Native fish and river flows will benefit from a release of water for the environment into the Mehi River, downstream of Moree in the Gwydir catchment.
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) Director Conservation Programs Derek Rutherford today said up to 3700 megalitres of NSW and Commonwealth water for the environment will be released from the Copeton Dam over 28 days commencing 15 April.
"This flow will be followed by a coordinated release of Commonwealth and NSW water from the Dumaresq and Macintyre Rivers, and the Gwydir River, to replenish waterhole refuges for native fish in the Barwon River at least as far downstream as the Macquarie River junction," Mr Rutherford said.
"Detailed planning for this subsequent flow is currently being finalised with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office," he said.
The Mehi River is in the Barwon catchment in north-west NSW within the Murray-Darling Basin. It rises near Pallamallawa as the southern offshoot of the Gwydir River, called the Big Leather Watercourse, and flows generally west, before meeting the Barwon River near Collarenebri.
The planned flow is endorsed by the Gwydir Environmental Water Advisory Group consisting of community members, landholders, water users, Indigenous representatives and independent scientists.
OEH is working in partnership with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, DPI Fisheries, Department of Industry (Water) and WaterNSW to deliver the flows.
