Snowy River Campaign
Created on Monday, 23 April 2012 21:00
Ten years have passed since the first return of environmental flows to the river in August 2002. Since then flows have been increased from less than 1% of pre-Jindabyne Dam levels to around 15%. Importantly there have been major flushing flows delivered to simulate spring snow-melt conditions and scour sediment from river channels. Despite this progress much remains to be done and constant vigilance is needed to prevent backsliding on key commitments. Environmental flows are lagging years behind schedule, with the current 15% level well short of the legislated 2012 target of 21%. There has been no progress on restoring flows to the upper Snowy and other montane rivers. The Snowy continues to be cut off from its tributary, the Mowamba River by the Mowamba Weir diversion. This diversion needs to be decommissioned to provide the Snowy with a natural, montane headwater.
Disturbingly the NSW Government has failed to re-appoint the Snowy Scientific Committee are deeply disturbing whose first three-year term expired in May last year. The Committee has a vital role in providing independent scientific advice on the environmental health of the Snowy River and the program to restore flows. The State Government has also cut the Snowy Flow Response Monitoring and Modelling Program which provides vital information to guide timing and volumes of environmental releases. The major gains made over the last 10 years to restoring the Snowy could not have been achieved without sustained pressure from environment and community groups. The campaign will continue until the job of saving this iconic river is completed.
– To read about the The Snowy Regeneration Program click here.
– To read about recent attempts to remove the only free flow into the River at Mowamba, download the January 2006 Briefing Note -“Snowy Needs the Mowamba Flow”.
– Media Releases: for a full list of releases enter ‘Snowy River’ in SEARCH