LANDHOLDERS in the lower reaches of the the Loddon River catchment are now bearing the brunt of near record flooding.
Flooding is also affecting other streams across the region and forcing water authorities, farmers and municipalities to grade protection levees.
The Loddon River is expected to peak at Benjeroop Bridge today at a level slightly lower than the record 1981 peak, but flooding in the Murray River is expected to maintain high levels in tributaries.
The Loddon River has dropped significantly at Kerang after a near record peak on Monday afternoon.
Thousands of hectares of paddocks remain inundated throughout much of the Loddon River catchment.
The river height at Benjeroop Bridge on Wednesday was 72.62m (Australian Height Datum above sea level) 72.73m yesterday and was expected to rise and estimated 10 cm to its peak some time today.
The Level at the bridge reached 73.06m in 1981 and Rural Water Corporation acting controller of operations at Kerang, Mr John Rumbold said the current flood levels were not expected to reach that height.
Bowdens Bridge, north-east of Lake Charm reached 73.88m late Wednesday and was thought to have reached its peak at 73.95m yesterday morning.
The Loddon reached 73.14m at the bridge in 1981.
Levels further downstream at O’Donohues Bridge were the same both yesterday and on Wednesday, 75.25m
The Loddon River measured 77.29m at Kerang yesterday morning, a 34cm drop from Monday’s peak of 77.63m, which was 21.5cm lower than the 1981 record.
The river measured 76.76 yesterday morning downstream of the town at Kerang Weir, a drop of 12cm from Tuesday’s peak.
Mr Rumbold said there appeared to be no threat to property or homes in the local area downstream of Kerang, with levees holding well.
The said the closing of the Washpen regulator would restrict the flow into the lakes.
This should decrease the back flow from Reedy Lake, dropping the level of water crossing the Murray Valley Highway at the Wandella Creek outfall, adjacent to the lake, Mr Rumbold said.
