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CoonancoocabillEstimated Water Savings - 632ML Coonancoocabill wetland is continuously inundated with water from Gogeldrie Weir downstream of Narrandera on the Murrumbidgee River. The project will disconnect the lagoon from the weir pool for extended periods of up to 2 years. Coonancoocabill is a wetland system within the MIA State Forest. The wetland comprises a main lagoon and two two smaller wetlands. The main lagoon and the western lagoon (swamp B) are directly connected to the Gogeldrie Weir pool. The eastern lagoon (swamp A) is connected to the main lagoon. The total area of the wetland areas is about 130ha. This project will isolate the larger Coonancoocabill lagoon for an estimated saving of 632ML pa. and total cost of $1.2M , including $0.3M for environmental investigations. State Water is the proponent of this project. The regulator to control flows into the lagoon will be constructed in autumn 2010, following which water savings will be formally transferred to Water for Rivers. The works include a sheet pile regulator with two combination gates remotely operated by State Water. An earthen bank will isolate a small breakout to the main weir pool two kilometres upstream of Gogeldrie Weir. The two smaller wetlands were isolated from regulated flows in 2002. Isolating the main lagoon will make the regulator to the smaller eastern lagoon redundant. The regulator to the western lagoon will remain in use. Restoring the wetland to a natural wetting and drying cycle will enhance the overall biodiversity of the area. The regulator will be operated to improve the potential for native fish-breeding events and reduce bench erosion associated with frequent water level changes.
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URL: http://www.waterforrivers.org.au/projects/current/20102813094.asp |
