General News
7 October, 2024
Native fish will part on fresh river flows
A SPRING carnival of a different kind is set to take off in the Loddon River system this month. While punters look to find the best bets on racecourses across the state, the perfect trifecta could be within the banks of three northern Victorian...
A SPRING carnival of a different kind is set to take off in the Loddon River system this month.
While punters look to find the best bets on racecourses across the state, the perfect trifecta could be within the banks of three northern Victorian waterways.
Water for the environment will flow down the Loddon River, Serpentine Creek, and Pyramid Creek during October to provide native fish with a party of their own. Environmental water releases from Laanecoorie Reservoir will target flows of 400 megalitres a day.
These flows will continue downstream and will combine with environmental flows from Ghow Swamp down Pyramid Creek which is targeting a flow rate of 650 ML a day at Kerang Loddon Weir
At the same time, a smaller flow of up to 120 ML a day will head down Serpentine Creek for two days.
North Central Catchment Management Authority environmental water project officer Peter O’Toole said the flows were designed to improve water quality and get local fish on the move.
“For native fish, spring is their time to shine. It’s when they move around the system, searching for food and for breeding partners,” he said.
“It does sound like a big party, but it’s really important to ensure they get access to new areas.
“These flows will help them do that, by connecting the Murray River with hundreds of kilometres of the Loddon River, as well as some of the best feeding spots in the country at Ghow Swamp.”
The flows will also help improve water quality in Serpentine Creek by refreshing any stagnant pools.
“If you’re a Murray cod, silver perch, or golden perch fan, this is celebration time,” he said.
“Monitoring has shown us that almost three-times as many fish move up the Loddon when flows such as these are on. That movement allows for a greater diversity of fish and healthier populations. It will also make for great fishing in the future.”