In 2014–15, the North Central Catchment Management Authority released targeted environmental flows to support platypus in the Campaspe River.
The same flows aimed to bolster platypus downstream in the Gunbower system with the hope of re-establishing platypus (link to platypus feature story) elsewhere on the Victorian side of the Murray downstream of Echuca.
Environmental watering also focused on enhancing river habitat and native fish breeding and movement. Winter and spring environmental flow releases were specifically aimed at improving the health of native plants on the river's benches and supporting in-stream vegetation lost during the 2010–11 floods.
Community observations, photopoint monitoring and long-term native fish monitoring indicate that the health of the Campaspe River is improving.
Seven species of native fish were recorded, including an increase in golden perch and Murray–Darling rainbowfish numbers, along with populations of Australian smelt and gudgeon. Local anglers also made good catches of Murray cod and golden perch.
An adult and juvenile Murray River turtle were also discovered on the Campaspe River for the first time, indicating an improvement in the condition of the river.
Meanwhile, environmental water management on the Coliban River in 2014–15 focused on maintaining connectivity in the upper reaches over summer and autumn, immediately below the Malmsbury Reservoir.