FLOODING in the Loddon River peaked at fractionally above the designated moderate flood level.
Authorities have now issued a minor flood warning for the lower reaches of the river catchment.
The Loddon River at Appin South was yesterday at 3.06 metres and falling and is likely to remain above the minor flood level 2.80 metres into today.
The Loddon River at the Patchell bridges on the Murray Valley Highway at Kerang peaked at 77.54 metres, 4 centimetres above the moderate flood level, on Sunday afternoon and is now falling.
The State Emergency Service said that farm land adjacent to both the Loddon River and the Washpen Creek are subject to flooding, but no structural damage has been reported.
Levee maintenance works and some sandbagging has been carried out. Some district roads are closed.
The North Central Catchment Management Authority is taking advantage of a rare opportunity to put floodwater into Lake Cullen to provide food for the expected post-flood bird boom.
Lake Cullen is an important part of the internationally recognised and protected Kerang Wetlands Ramsar site, and is valued for its large size and its unique environment, which is used extensively by waterbirds to forage for food.
Authority environmental water manager, Louissa Rogers said Lake Cullen’s uniqueness also has drawbacks when it comes to managing flows.
“Because of the way the water table works in with the surrounding marshes, the only time you can fill Lake Cullen is when the adjacent wetlands are soaked,” she said.
