Residents may notice a change in the Wimmera River levels as a result of a daily allocation of 150 megalitres from Taylors Lake.
It’s part of a Wimmera Catchment Management Authority (CMA) plan to stimulate native fish breeding before summer.
Horsham Rural City Council is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Horsham Weir and is working in partnership with the CMA to replicate a natural spring flow from 2021 that triggered a major Yellow Belly breeding event.
Working on the advice from the CMA, Council staff will next week use the weir to control upstream levels, allowing water to rise before releasing it in a ‘pulse of fresh water’ downstream of Horsham.
Mayor Robyn Gulline backed the CMA’s initiative.
“A healthy Wimmera River is important for communities along its banks,” she said.
“Fresh water and flowing rivers help native fish spawn to ensure good fishing for years to come.
“Fishing in the Wimmera River draws people to the region and in turn creates more tourism dollars for our local businesses,” Cr Gulline said.
Wimmera CMA chief executive Dave Brennan explained that in November 2021, there was Yellowbelly spawning activity just below Horsham weir after spring rains in the upper catchment delivered a pulse of water over a four-day duration.
“An annual Native Fish Report Card monitoring survey in April 2022 detected higher numbers of juvenile Yellowbelly, indicating a successful breeding event. This was an unusual occurrence because Yellowbelly are not known to breed in the Wimmera River,” Mr Brennan said.
The CMA’s research will explore the use of water for the environment to mimic these environmental conditions.
“We had planned to pursue this research in spring last year, but the wet spring and flooding conditions prevented this from occurring,” Mr Brennan said.
“If we can replicate the conditions that stimulate these fish to breed naturally, it will be a game changer locally for fish breeding, how we use water for the environment and the promotion of angling opportunities in the river.”
