Wimmera River
Encyclopedia
The Wimmera River is a river in Western Victoria
, Australia
. It begins in the Pyrenees
, and flows into Lake Hindmarsh
and Lake Albacutya
, although in many years flows do not reach these terminal lakes and the river contracts to a series of pools of varying sizes. Its major tributaries include Mount William Creek and the MacKenzie River.
The Wimmera River is one of a handful of north flowing rivers and their associated distributaries in Victoria that do not join up with the Murray River
.
Major towns the Wimmera River flows through are Horsham
, Dimboola
and Jeparit
.
The inflowing of saline groundwater into the lower reaches of the Wimmera River in recent years has severely affected the water quality, making the water more saline than sea water in several locations.
The health of the Wimmera River is expected to improve under the Wimmera-Mallee pipeline project, completed in 2008. The Project involved replacing old, inefficient stock water supply and irrigation infrastructure, with a pipeline system. Prior to the project's completion, up to 90 percent of water extracted from the Wimmera river was lost through evaporation and seepage.
The Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline system will be many times more efficient and means there will be much less water extracted from the Wimmera river.
This should reduce the quantities of water taken from the river and could thereby result in an increase in environmental flows in the river system. (see discussion)
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It begins in the Pyrenees
Pyrenees (Victoria)
The Pyrenees is a wine region centred on the Pyrenees ranges located in Victoria, Australia near the town of Avoca.The altitude of the ranges is 300 to over 750 m...
, and flows into Lake Hindmarsh
Lake Hindmarsh
Lake Hindmarsh in western Victoria is the state’s largest natural freshwater lake. The nearest towns are Jeparit to the south and Rainbow to the north.The lake has filled after more than a decade of drought, due to floods in early 2011.-History:...
and Lake Albacutya
Lake Albacutya
Lake Albacutya is in Victoria, Australia. The postcode there is 3424. It has been designated a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention....
, although in many years flows do not reach these terminal lakes and the river contracts to a series of pools of varying sizes. Its major tributaries include Mount William Creek and the MacKenzie River.
The Wimmera River is one of a handful of north flowing rivers and their associated distributaries in Victoria that do not join up with the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
.
Major towns the Wimmera River flows through are Horsham
Horsham, Victoria
Horsham is the largest city by population and regional centre of the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia and is approximately north-west of Melbourne via the Western Highway. At the 2006 census, Horsham had a population of 14,125. Horsham is in the federal Division of Mallee...
, Dimboola
Dimboola, Victoria
Dimboola is located in Shire of Hindmarsh in the Wimmera region of Western Victoria, Australia, 334 kilometres north-west of Melbourne.Situated on the Wimmera River in the State of Victoria,the town of Dimboola was previously known as 'Nine Creeks'.Following a survey conducted in late 1862 by...
and Jeparit
Jeparit, Victoria
Jeparit is situated on the Wimmera River in Western Victoria, Australia, 370 kilometres north west of Melbourne. At the 2006 census Jeparit had a population of 582.-History:...
.
The inflowing of saline groundwater into the lower reaches of the Wimmera River in recent years has severely affected the water quality, making the water more saline than sea water in several locations.
The health of the Wimmera River is expected to improve under the Wimmera-Mallee pipeline project, completed in 2008. The Project involved replacing old, inefficient stock water supply and irrigation infrastructure, with a pipeline system. Prior to the project's completion, up to 90 percent of water extracted from the Wimmera river was lost through evaporation and seepage.
The Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline system will be many times more efficient and means there will be much less water extracted from the Wimmera river.
This should reduce the quantities of water taken from the river and could thereby result in an increase in environmental flows in the river system. (see discussion)
Horsham Flooding
- 4.71m - January 2011.
- 3.87m - October 1894 Major flood along the Wimmera River, including Dunmunkle & Yarriambiack creeks. Townships of Horsham, Glenorchy, Rupanyup, Warracknabeal, Dimboola & Jeparit affected.
- 3.87m - August 1909. Major flood along the Wimmera River, including Dunmunkle & Yarriambiack creeks. Townships of Horsham, Glenorchy, Rupanyup, Warracknabeal, Dimboola & Jeparit affected.
- 3.73m - September 1916, major flood along the Wimmera River affected the townships of Glenorchy and Horsham.
- 3.55m - August 1981, flood affected the Wimmera River & Yarriambiack Creek.
- 3.49m - October 1996.
- 3.32m - September 2010
- 3.30m - October 1992.