Anyone who has been to central New South Wales, crossed the Murrumbidgee River in spring and noticed the healthy flows of water, you're not imagining things.
It's the season for environmental flows, and the river is bringing life as it goes.
Spring is traditionally a busy time for both irrigation and environmental water releases.
Before dams were built upstream, the river would naturally swell in spring thanks to rainfall and snowmelt.
These days, water managers from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) and NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) aim to copy those natural flows. There is good reason for it.
Spring is breeding season for many native fish, especially the iconic Murray cod.
Murray cod build their nests amongst logs and snags underwater as a safe location for their eggs. Environmental flows help keep river levels steady. This actions protect nests from sudden drops in the flow height that could expose eggs or disturb the male cod guarding them.
Golden perch (yellow belly) also rely on high water flows to move and spawn, with wetlands along the river acting as vital nurseries for their young.
Lots of juvenile Golden perch are being found in the big lakes of the lower Murrumbidgee region. This is the result of connected flows over several years. Environmental water managers are now working to build on this momentum. The flows help boost the scale of each breeding event which in supports fish populations and ecosystem health in the long-term.
There are important wetlands along the Murrumbidgee River. These lakes and billabongs support fish, waterbirds and plants. Environmental flows help boost the water levels in the river, which can then flow into some of the low-lying wetlands. This helps plants and animals that live there.
Environmental flows allow food and nutrients to move through the system. This supports a rich web of life including frogs, turtles, rakali and waterbirds. Water for the environment also encourages vegetation growth that sustains these animals year-round.
Water for the environment in the Murrumbidgee catchment is all about improving and restoring the wetlands and floodplains. This is especially important near the town of Balranald, where these ecosystems play a vital role in the health of the landscape.
Anyone who crosses the Murrumbidgee River and can see high water levels, they now know that it's not just irrigation season or Inter-valley Transfers (IVTs). It is the work of Environmental Water Holders, giving nature a helping hand.
