Boost for the Moorabool

An environmental water release for the Moorabool River will be an added boost to native fish already thriving from a bumper wet season.

An environmental water release for the Moorabool River will be an added boost to native fish already thriving from a bumper wet season.

The 40 million litre release aims to further enhance conditions for fish by increasing habitat pools and flushing the river of sediment.

The 10-day release from Lal Lal Reservoir, set to start on January 23, is one of three environmental flows planned for summer.

Corangamite CMA is working with Central Highlands Water and Barwon Water to co-ordinate the release from Lal Lal Reservoir, in line with the Victorian Environmental Water Holder Seasonal Watering Plan 2011-12.

The environmental flow coincides with Barwon Water's release of 27 million litres a day during summer for downstream urban water supply. Combining the releases maximises the benefit from the environmental water allocation and assists in water availability for future years when dry conditions return.

Corangamite CMA's River Health Executive Manager Trent Wallis said flows of up to 31 million litres a day were expected to flush the system of organic matter and sediment built up in habitat pools and behind weirs.Barwon Water will continue to release consumptive water over summer for urban water supply downstream, and will be important to ensuring the Moorabool River continues to flow all summer.