Probing King River health

Action plan to protect valley’s natural asset - source: Wangaratta Chronicle

RIVER health, water quality and exotic infestations will be probed as part of an action plan for the Upper King River.

North East Catchment Management Authority (NECMA) has commissioned Water Technology Consulting to prepare the waterway action plan for 24kms of the river.

The project area runs from Lake William Hovell downstream to Gentle Annie Lane at Whitfield, with major tributaries of the King River West Branch at Cheshunt South, Stony Creek at Cheshunt and Station Creek at Whitfield.

NECMA waterway project officer, Rebecca Damm, said there is a focus on threats and actions impacting on the river’s health.

"From a physical perspective, this includes the land directly influenced by the river within the channel, the near bank riparian zone and the floodplain," she said.

Ms Damm said the impact infestations of exotic flora, including willows, and the affect of the 2006/07 bushfires, has had on the river will be investigated.

"We will also look at the potential for future channel avulsions and scour of the floodplain, as a result of current land use and management of the floodplain, and water quality concerns raised by the local community," she said.

A community reference group has been established and member, Thomas Moritz, representing the King Basin Landcare and King Valley Tourist Association, said the river was of paramount importance to the region.

"From our Landcare perspective, we’re interested in the water quality, and its impact on the biodiversity and ecosystem," Mr Moritz said.

"We’ve been doing a Waterwatch program, testing samples from the river over the past 10 months, and we have seen, from time to time, some higher phosphate, nitrate and ecoli levels than we want.

"Obviously we want to maintain the river ‘clean and green’, as it plays a big part in tourism too."

Whitfield Primary School is also on the community reference group, with other stakeholders, including the DSE and Parks Victoria which manage the adjoining National Parks and State Forests, to have input.

Ms Damm said public and stakeholder meetings are planned to inform of project developments.