Gwydir 2019-20 Annual Report – Appendix F Pool Refugia

Extremely dry and warm conditions in winter and spring of 2019 across the Gwydir valley, combined with very low inflows, resulted in cease-to-flow conditions in the channels across much of the lower Gwydir system in late 2019. By October, all channels had ceased to flow for over 50 days with the Mehi River not having run for more than 90 days. Many pools in these systems had dried with only a small selection of larger pools providing refuge for the aquatic animals in the rivers. In response, the CEWO (Commonwealth Environmental Water Office) and NSW DPIE (Department of Planning, Industry and Environment) worked together, to deliver three low flow release events of water for the environment across the summer. These occurred in October and December 2019 and January 2020.