Barwon Flagship Waterway

The Corangamite CMA ‘E-Water’ team have been working towards improving the Upper Barwon Rivers flow using strategic water releases of water from the West Barwon Reservoir into either the East or West Branch of the Barwon River.

Through this we are aiming to improve flow in the river and water quality to maintain riverine habitat and food sources for native fish and platypus.

Water for the environment priorities in the Upper Barwon River:

1. Low flows in the river through the dry period (Dec-May) e.g. to maintain connectivity and water quality, and if required at a minimum level through the wet period.
2. Fresh releases (pulses of water) during the dry period e.g. to allow down-stream spawning migration of adult fish, water fringing vegetation, flush pools and connect habitats.
3. Fresh releases (pulses of water) in spring and winter e.g. to trigger down-stream spawning migration of adult fish and upstream return migration of juvenile fish, transport organic matter through the system and promote growth of native vegetation.

The current environmental water entitlement held in the West Barwon Reservoir can only provide environmental water to the Upper Barwon east branch, the Upper Barwon west branch, with diminishing effect to reaches downstream in the main Barwon River channel. Listed above are the priorities for delivery from highest to lowest. There is insufficient water in the current entitlement to deliver them all, however they are all important. In addition to these priorities the upper east branch is prioritised over the upper west.

For live flow data information explore the Upper Barwon  interactive map here.

Learn more about what the ‘E-Water’ team does here.

Riparian land is the ‘buffer zone’ between water and land. The land could be used for anything from a recreation reserve to an area for livestock to graze. It’s important to keep riparian land healthy and well covered with vegetation to help maintain a healthy waterway.

The focus areas for riparian works in the Upper Barwon is documented in the Corangamite Waterway Strategy and includes Dewing Creek and the Barwon River East and West branches to their confluence.

Previously, the Corangamite CMA has financed waterway protection and restoration works through the Waterway Protection Program which has funded works in Dewing Creek and the Barwon River in Birregurra.

A new model is being trialled for the East and West branch of the Barwon River with project requirements being different to the past. Find out more here. 

This new program, 'Upper Barwon Flagship Riparian Works', will focus on trialling site specific riparian and on-stream innovative approaches to address the infestation problems with willows and Glyceria.

Learn more about the Waterway Protection Program here. Further updates on the trials will be included on this page.

Citizen Science aims to maintain and improve the connections between people and their local waterways. Corangamite CMA is supporting WaterWatch volunteers to conduct short and long-term monitoring in the Upper Barwon Flagship area.

The monitoring undertaken is used to help inform decisions regarding the future management of the river. There is a strong focus on assessing water quality through the monthly water testing program on the East and West branches as well as the main Barwon channel from Forrest through to Winchelsea.

Seasonal waterbug surveys are done in spring and autumn to provide a picture of waterway health that can be used to monitor change in the environment associated with restoration activities and delivery of water for the environment. This information is publicly available at the WaterWatch Portal and National Waterbug Blitz Portal (click on the interactive maps in the portals to find Barwon Flagship data).

If you would like to get involved in a volunteer program click here, to register your interest.

Also check the Corangamite CMA Events page to participate in upcoming events such as Waterbug Discovery Days.

Barwon Water is Victoria’s largest regional urban water corporation. It services a population of more than 320,000 people, which rises to more than 545,000 people in peak periods.

Find out more about their work on the Upper Barwon River here: Forrest community hub | Your Say Barwon Water

Upper Barwon Landcare Network is made up of 7 Landcare and Farmcare groups in the mid and upper Barwon River catchments upstream of Inverleigh to the northern foothills of the Otway Ranges in South West Victoria. Comprising of over 153,000 hectares, the area includes parts of the Surf Coast and Colac Otway Shires.

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research conduct applied ecological research with an emphasis on plants, animals and biodiversity issues.

Riparian Intervention Monitoring Program

In the Spring and Summer of 2021, as part of a PhD project, Mariah Sampson visited streams across the Upper Barwon Catchment to collect data on water quality, in-stream vegetation, vegetation in the riparian zone, and channel morphology measurements.

The sites visited consisted of riparian vegetation that was either dominated by willows, replanted native vegetation, or a thin strip of blackwood. The sampling was designed to collect data for two research questions:

• How does riparian vegetation influence water quality, stream morphology, and in-stream vegetation?
• How does the removal and revegetation of willows along a stream influence water quality, stream morphology, and in-stream vegetation?

In 2022 Mariah returned to repeat the collection of data after the willows had been removed along the East Barwon River. The goal of this sampling was to determine whether the removal of the willows has started to influence water quality, in-stream vegetation, and channel morphology.

This is an exciting area of research as there are few studies that investigate the immediate impacts of willow restorations on streams. The collection of data both before and after works is rare. The goal of this research will be to contribute supporting knowledge for future riparian restoration projects.