26 September 2023

Water level rise a boost to river health

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The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) predicted water users would start to notice a change in the River Murray water levels as weir pool raising commenced to improve the health of the river and environment.

DEW said water levels would be raised up to 55 centimetres above normal level in the Lock Two weir pool.

Water Delivery Manager for DEW, Chrissie Bloss said the raising of the weir pool upstream of Lock Two would help restore a more natural wetting cycle and reconnect the main river channel with the nearby floodplains and wetlands to benefit the growth and breeding of local wildlife.

Ms Bloss said the raising, which was a collaborative action between DEW and SA Water with water supplied by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, would use water for the environment that was currently flowing into the Lower Murray region from upstream watering actions.

She said the whole of the River Murray system was highly regulated and the use of water regulating infrastructure to achieve environmental outcomes was becoming an increasing feature of river operations.

“The lock and weir structures were built more than a hundred years ago to manually alter water levels along the River Murray for irrigators, but stable water levels favour introduced species like carp and do not provide suitable conditions for many native fish and other animals and birds to breed, feed and survive,” Ms Bloss said.

“Weir pool raising improves vegetation and macroinvertebrate communities by spreading plant seeds and supporting the creation of food sources for bugs and fish,” she said.

“Weir pool raising uses water for the environment to raise the weir pools to a specified level, which is particularly important during dry times.”

Ms Bloss said water levels would return to the normal pool level of 6.1 metres by mid-November.

Further information on weir pool manipulation can be accessed at this PS News link.

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