CORANGAMITE CMA AND TRADITIONAL OWNERS HELP KEEP STRESSED MOORABOOL RIVER FLOWING

Keeping a river flowing in dry conditions can be a significant challenge, which is why Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) and Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA), supported by both Barwon Water and Central Highlands Water, are working together to maintain flow on the lower reaches of the Moorabool River.

The Moorabool River is one of the most flow-stressed rivers in Victoria. The construction of reservoirs, extraction for drinking water supply and irrigation, and a significant number of farm dams in the catchment are all contributing factors. This is compounded by the current dry conditions in the Moorabool catchment, where there has been below average rainfall since April 2024.

The lowest reach of the river surrounding Batesford is extremely vulnerable to cease-to-flow events, where the river stops flowing completely. These events can lead to poor water quality and damage the health of the ecosystem.

Jake van Dam, Project Officer of Estuaries and Environmental Waters at Corangamite CMA, said that our waterways are not able to function as they previously did. “As our population has grown, many of our rivers and wetlands have been modified to provide water for towns, industry and agriculture,” he said.

“One of the ways we support the health of our rivers and wetlands is through water for the environment - water set aside in storages that is released into rivers and wetlands to support the plants and animals that live, feed and breed in them.”

On the Moorabool River, Corangamite CMA strategically manages water for the environment with support from Central Highlands Water, the operator of the Lal Lal Reservoir near Ballarat.  Water is released from Lal Lal Reservoir at different times of the year in different volumes to support a range of ecological processes.

Maintaining varied flow within a river is very important for a diverse and healthy river. Higher flows allow native plants to grow and spread, providing habitat for animals, whereas many waterbugs – a key food source for fish and platypus - need lower flows. Getting the right balance is the role of Corangamite CMA’s environmental water team.

WTOAC has also used volumes of water supplied by Central Highlands Water and Barwon Water in the past two years as ‘Wadawurrung water’ to support Cultural values along the Moorabool River.

Both Wadawurrung water and water for the environment have their place in supporting the environmental and cultural health of the Moorabool River – especially during periods of low and sporadic rainfall.

The absence of sustained rainfall has also meant that recent freshes – large pulses of water that help trigger fish migration and streamside plant growth – have all been due to water for the environment and Wadawurrung water.

Corangamite CMA CEO Dr Amber Clarke says the benefits of these deliveries are enormous, particularly in a dry catchment. “There have been many instances over the past six months when most of the water in the Moorabool River flowing past Batesford has been water for the environment,” she said.

“It is really encouraging to see what can be achieved with strong regional partnerships. The Moorabool has continued to flow during some really challenging times,” said Dr Clarke.

The Moorabool River has reservoirs that are key sources of drinking water for the Geelong region. When Barwon Water transfers water along the Moorabool River from the Lal Lal Reservoir to the water treatment plant at She Oaks, it also allows some water to stay in the river to help the environment. This expands the impact of environmental and Wadawurrung water deliveries further downstream.

“Being able to deliver and maintain flow in such a dry year is a great example of what Traditional Owners, water corporations and CMAs are doing behind the scenes to protect and restore our rivers for their long-term health,” said Mr van Dam.

Water for the environment is just one of many actions delivered by Corangamite CMA to support the health and resilience of the Moorabool River; others include fencing, revegetation and weed control on riparian land, citizen science monitoring programs, removal of barriers from the river, and the promotion of sustainable agriculture practices.