<< BACK TO CONTENTS Riding the flow Knowing when environmental water was to be released along the Glenelg River meant George Turner could plan the adventure of a lifetime with his family on a rarely paddled stretch of the Glenelg. George knows the lower Glenelg well. Originally hailing from the Coleraine area, he estimates he’s canoed from Dartmoor to Nelson at least a dozen times in his life. Now Adelaide-based and with family in tow, the 44-year old surveyor’s fondness for the Glenelg River remains. That’s why when he was planning his Christmas holidays last year, his thoughts turned to canoeing along the Glenelg with his family — his partner Sue and two sons aged 10 and 12. He thought, maybe given the wet winter in 2016, they might be able to canoe beyond the usual Glenelg River canoeing route into the area north of Dartmoor. But before he planned the trip, he wanted to be certain there’d be enough water to paddle on. “I wanted to know how canoeable different sections of the river would be,” he said. He figured if they could time their adventure with an environmental flow, they’d be assured a clear passage. Wanting to find out more about the river’s condition and planned environmental flows, he contacted Glenelg Hopkins CMA. After talking with Water Resources Manager Bryce Morden, he was able to plan a 40-kilometre trip upstream of Dartmoor around the timing of a flow. Using river height data, they estimated when the flow would reach the area of river his family was hoping to paddle. “It’s always going to be better, from a canoeing perspective, jumping in your boat when there is extra water around,” George said. “Knowing what is happening on the water is very helpful. It’s useful for knowing if the trip is viable and for managing any threats and risks to the trip,” he said. In late December 2016, George and his family enjoyed the benefits of the environmental flow as they navigated a rarely canoed stretch of the Glenelg River north of Dartmoor. George said he was impressed by the range of wildlife they saw along the river. “The wildlife was pretty amazing. We saw platypus, wedge-tailed eagles, koalas, emus, kangaroos and snakes.” He said finding sandy spots along the Glenelg to pitch a tent was easy, and the kids loved every minute. Bryce Morden said part of the reason for releasing water into the Glenelg from Rocklands in early December was so it could benefit holiday-makers along the lower reaches later in the month. He said it was gratifying to be able to help people like George and his family enjoy some of what the Glenelg has to offer. “Water for the environment supports more than just plants and animals, it’s for people too. It’s good that message is getting out there about environmental flows and people like George are taking up the opportunity to speak with us to help them plan recreational activities like canoeing.” Reflections – Environmental watering in Victoria 2016–17 | 56
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