply much of the minimum-flow requirements specified in the bulk entitlement.
Upper Broken Creek is defined as the 89-km stretch of creek from the Broken River (at Caseys Weir) to the confluence with Boosey Creek near Katamatite. Upper Broken Creek flows across a flat riverine plain and has naturally low run-off from its local catchment. It receives flood flows from the Broken River, although river regulation, earthworks and road construction have reduced the frequency of these floods.
Upper Broken Creek has been regulated for more than a century. Before 2007, water was diverted into upper Broken Creek at Caseys Weir to meet local demand, but recent water savings projects have reduced the demand on the creek. There is now a low flow between Caseys Weir and Waggarandall Weir throughout the year. The flow below Waggarandall Weir is more variable and experiences regular cease-to-flow periods. These changes have reduced the amount of permanent aquatic habitat.
Delivery of water for the environment to the Broken River is primarily constrained by the small volume of Water Holdings in the Broken system. Environmental water holders can trade water into the Broken system from other trading zones subject to relevant limits and conditions to meet environmental needs.
The bulk entitlement for the Broken system held by Goulburn-Murray Water stipulates that a minimum environmental flow — also known as passing flow — is to be maintained in the Broken River when there are natural flows into the system. The bulk entitlement also allows Goulburn-Murray Water and the Goulburn Broken CMA to agree to reduce the minimum passing flow and accumulate unused volumes for later releases that will provide a greater environmental benefit. Accumulated passing flow is the first volume lost when the storage spills. Environmental flows in upper Broken Creek are restricted by the volume of available supply, channel capacity and the need to avoid flooding low-lying, adjacent land.
Environmental values
The Broken River retains one of the best examples of healthy in-stream vegetation in a lowland river in the region. A range of native submerged and emergent plant species, including eelgrass, common reed and water ribbons, populate the bed and margins of the river. These plants provide habitat for various animals, including small- and large-bodied native fish. Murray cod, Macquarie perch, golden perch, silver perch, river blackfish, mountain galaxias, southern pygmy perch and Murray-Darling rainbowfish all occur in the Broken River. The river also supports a platypus population.
Upper Broken Creek is dominated by unique box streamside vegetation and remnant plains grassy woodland. The creek and its streamside zone support numerous threatened species, including brolga, Australasian bittern, buloke and ridged water-milfoil. Much of the high-quality native vegetation in the region is set aside as a natural features reserve managed by Parks Victoria. Upper Broken Creek supports a variety of native fish species, including carp gudgeon, Murray cod, river blackfish and Murray-Darling rainbowfish, as well as platypus and common long-necked turtle.
The Broken River and upper Broken Creek are listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.
Page last updated: 05/12/24