The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has been working with NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to incorporate environmental flow recommendations aimed at improving the condition of the lower Snowy River and its estuary.
These recommendations focus on maintaining an open entrance during late summer and autumn, a period when the estuary has historically closed due to reduced catchment and environmental water releases.
“As part of the 2024-25 environmental water release plan, the NSW Government implemented the planned environmental water releases from Jindabyne Dam, informed by advice from the Snowy Advisory Committee and other organisations. The daily release schedule is prepared 12 months in advance to ensure effective planning and coordination,” said Bec Hemming, East Gippsland CMA’s CEO.
A trial was undertaken to monitor estuary mouth behaviour in response to varying environmental water release volumes over specified time intervals.
“Monitoring successfully captured estuary entrance changes in response to both flow and other drivers, such as wave conditions. This provided valuable insights into how the estuary responds to different drivers, as well as impacts on water quality in adjacent connected wetlands and waterways during late summer and autumn of 2025,” added Bec.
The trials were funded as part of the Victorian Government’s $248 million investment into improving the health of waterways and catchments in regional Victoria.
To find out more about these trials, the East Gippsland CMA is hosting a community event on Wednesday 11 March 2026 at the Marlo Angling Club from 12pm to 6pm. There will be multiple activities during this time, including two talks from CMA staff – one at 1pm and another at 5pm about the Snowy flows trial.
The East Gippsland CMA welcomes all community members to join in the activities, listen to the presentation, and ask any questions about the Snowy River. More information about the day can be found on the East Gippsland CMA’s Community Events page.
