The Department of the Environment and Energy’s Commonwealth Environmental Water Office is releasing water in the northern Murray-Darling Basin to help replenish critical waterholes and avoid the loss of native fish in the region.
The Office’s Environmental Water Holder, Jody Swirepik said the Barwon River had not flowed for more than 200 days, drying waterholes back to poor quality and threatening the survival of native fish in the region.
“To help native fish survive the drought the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, in partnership with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and other NSW Agencies, is releasing water for the environment from April to June to replenish critical waterholes,” Ms Swirepik said.
“The flows will provide significant support for five endangered native fish, including Murray cod, silver perch and eel-tailed catfish, which are struggling in the dry conditions.”
She said it would also provide relief to some of the northern communities like the township of Walgett where until the last week there had been no natural flow for more than 11 months.
“While water storages in the north are extremely low following years of drought, the release of modest flows for the environment will make a major difference and help native fish hang on until the region receives drought‑breaking rain,” Ms Swirepik said.
“As some of the waterholes, weir pools and river beds are at their lowest level in half a century and losses of water along the way will be high.
“The exact extent the flow will travel can’t be guaranteed. The community will be kept up to date on the progress of the flow as it makes its way through the system,” she said.
