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Media Release - Department of Water and Energy Date: 2 February 2009 CHANGES TO WAKOOL STOCK AND DOMESTIC WATER RELEASE The NSW Department of Water and Energy today advised landholders along the Wakool system that a planned stock and domestic water release will be delayed until an expected cool change arrives on Sunday.
The water release is part of a stock and domestic replenishment flow currently being provided to landholders along the Wakool system, west of Deniliquin.
The release was scheduled to commence this week, but in response to two recent fish kills potentially aggravated by the current heat wave, the Department has decided to wait for the cool change to arrive on the weekend.
“Releases will continue into the Colligen and Merran creeks,” said the Department’s Deputy Director-General, David Harriss.
“The fish kills in both creeks are the result of the oxygen level at the head of the flow being reduced to a very low level by a series of unexpected hot days above 40 degrees, the collection of organic matter and potential liberation of sulphidic sediments.”
Mr Harriss went on to say that the Department has also received reports of fish dying in other parts of the Murray Valley not associated with any release of water, but primarily due to the extreme heat.
The Department was informed of the latest fish kill in Merran Creek today by a local landholder. It is understood that while a number of the fish were invasive European Carp, native species have also been affected.
“This is an unfortunate event and the Department is working closely with NSW Fisheries, CSIRO, State Water and local landholders to modify our water delivery plan to improve water quality in the creeks,” Mr Harriss said.
“Local landholders have told us that they are desperate for this water and it is essential that the stock and domestic replenishment flows continues.
“In response we have decided to continue that flow, but with changed flow rates and a delay to the Wakool River release.
“I’d like to thank local landholders for working with us to manage this situation but also advise water users in these areas to delay taking and using the water at the front of the flush for as long as possible as it is likely to be poor quality,” he said
For more information on flows and water levels, please contact the Duty Operations Officer at State Water, Deniliquin office on 5898 3925.
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