Water for the environment will be released from Hume Dam from September to December 2020 to support select wetlands and the river channel from the mid-Murray, to the lower Murray all the way to the Lower Lakes and Coorong.
Release of this water is being coordinated with environmental flows from the Goulburn River, as well as natural flows and operational flows.
The Southern Spring Flow 2020 will provide benefits along the whole length of the river, from Yarrawonga to the Coorong. The flows will help keep the river healthy for all users and provide much needed food and breeding opportunities for native vegetation fish and wildlife.
Careful planning and collaboration across State agencies in NSW, Victoria and South Australia, as well as other Commonwealth agencies, has made the Southern Spring Flow possible. The flows are being delivered in close collaboration with river operators and local site managers.
Regular updates on the flow will also be published as they become available.
For more information, please contact your nearest Local Engagement Officer:
For further information on the Southern Spring Flow:
The Southern spring flow updates
Southern spring flow update 3
Native perch eggs (suspected to be callop/golden perch) have been detected below Lock 4 and Lock 1 on the lower River Murray.
Deliveries of water for the environment as part of the Southern Spring Flow are starting to reduce. Very small flows will continue to targeted sites over the coming months.
Southern spring flow update 2
Good rainfall in early October provided a natural boost to river flows in the Murray.
In response, releases of water for the environment were increased to provide higher flows into the Barmah-Millewa Forest.
Southern spring flow update 1
Early season rainfall has led to good natural flows in the River Murray over autumn, winter and early spring. Building on these flows, small releases of water for the environment began from Hume Dam in September.
These flows will help support native fish such as the Murray cod in the mid-Murray and boost the health of the River Murray. Water for the environment is being re-used multiple times at multiple locations all along the River Murray.
Productivity Monitoring
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) measured how carbon, nutrients and stream metabolism changed at 7 key areas along the River Murray in response to the flows. This is the first time the stream metabolism method has been applied to these areas. The measured increases in carbon, nutrients and changes in stream metabolism demonstrated a boost in productivity to support aquatic food webs from the delivery of water for the environment.
The full monitoring report is available at: Southern Spring Flow productivity monitoring