Water talk feb2014 (72dpi)

ountry News Co Reaching Australia’s richest agricultural region

Water Talk

E 16-PAUG RE FEbAruTary 2014 Fe

Gaining control over water delivery Jarrod Lukies at Katamatite — page 11

Heat speeds evaporation from storages — page 4 | No environmental water for Lake Cooper — 14 and 15 Changes coming for state water laws — page 8

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PAGE 2—‘Water Talk’, February, 2014

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By Cathy Walker ater Brokers Association president Duncan McDonald said it was ironic that a decision to trade that took the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder more than two years to make, gave irrigators only a day’s notice to tender for water over a three-day period.

It was the first time environmental water has been traded in Australia after the CEWH put 10 Gl of temporary water in the Gwydir Valley on the market.

Mr McDonald’s note of cautious approval mirrored that of many other commentators, the common response to the news being ‘‘let’s wait and see’’. ‘‘This sale is a small amount of water in a small valley,’’ Mr McDonald said. ‘‘It’s way too early to say what effect it would have in bigger systems. They say they don’t want to set a price, but they are, they’re setting a secret price. ‘‘There is no way they will not influence the market.’’

Mr McDonald said his company, National Waterbrokers, had made representations to Canberra to point out that not selling environmental water was costing the Federal Government $13 million annually.

MDBA chairman Craig Knowles welcomed the news. ‘‘I am delighted that the CEWH has decided to go down this path,’’ he said. ‘‘Far from this being a retrograde step for the

W

Announcement ‘shock’: Water broker Tom Rooney, chief executive officer of Waterfind, said when the announcement came through, there was a shock in the market and prices in some regions dropped by up to 10 per cent. ‘‘Things started to calm down as more information was released and it became clear that this sale was only in the Gwydir and not in other rivers like the Murray or Murrumbidgee,’’ Mr Rooney said. environment, temporary trade means that water for the environment can be fully valued and take its place for the first time in Australia’s history alongside other classes of water.’’

The Gwydir Valley sale was via an open tender process direct to the CEWH between January 21 and 23.

Southern Riverina Irrigators said it was pleased ‘‘in principle’’ with the news. ‘‘We will be watching the CEWH’s trade intentions and we hope that it uses any funds raised by trade in an economically and environmentally sensible way to ensure there are no negative impacts on the market,’’ SRI chairman John Bradford said.

Waterpool Trading Ltd’s Kyabram-based chief executive Peter Lawford said it appeared there would be little or no

Waterfind’s analysis is that market prices in the Gwydir have been up to $300/Ml in the past month, the highest price seen in the Gwydir since the worst of the drought in 2009.

It found the cause of the high prices was low water availability with the Copeton Dam at the lowest storage level since 2010. ‘‘A $300/Ml price means there’s a shortage of water in the river; a lot of farmers simply stop irrigating when

prices get up to those high levels,’’ Mr Rooney said. ‘‘Since 10 000 Ml isn’t actually that much compared with usage requirements in the Gwydir, we expect the impact on price to be modest.’’

Mr Rooney said it was really important for the water market that ‘‘this process runs smoothly and irrigators have confidence in the Commonwealth’s actions’’.

He expected the speed of the tender was likely to minimise the impact to the general water market.

allocation water returned from the CEWH in the southern connected Murray-Darling Basin this season. ‘‘There has been strong anticipation by buyers of temporary water that substantial amounts of water would come into the market and therefore a softening of current price would occur,’’ Mr Lawford said. ‘‘This is disappointing news for buyers in the Goulburn and Murray valleys.’’

He said Commonwealth water was more likely to return to the market in dryer seasons, and less likely when systems had ample supply. ‘‘Waterpool will continue to liaise with the environmental water office to provide clients with first-hand knowledge of the government’s trading activities,’’ Mr Lawford said.

MDBA chairman Craig Knowles welcomed the Commonwealth decision to trade environmental water.

Upgrade offers timely information last Wednesday, Since more Murray Irrigation

customers are receiving notification on their phones — either via text messages or emails — before their outlets starting or completing a water order.

Murray Irrigation’s Water Ordering system was upgraded to ensure all customers who are registered as the operator of an outlet and who have a mobile phone number registered in the system will receive the notifications.

The notifications are issued

about 7.30 pm the day before the order.

Murray Irrigation general manager Anthony Couroupis said upgrading the system from an opt-in to an opt-out system meant more customers would be provided with more timely information about their water orders, which would help to ensure water deliveries were used to the best advantage.

Customers who have already registered to receive the alerts will not be affected.

Customers who do not want to receive the SMS notifications

can opt out via the ‘Communication settings’ section of the Water Ordering online login or can phone Murray Irrigation on 1300 138 265.

Mr Couroupis said new technologies were already being successfully used at Murray Irrigation, with the South Australian Murray Water Exchange online portal at www.murraywaterexchange. com.au that was launched last October ‘‘. . . continuing to trade significant volumes of water’’.

Last Wednesday, nearly 16 Gl

of water was for sale at nominated prices.

Mr Couroupis said the online portal had made more people aware of the South Australian Murray Water Exchange. ‘‘We look forward to increasing activity including from Murray Irrigation customers as well as other people buying and selling water in the Southern Connected System,’’ Mr Couroupis said.

As of 8.30 am on Tuesday, January 28, water for sale on the South Australian Murray Water Exchange was priced from $80 to $200/Ml.

Children to study water near their schools frogs to farms, From catfish to local culture,

school students across the Murray-Darling Basin will be pointing their microscopes at their local community and seeing how their place is connected to other parts of the basin.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s education director, Will Inveen, said the 2014 Basin Champions program was inviting students from Year 4 to Year 9 to link up with MDBA experts and investigate the

health of a river or creek near their school. ‘‘Students will learn how the health of their own community can have an effect on the broader Murray-Darling system through their local waterways,’’ Mr Inveen said. ‘‘After successfully piloting the program in 2013 with 15 schools, in 2014 we will focus on primary schools in term two and secondary schools in term three, with a program aligned with the Australian Curriculum.’’

Classes can choose to set

their own topic or develop one with the support of the MDBA Education team. ‘‘Mentors from the MDBA will be on-hand through weekly video conferences to answer students’ questions,’’ Mr Inveen said. ‘‘They will provide advice on the best investigation methods to use, help shed light on ecosystem health issues and point to useful resources available.’’

Video conference sessions will also address why things such as water testing, river

health, salinity and native fish are important to local communities, cultures and the economy.

Mr Inveen said each class would be asked to transform their findings into a creative report, such as a play, song, animation or video, to share with other Basin Champions schools during the final video conference. ➤ To express your interest or find out more, phone (02) 6279 0500, email the education team at education@mdba.gov.au or check out the MDBA website.

‘Water Talk’, February, 2014—PAGE 3

water talk

The benefits of environmental water are flowing.

The Goulburn River at Arcadia after the drought.

Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority river health expert Geoff Earl is framed by the Goulburn River where benefits of environmental watering are becoming evident.

Picture: Ray Sizer

River recovers

By Cathy Walker oulburn Broken G Catchment Management Authority’s environmental water flow co-ordinator Geoff Earl is standing right beside a worryingly steep cliff looking down at the Goulburn River at the end of a dusty lane near Arcadia.

This is one of many spots along the river that Mr Earl, as one of the authority’s river health doctors, keeps a close eye on.

And today he likes what he is seeing: vegetation growing back on the banks on the other side of the river, new trees shooting up.

While environmental watering may be a complex topic, the results are not.

Mr Earl said it was a matter of getting the right vegetation in the right spot. ‘‘Basically the drought put vegetation in the wrong places and caused erosion,’’ Mr Earl said. ‘‘Environmental flows are starting to trigger vegetation on the banks, for example. It’s a slow process but during the next couple of months you’ll see more starting to happen.’’

Water purchased by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder specifically for watering depleted river systems is helping to

restore not just the Goulburn River when it’s released at Goulburn Weir.

It then travels downstream through the Murray system; the water’s journey from the weir outside Nagambie takes five days until it reaches the Murray and Mr Earl said it was not only vegetation that was seeing the benefits. ‘‘It’s been successful in terms of the breeding of yellowbelly (golden perch),’’ Mr Earl said. ‘‘Between 2003 and 2010 there was hardly any golden perch breeding. In 2011 part of our fresh (watering) was to get the fish to breed.’’

Benefits of environmental water: Commonwealth environmental water is being made available in the Goulburn River to contribute to: ➤ Supporting the germination and growth of riparian native vegetation and improving river bank stability; ➤ Submerging snags and improving the habitat of native fish so they can breed and grow; ➤ Moving fine sediment and leaf litter to provide habitat and food for macro-

invertebrates while also maintaining suitable water quality for other native aquatic plants and animals; and ➤ Supporting downstream watering actions throughout the mid Murray, lower Murray, Coorong and lower lakes.

Up to 175 000 Ml of Commonwealth environmental water, subject to availability within the Goulburn catchment, was made available for use

between July and December 2013.

To extend the ecological outcomes into 2014, a further 40 000 Ml of Commonwealth environmental water has been made available between January and June this year. The Victorian Environmental Water Holder and The Living Murray program are also contributing water to this environmental watering action.

— Source: Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder

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PAGE 4—‘Water Talk’, February, 2014

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Heat impacts on storage levels eatwaves in recent weeks H have increased evaporation at Goulburn-Murray Water managed water storages.

But the size and impact of the increase varied between the storages, G-MW water resources manager Mark Bailey said.

For example, during the six days of the January 13 to 18 heatwave: ➤ Eildon recorded 49 mm evaporation, which was equivalent to 5900 million litres; ➤ Waranga Basin recorded 61 mm evaporation, which was equivalent to 2750 million litres; ➤ Lake Buffalo recorded 56 mm evaporation, which was equivalent to 180 million litres; and ➤ Cairn Curran reservoir recorded 67 mm evaporation, which was equivalent to 1060 million litres.

Dr Bailey said Lake Eildon recorded lower evaporation because it was closer to the Great Dividing Range and had a higher elevation, but lost more water because of its greater surface area. Waranga Basin had greater losses because of its more northerly location. ‘‘The volume of water that evaporates is largely driven by the surface area of the storage,’’ Dr Bailey said.

The levels in the storages also fall as releases are increased to meet irrigation demand and the increased losses that occur

Lake Eildon has recorded higher evaporation because of the recent hot weather. between the storage and the irrigation meters.

Dr Bailey said evaporation was an important consideration in determining water availability. ‘‘For instance, Lake Eildon is estimated to lose up to 135 000 million litres each year under worst case planning. If better than worst case conditions

occur, the savings are returned to entitlement holders through seasonal determinations.’’

Evaporation and rainfall have large impacts on water storage levels, but a lack of rain and subsequent inflows to storages is more severe. ‘‘No rain means the subsoil dries out and more rainfall goes

towards infiltration rather than inflows that refill the dams,’’ Dr Bailey said. ‘‘The evaporation demands do not change significantly from year to year. Rain that falls directly on the storages offsets the volume lost via evaporation.’’

He said the heatwaves experienced this month had

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caused some irrigators to irrigate more frequently, perhaps every five to seven days instead of perhaps every 10 to 12 days. ‘‘It really depends on the irrigated enterprise. Some horticulturalists are experiencing sun damage to produce, but this cannot be prevented with additional irrigation,’’ Dr Bailey said.

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‘Water Talk’, February, 2014—PAGE 5

PAGE 6—‘Water Talk’, February, 2014

water talk

Pressure is

By Geoff Adams

rrigators are being called on Iabout to make long-term decisions their water

At Katunga Recreation Reserve were modernisation co-ordinator Jamie Docker, John Jasper, Stuart Winchester, Andrew Wilson and Russell Foote.

Irrigators from districts near Katunga hear about the consultation process.

requirements in a series of meetings being held across the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District.

Goulburn-Murray Water wants to reduce the length of the backbone and rationalise the large number of farm outlets, while introducing new remotecontrolled technology.

Last week meetings were held at Katunga where G-MW outlined the process to make water delivery on the channel backbone more efficient.

Murray Valley customer service manager Brendan Brooks told a Katunga meeting the outcomes required input from irrigators so the end solutions were workable. ‘‘We have an obligation to work with landholders to get solutions that will work for them,’’ Mr Brooks said.

However, a number of landholders reminded G-MW that promises had been made by the former connections operator, NVIRP, which had not been delivered.

Discussions had begun several years ago, but they had not heard back from NVIRP and felt they had been abandoned.

Meetings were held for three

Strategic Connection Project areas near Katunga, Strathmerton and Numurkah.

One area, with about 40 landholders, attracted some outspoken remarks from irrigators.

One man said his property was surveyed and he had heard nothing since 2012.

Orchardist Ivan Routley said his first contact with the old NVIRP was about two to three years ago. ‘‘We heard they ran out of money (for this area) and never heard any more,’’ Mr Routley said. ‘‘It will be interesting to see how they go this time.’’

Another irrigator said he first had contact with G-MW almost six years ago about reconfiguration. ‘‘What they say, and what gets done sometimes can be two different things,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s been going on for far too long.’’

G-MW board director Barry Stegall attended recent meetings to hear the presentations and what irrigators were saying.

Mr Stegall acknowledged the frustration many farmers felt over the delay between NVIRP getting discussions started, and the restart now introduced by G-MW.

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‘Water Talk’, February, 2014—PAGE 7

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on irrigators to make decisions In response to questions about the pace of progress, he said the Connections program was no longer ‘‘leap frogging’’, where individual customers could hold up a whole SCP. While landholders were being consulted and given input into developing the plans, where one landholder was deliberately holding up the process for an inordinate time, G-MW now had the power to proceed with ‘‘non voluntary reconfiguration’’.

The meeting was told that a large volume of water had been sold out of some Murray Valley areas.

For example, in SCP 17, water shares totalled about 4200 Ml in 2007, but in the past two seasons, water use had been less than 3300 Ml, with water share about 2200 Ml. In another nearby SCP (number 14), water share had fallen from about 5100 Ml to about 2500 Ml. G-MW has already executed 132 legal agreements with landholders in the Murray Valley district.

G-MW is scheduling SCP meetings for the first six months of 2014. SCP discussions under way total 29 out of 41 in Murray Valley Across the G-MW region, about 4000 one-to-one consultations are under way. ➤ Go to Goulburn-Murray Water’s website at www.g-mwater.com.au for further details.

Modernisation co-ordinator Kerry Rankin with landholders at the Katunga SCP meeting organised by Goulburn-Murray Water for SCP20, 14 and 17 at Katunga Recreation Reserve.

PAGE 8—‘Water Talk’, February, 2014

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Water laws forums start ublic forums started P last week on new state water laws after the

Victorian Water Minister Peter Walsh.

Goulburn Valley Environment Group chairman John Pettigrew.

Victorian Government declined requests from environmental groups to extend a deadline for public consultation.

Goulburn Valley Environment Group chairman John Pettigrew wrote to Victorian Water Minister Peter Walsh imploring him to extend the time for community comment on the Water Bill Exposure Draft, which was released on December 19, until the end of February.

Despite this request, the submission closing date remains February 14. ‘‘It would be unfortunate if these complex and extensive changes to the Water Act didn’t receive the full benefits of community consultation and informed submissions from stakeholders,’’ Mr Pettigrew said. ‘‘For many in our communities it will not be ’til the proposed information sessions are

fully advertised and have taken place that full consideration is given to the proposed changes, leaving only weeks to meet to advertised closing date for comment.’’

He said the summer holiday period had made it difficult for groups and organisations with interest in the proposed changes to fully scrutinise the proposed legislation.

Public forums were held in Melbourne and Mildura last week and in Shepparton, Wangaratta and Kerang earlier this week. Forums at Horsham, Colac and Traralgon are scheduled for this week.

State Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell encourages people interested to comment on proposed changes to the state’s water laws before they are passed as law.

Mrs Powell said the Victorian Government had comprehensively reviewed Victoria’s water laws. ‘‘The review has brought the Water Act 1989 and the

Water Industry Act 1994 into a single new streamlined Water Act which reflects contemporary practice in water management and government policy,’’ Mrs Powell said. ‘‘This review will deliver a more effective legislative framework for water management and use in Victoria.’’

State Member for Murray Valley Tim McCurdy said after the submission period, Mr Walsh and an advisory panel would consider the comments received and finalise the Water Bill, with the aim of introducing the final Water Bill to Parliament this year. ➤ More information on the proposed changes — including a plain English Explanatory Guide and information sheets about equivalent provisions from the Water Act 1989 and the Water Industry Act 1994 — and how to make a submission is available at www.livingvictoria.vic.gov. au/water-law-review

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PAGE 10—‘Water Talk’, February, 2014

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Lakes’ future secured ne of Australia’s largest O environmental works projects has been completed at Hattah Lakes to secure a sustainable future for this iconic system of freshwater lakes.

The $32 million package of works at Hattah Lakes, in north-west Victoria, was officially opened by Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment Senator Simon Birmingham, and Victorian Water Minister Peter Walsh. ‘‘The environmental works at Hattah Lakes are a good example of how infrastructure can be used to get better environmental outcomes in the Murray-Darling Basin using less water,’’ Senator Birmingham said. ‘‘These works will allow us to return a more natural water regime for more than 6000 ha of River Murray floodplain, without undermining the productive capability of communities in the basin. ‘‘The Australian Coalition Government has committed to using infrastructure to ‘bridge the gap’ and a 1500 Gl cap on buybacks; we will focus on projects like this that are a winwin for the environment and communities.

‘

These works will allow us to return a more natural water regime for more than 6000 ha of River Murray floodplain, without undermining the productive capability of communities in the basin.

’

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment Senator Simon Birmingham ‘‘We will not be using buyback as our first option like the Labor Government; the Australian Coalition want to support communities and economic development,’’ Senator Birmingham said.

The Hattah Lakes system is located within Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, about 60 km south of Mildura.

The wetlands rely on regular wet and dry periods to be healthy; however, river regulation has altered the frequency and duration of watering events, which has had an impact on the wetland environment.

Minister Walsh said a pump station and a series of regulators had been built to provide a long-term sustainable solution for effectively and efficiently delivering water to

the lakes. ‘‘This type of project ensures the water achieves environmental outcomes most efficiently,’’ Mr Walsh said. ‘‘Like irrigation, environmental watering needs to involve innovation and smarter watering solutions. ‘‘The concept of undertaking environmental works and measures to provide more water to the environment has been supported by Victoria for some time and the finalisation of the Hattah project is a great example of what can be achieved. ‘‘Operation of this infrastructure will use less water to achieve the same environmental outcomes of a natural flood of more than 100 000 Ml per day, over a number of months.

‘‘This means we will get the same environmental outcomes without needing to take significant amounts of water out of productive use. We will also remove the need to have significant amounts of water in the river system, which could have third-party impacts.’’

The newly-constructed infrastructure performs three core functions to increase the frequency, duration and extent of watering events at Hattah Lakes by: ➤ Making it possible to top up natural floods to increase water levels in the lakes system. ➤ Pumping water into the system when river flows are not able to naturally reach the lakes. ➤ Holding water in the system to maximise the ecological benefits of watering events.

Construction works were undertaken by GoulburnMurray Water.

Funding was provided through The Living Murray program, which is a joint initiative funded by the NSW, Victorian, South Australian, ACT and the Commonwealth governments, co-ordinated by Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

Exploration licences to be considered urray Irrigation will make M comment on two exploration licence applications that cover parts of its area of operations.

Grainger Energy Pty Ltd has lodged two Petroleum Exploration Licence Applications with the NSW Department of Resources and Energy — Petroleum Exploration Licence Application 153 that covers an area north of Deniliquin, and Petroleum Exploration Licence Application 157 that covers an area between Hay and Balranald.

Murray Irrigation general manager Anthony Couroupis said the organisation’s submission would focus on the potential impacts of the resource exploration on Murray Irrigation infrastructure, including its operation and integrity of its water deliveries. ‘‘We will also raise the issue of any water requirements during the exploration process,’’ Mr Couroupis said.

He said Murray Irrigation was in communication with Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia and Southern Riverina Irrigators about also making submissions to the department.

Comments on these exploration licence applications close on Tuesday, February 11. ➤ For more information, phone the NSW Farmers’ Mining and Coal Seam Gas hotline on 1300 794 000 or visit www.resources.nsw.gov.au/communityinformation/comment

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‘Water Talk’, February, 2014—PAGE 11

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Program improves productivity

By Geoff Adams atamatite grain grower Jarrod Lukies says that without Farm Water Program funding, a difficult-to-irrigate outblock bought in 2009 would have been under-utilised.

Mr Lukies, who runs Lanivet Farms with his parents Graham and Robyn, said the block had been too hard to irrigate efficiently. ‘‘It had lots of small bays and contour banks — it was just not worth irrigating, it would have taken days,’’ he said. ‘‘We were using it as dry land, getting one crop a year.’’

Irrigation designer Doug Walker alerted them to funding from the Victorian On-Farm State Priority Project that had become available through the Farm Water Program.

The Farm Water Program, a consortium of Northern Victorian agencies led by Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, helps irrigators achieve farm water savings by funding upgrades to farm irrigation systems. The water savings are shared between farmers and the environment.

The Lukies family grows wheat, barley and canola on the 1500 ha property they own and lease in the area. They applied for Farm Water Program funding to upgrade an 88 ha section of the 250 ha outblock, recognising that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make it more productive.

Mr Lukies said they had considered flood irrigation improvements but instead decided

K

At a glance: Who: Jarrod, Graham and Robyn Lukies.

Where: Lanivet Farms, Katamatite.

Project area: 88 ha on a 250 ha outblock.

What: Installed universal traveller sprinkler system, supply channel and dam.

Water Service Area: Murray Valley.

Total water savings: 212 Ml, half transferred to the Federal Government for environmental purposes. to install a sprinkler system. ‘‘The lasering work that would have been needed would have been quite expensive — the property is quite flat,’’ he said. ‘‘In the meantime we had been looking into sprinklers and had done a lot of research on them. We really liked that (with sprinklers) you could control the amount of water to suit your crop.’’

The family decided to install a Valley Universal Linear System from Cobram Irrigation. The sprinkler is a combination of linear traveller and a pivot. Its 310 m span travels in a straight line along one side of a 1.25 km supply channel. Once it reaches the end of the channel, the span pivots to irrigate land on the other side of

Jarrod Lukies checks the control system on the travelling irrigator. the channel as it travels back.

During an intense four-month period, the Lukies removed old fences and channels from the property, built a pump site and supply channel, as well as a 40 Ml dam. ‘‘Project management took up a lot more time than I expected but it was worth it in the end,’’ Mr Lukies said. ‘‘We’ve basically got a customised system with all the right specs that can be adjusted to suit us and our crops.’’

The sprinklers have been set up to deliver 16 mm in 24 hours over the entire 88 ha site. A computerised ‘‘dashboard’’ allows the Lukies to adjust the amount of water quickly and easily to

The 310 m linear irrigator draws water from a 1.25 km supply channel.

The 40 Ml dam.

The new irrigation system grew a barley crop during the current season.

optimise a crop’s growth patterns.

Mr Lukies says the first crop under the new system — barley — yielded quite well although it was affected by a late frost. ‘‘We were hoping for about seven tonnes/ha, well up on the four tonnes/ha we’d got growing it as a dryland crop, but the frost brought the yield back to just under six tonnes/ha,’’ he said.

The automated system is easy to operate. Mr Lukies is kept informed of the sprinklers’ progress, rate and any problems via SMS. He says the benefits of the system far outweigh the costs of running it. ‘‘The ease, the speed, the fact that I can start the machine and

have 88 ha irrigated in 24 hours without really having to be there are all benefits, but the real advantage is that unlike flood irrigation you have complete control over the amount of water you use, and when.’’

He says with the dam providing water out of the irrigation season they could triple production by growing crops year-round. ‘‘While the project management was pretty intense, the upside is we know the system really well and we’ve had very few problems,’’ Mr Lukies said. ‘‘We’re really glad we’ve done this — we would never have done it without the (Farm Water) program.’’

PAGE 12—‘Water Talk’, February, 2014

water talk

Ecosystem investigation harles Sturt University will share C more than $1.4 million in Federal Government funding for the continued investigation of ecosystem responses to environmental watering in the Murrumbidgee and EdwardWakool rivers in southern NSW. Funded by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, the two new projects will help governments and managers deliver environmental water in a way that maximises environmental benefits to the Murray-Darling Basin.

Associate Professor Robyn Watts is leading researchers from CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS), as well as partners from the NSW Department of Trade and Investment (Fisheries), Murray Catchment Management Authority, Monash University and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, in the monitoring and evaluation of the EdwardWakool river system, north of the Murray River.

The monitoring is focusing on native fish, frogs and shrimp, as well as water quality, river productivity and patterns of river bank inundation under different flow conditions. ‘‘The health of native fish in the Edward-Wakool river system is of particular interest to the local community,’’ Professor Watts said. ‘‘This project is monitoring the movement, spawning, recruitment and changes in the size and structure of the fish community in response to environmental watering, and this will help improve the management and delivery of environmental water. ‘‘Landholders and community members play an important role in the

Chance to have water tested sing saline water on your farm can have a U negative impact on plant and livestock productivity and lead to a decline in the longer-

Research is continuing into environmental watering in the Edward (pictured), Wakool and Murrumbidgee rivers. project by providing access to sites on private property and assisting with the fish tagging and monitoring fish movement.’’

The monitoring in the Murrumbidgee system is led by Dr Skye Wassens and CSU researchers are joined by partners in NSW Department of Trade and Investment (Fisheries), Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and University of NSW. Dr Wassens said that the monitoring was focused on the interrelated responses of various ecological processes and aquatic species to environmental watering in the Murrumbidgee River.

These include water quality, nutrients and carbon, microscopic animals,

It’s on again

aquatic and land-based plants, fish, frogs, turtles and waterbirds in the Murrumbidgee River and connected wetlands between Wagga Wagga and Balranald in southern NSW. ‘‘The Murrumbidgee River and connected wetlands have enormous social and ecological value,’’ Dr Wassens said. ‘‘The outcomes of the monitoring program help maximise the ecological benefits of environmental flows, while maintaining the economic and social values of the Murrumbidgee as a ‘working’ river, particularly for irrigated agriculture.’’

The two teams will continue to monitor and assess the ecological responses to environmental watering in these river systems until mid-year.

term health and productivity of soils.

DEPI land health officer Kylie Macreadie said testing salinity levels of water used on a farm could be a quick and easy task. ‘‘From a simple test DEPI can provide farmers with an understanding of appropriate uses for their water, based on known salinity tolerance levels of plants and livestock,’’ Mrs Macreadie said. ‘‘In the north-east region, 54 per cent of saline discharge sites are within 100 m of a waterway.

There are streams and groundwater with salinity levels high enough to impact on plants and animals.’’

DEPI staff monitor 60 streams for salinity.

Mrs Macreadie said the monitoring helped to establish trends and identify ‘hot spots’ where land managers needed to be aware of managing the heightened possibility of salinity threats. ‘‘Monitoring during summer when evaporation and water use is high, or after rainfall events, can aid in identifying times of high water salinity,’’ she said.

DEPI salinity staff invite land managers to bring in their water samples between 9 am and noon on the following days: ➤ Monday, February 24 — DEPI Wodonga, 1 McKoy St. ➤ Tuesday, February 25 — DEPI Rutherglen, 124 Chiltern Valley Rd. ➤ Wednesday, February 26 — DEPI Wangaratta, 62-68 Ovens St. A maximum of one cup of water is required per site tested; record the location of your sample and type of water (e.g. bore, dam or stream). ‘‘If you can’t attend on the day, drop your samples in to one of the locations leading up to the day and results and information will be posted,’’ Mrs Macreadie said. ➤ For more information phone Kylie Macreadie at DEPI Wodonga on (02) 6043 7900.

2OI4

Irrigation and Energy Expo showcasing industry innovation

ATTENTION EXHIBITORS

Shepparton Showgrounds – May 28 & 29, 2014

Showcase your business at the 2014 WTC Irrigation Expo With a hugely successful event in 2013, the 2014 expo promises to be even better. The expo provides the perfect opportunity to promote your products and services to thousands of people attending the event over two days. Many previous exhibitors have commented that ‘the right people’ attend and buy their products.

To be held again at the Exhibition Shed at the Shepparton showgrounds, which is a purposebuilt undercover venue with extensive car parking.

With competitive site fees and a guaranteed

audience, exhibitors will receive excellent value for money. If you’re participating in the On-farm Water Progams or Modernisation this Irrigation and Energy Efficiencty Expo is for you.

To book your exhibition space please complete the prospectus documents available from our website, www.wtcexpo.com.au and email them to andrew.chittick@totaleden.com.au or mail to Andrew Chittick at Rob Rye Irrigation, 19 New Dookie Road, Shepparton, Victoria 3630.

Book early to secure your site!

Sponsorship Opportunities – Align your business with this fantastic event.

The expo has built strong attendance from a select audience specifically interested in purchasing irrigation technology, with over 2000 people attending the event in 2012 and 2013.

The expo has also built strong support from the Commonwealth and Victorian governments, with

Contacts Sponsorship Wendy Buck Chair WTC Irrigation Expo wendy@wtcexpo.com.au

Exhibiting Andrew Chittick Expo Treasurer andrew.chittick@totaleden.com.au

Phone: 0438 052 630

Phone: 0400 671 172

Or visit our website www.wtcexpo.com.au.

MAJOR SPONSORS:

ountry News Co Reaching Australia’s richest agricultural region

SPONSORS:

high-level public figures attending the expo.

We offer a flexible sponsorship model and can tailor sponsorship opportunities to your specific needs. Please email wendy@wtcexpo.com.au to register your interest.

PAGE 14—‘Water Talk’, February, 2014

water talk

Lifeline is ake Cooper is not likely L to get any share of government-held environmental water to prevent it from drying up.

Although state and federal governments have been accumulating water for environmental purposes, the lake, near Corop, does not rate high enough in environmental values to warrant an allocation from Victoria’s Environmental Water Holder.

Corop residents have been asking government agencies for help to stop the lake drying up. They are concerned lack of water will have a negative impact on the flora and bird life, will worsen salinity and will end recreational use which contributes to the town’s economy.

Environmental Water Holder chairman Denis Flett has said Lake Cooper had not been identified as nationally significant by a Federal Government directory of wetlands having significant environmental values.

Corop farmer and Cornella Local Area Planning Group member Tait Hamilton is concerned about the longterm affects the high saline water in Lake Cooper could have on the lake and surrounding farmlands.

Birds take flight on Lake Cooper recently.

er al ng nd i a de ic ia rv SW tor ew e N w s n N Vic r no he rn ut the So or N

THE T-L DIFFERENCE

He said the evaporation of water from the lake made it high in salinity.

Mr Hamilton said the highly saline water in Lake Cooper would mean it could not be transferred to Greens Lake, which farmers use for irrigation.

He said if the water level at the lake continued to fall, the salinity levels would rise.

Mr Hamilton has been involved with the care of Lake Cooper for the past 20 years and is campaigning for the use of environmental flows from Lake Eildon to help with the salinity issue.

He said environmental flows to the lake would also support the nearby wetlands which were also drying up.

Mr Hamilton said there were enough identified environmental issues to be granted access to environmental water.

Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority environmental reserve co-ordinator Simon Cassanelia said Lake Cooper was a terminal water body which had historically high saline levels.

He said while many waterways in the catchment area had national or international significance for their environmental value, Lake Cooper was not one of those.

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‘Water Talk’, February, 2014—PAGE 15

water talk

not likely The nearby Gaynors Swamp, the One Tree and Two Tree swamps and Wallenjoe Swamp are nationally listed. ‘‘We are trying to deliver environmental water where we can to priority places where wetland values are under threat and environmental water can make a significant contribution to protecting those values.’’

Mr Cassanelia said the catchment authority had been involved in working with the community on Cornella Creek, which flows into Lake Cooper.

Goulburn-Murray Water catchment services general manager Graeme Hannan said the organisation checked the salinity levels weekly and Lake Cooper’s level frequently fluctuated and was presently above stock drinking water standards.

He said Lake Cooper was not part of the G-MW supply system, so it was not intentionally filled for any purpose. ‘‘As it is dependent on Cornella Creek flows, Lake Cooper’s water levels cannot be secured,’’ he said.

Lake Cooper is used for boating and other recreational pastimes.

Lake has history of dry times:

Environment water holder’s view: Victorian Environment Water Holder Denis Flett: ‘‘Wetlands are prioritised for environmental water delivery according to the significance of their environmental values. ‘‘In the Corop system, Mansfield Swamp, Gaynor Swamp, Wallenjoe Swamp, Two Tree Swamp and One Tree Swamp are identified as nationally significant wetlands in the Federal Government’s Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia because of the number and diversity of flora and fauna they support. ‘‘Lake Cooper, while used for a range of recreational activities, has not been considered a priority for environmental watering as it is not recognised in the directory as having significant

environmental values. ‘‘The Victorian Environmental Water Holder, who prioritises environmental watering based on proposals put forward by Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA), recognises that there are also economic and social benefits linked to environmental watering. ‘‘The Goulburn Broken CMA has worked closely and effectively with the community over many years of environmental watering.

We understand the Goulburn Broken CMA is willing to have further discussions with the community about Lake Cooper to provide them with more information on the processes, planning and considerations associated with environmental water delivery.’’

Bendigo Advertiser, November 5, 1881: ENGLISH PERCH IN LAKE COOPER Mr. W. J. Long, of the Victoria Hotel, Elmore, received yesterday morning, from Mr. J. G. Kooke, of Corop, a splendid English perch, caught in the salt lake known as Lake Cooper. The spawn was put in the Lake in I870.

No one knew there were any fish there until Thursday night when Mr. Kooke and Mr. Gates were passing the lake and saw the fish in shallow water. The lake is

drying up and these fish were in a shallow part. The fish was taken out and weighed 18 lb.

South Australian Weekly Chronicle, June, 1883: ‘‘The Australasian says: — Is not that a very important fact stated by our Horsham correspondent that ‘Lake Hindmarsh is reported to be dry for the first time within the recollection of white people?’

We may connect this circumstance with the drying up of Lake Cooper, near

Runnymede, the area of which has been let for some time on grazing licences.

Lake Hindmarsh was one of the largest lakes of the colony, its area being given some years ago at 35 840 acres; Lake Cooper was a much smaller lake, not exceeding 3840 acres.

Surely the disappearance of such sheets of water from the map of Victoria, if only for a time, is a matter of extreme concern, and one that calls for very careful examination by competent scientific authorities.

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PAGE 16—‘Water Talk’, February, 2014

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