Goulburn Broken CMA environmental water and wetlands manager Simon Casanelia said the delivery of water would increase river habitat and encourage native fish to move and spawn.
“Water for the environment will be used to deliver a series of short-term increases in river flows between now and the end of November,” Mr Casanelia said.
“As water temperatures rise, these short-term increases can act as a cue for golden perch and silver perch to move and spawn in the lower Goulburn River between Murchison and the Murray River.”
A late-spring fresh will also be delivered to initiate perch spawning and will be the first environmental water delivery of this kind for several years.
After the fresh, lower variable base flows will begin before the peak recreation period. These will support the germination and growth of lower-bank vegetation over the warmer months.
Flows are planned to fluctuate between 1200ML/day and 3000ML/day over the two months, with two higher peaks at Murchison. The first is expected to reach up to 6000 ML/day about October 19, followed by a late-spring fresh of up to 9000ML/day about November 12.
Peak flows will remain well below minor flood levels along the Goulburn River. At Shepparton, the river is expected to reach a maximum of about 5.5m (about 9000ML/day), compared with the minor flood level of 9.5m (about 29000ML/day).
The planned release of water for environment will also benefit the river and adjacent wetlands directly downstream of Lake Eildon.
Before the river was regulated, flows in the lower Goulburn would have risen and fallen in response to rainfall.
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