Mt William Creek …supporting fish, culture and community

Winter rain across the Wimmera has delivered welcome natural flows across parts of the Mt William Creek catchment.

Stretching from the Grampians/Gariwerd to Dadswells Bridge, the catchment includes a network of waterways and refuge habitats that play an important role in both wet and dry conditions.

During the past three years, Wimmera CMA has provided water for the environment above Lake Lonsdale to the Mokepilly drought refuge pool via Fyans Creek. This is helping maintain important habitat for native fish and waterbirds during periods of low flow.

Water for the environment releases from Lake Lonsdale have not been undertaken since December 2024 due to blue-green algae and water quality issues in the lake.

Natural flows through Mt William Creek between Lake Lonsdale and Dadswells Bridge during spring 2025 and early winter 2026 have also provided environmental benefits, helping maintain aquatic habitat and connectivity along the waterway.

Adapting to conditions

Wimmera CMA continually consults with the community on water levels, water quality and ecological conditions across the catchment to guide future watering decisions.

This adaptive management approach, balances environmental, recreational and community values to help ensure the Mt William Creek and catchment continues to support both people and nature into the future.

Did you know?

For almost a decade, Street Ryan Consulting has partnered with Wimmera CMA to assess the social and economic benefits of recreational and environmental water across the Wimmera Southern Mallee. The 2026–27 assessment will expand to include Mount William Creek and Dadswell Bridge.

Winter flows

No environmental water releases are occurring during periods of high natural flow. Environmental water releases may commence once natural flows begin to recede.

• If you’d like a copy of assessment results, please get in touch by calling (03) 5382 1544 or emailing wcma@wcma.vic.gov.au