The Murrumbidgee Environmental Water Advisory Group met at Balranald in June. The meeting included a field trip to the Western Lakes system.
Operations update
As of 13 June 2024, Burrinjuck storage was at 70% and Blowering storage was at 73%.
The 2024-2025 weather outlook suggests average rainfall conditions and above average temperatures for the next 3 to 6 months.
Environmental water update and future watering
There has been 479.5 gigalitres (GL) of water for the environment delivered this year.
Water for the environment was provided for Murray and trout cod nesting support flows in the Murrumbidgee River and Yanco-Billabong creeks from September to November 2023, followed by a fish dispersal pulse in autumn. Environmental flows were delivered to key wetlands in the Murrumbidgee irrigation area including Tuckerbil Swamp and Nericon Swamp.
A survey conducted at Tuckerbil Swamp detected 61 bird species. A highlight was the presence of 30 brolgas and an endangered Australasian bittern.
Earlier in the water year, 25 nationally endangered Australian painted snipes used the Western Lakes for 4 months as a flocking and breeding site before travelling to the Northern Territory.
In the coming months, water for the environment will be delivered to high priority wetlands including sites in the Murrumbidgee and Coleambally irrigation areas. These flows will provide habitat for waterbirds and species of conservation concern such as Australasian bitterns, brolgas, Australian painted snipes and endangered southern bell frogs.
There are also likely to be opportunities to add environmental flows to small natural river freshes (river pulses) in the Murrumbidgee and Yanco-Billabong creek system.
The Western Lakes and surrounding wetlands will be strategically watered for waterbirds, including Australian painted snipe, freckled ducks, and blue-billed ducks.
Monitoring update
Routine monitoring of wetland fish is ongoing. Native species, including bony herring, carp gudgeon and Australian smelt are commonly detected in Murrumbidgee and Yanco-Billabong creek systems and wetlands.
A highlight for the year was finding juvenile Murray cod and freshwater catfish in the Yanco-Billabong area.
Australian painted snipe (Rostratula australis) in the Western Lakes