The Murrumbidgee Environmental Water Advisory Group met at Balranald in March 2025. Anna Wilson chaired the meeting which included a field trip to the Lowbidgee to view the wetlands after an environmental water delivery.
Water planning and delivery
At the time of the meeting, Blowering Dam was at 34.6% capacity and Burrinjuck Dam at 48.3%. High water use during late spring and summer caused the reduced storage levels.
Rainfall has been slightly below average for the past 6 months, and conditions have been warmer than usual. It is hoped that rainfall in autumn and spring will help replenish the dams.
During March there were several environmental water events across the catchment to support bird breeding events in Gayini Wetlands (formerly known as Nimmie-Caira).
At South Caira Channel and Nimmie Creek, flows continued until mid-March.
At Glen Dee Channel, the environmental water delivery finished at the end of February and will be kept dry for the rest of the water year for maintenance.
Downstream of Balranald, elevated surplus flows targeting 11 gigalitres were delivered in February 2025 and protected to the South Australian border.
At the Yanco Creek downstream offtake, a native fish pulse event was in operation to maximise native fish movement opportunities into favourable habitats.
Environmental water events were scheduled to finish by mid-March.
Reconnecting River Program
The group was updated on the Reconnecting River Country Program. For further information and the latest updates on the program visit the Reconnecting River Country Program website.
Murrumbidgee waterbird monitoring 2024–25
Annual spring aerial and ground surveys of waterbird species' abundance and breeding activity were completed in mid-October 2024 when flows were just reaching North Redbank and the Western Lakes.
A total of 40 species of waterbirds were recorded across sites in the Lowbidgee wetlands, including migratory sharp-tailed sandpipers recorded in the Western Lakes system near Balranald.
Gayini Wetlands surveys detected musk duck, Australasian bittern, large numbers of Australian shelduck, and the nationally endangered Australian painted snipe.
Small numbers of Australasian bitterns were seen at Fairfax, Websters Bank within the Gayini Wetlands.
Australian little bitterns were detected at Paika reed beds, Bala Rookery, Fairfax, Websters Bank and Warwaegae.
The 2024–25 survey report will be available in June 2025.
Stocking environmental watering sites with native fish
Recreational angling representative, Wayne McPherson, gave a presentation on research underway on stocking locations of the golden perch population and whether river or lagoons are more effective. There are some concerns from the community about low catch rates and decline of recreational species in the adjacent river reach.
Results from Berry Jerry Lagoon DNA samples were also discussed. The DNA results indicate that stocking lagoons does improve golden perch fingerling survival rates and growth rates compared to the river stocked fish.
Evidence from major fishing competitions and anglers still show poor golden perch catch rates and at some locations catch rates appear to be declining.
In May 2025 fish surveys will be conducted at Berry Jerry, Currawananna and Island lagoons.
The information gathered in the surveys will provide valuable research data for NSW Department of Industry and Regional Development Fisheries and NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water's environmental water managers.
Lowbidgee field trip
On the second day of the meeting, several Environmental Water Advisory Group members toured the North Redbank wetland complex. The group saw a range of lush, green healthy wetlands with a high diversity of waterbirds including herons, egrets, swans, ibis, cormorants, pelicans, spoonbills and a range of duck species. The field trip finished with lunch at Redbank weir.
Field trip to the North Redbank complex