Melbourne Water will be delivering an autumn fresh release of approximately 1.4GL of water that has been set aside for the environment into the Birrarung (Yarra River) from Tuesday 28 March to Wednesday 5 April. The river response will be monitored and the release may be adapted accordingly, with the river having received some freshening flows following rainfall over recent months, yet with the recent spell of warmer weather over February and March flows have reduced.
The release will commence from Upper Yarra the reservoir to help provide a peak flow of around 350 Ml/d at Millgrove (31 March to 2 April) and then combined with the release commencing from Maroondah Reservoir along Watts on the Weds 29 March to help provide a peak flow of around 750 Ml/d at Warrandyte (1 April to 3 April). Pumping operation at Yering Gorge from the river will be ceased to allow the flows to pass downstream. The river response will be monitored and the release may be adapted accordingly.
The water will help flush pools and riffles to prevent a decline in water quality and maintain habitat quality for fish and waterbugs. The release will also help sustain native aquatic vegetation and provide opportunities for the localised movement of fish and platypus.
This water will come from the Yarra’s Environmental Entitlement that has been set aside to maintain the health of the Yarra River.
