Water finally flows into Lake Cooper

By Gus Underwood

Oct 27, 2022

Rapid flow: Water was “flooding’’ into the often dry Lake Cooper last week, through the Western Mallee Channel.

Yes, there actually has been some positive news emerging from last week’s deluge.

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Water has been flowing into Lake Cooper and Greens Lake from the Western Mallee Channel.

Goulburn-Murray Water has been using the former water holdings to help cope with torrential rainfalls and flooding in the area where 100mm and more of rain was recorded in last week’s downpour.

Corop resident and farmer Tate Hamilton said at the weekend that Lake Cooper was only a metre or so off being at capacity.

That has not happened since 2011 and the lake has steadily dried up since with occasional inflows.

Mr Hamilton said the last time he was able to use his speed boat on Lake Cooper was in 2014.

Adjoining lakes in the wetland system east and south-east of Corop including Gaynor, Wallenjoe and Mansfield Swamps are now at capacity.

Floodwaters from Wallenjoe and the adjoining Mansfield swamps are also finding their way into Greens Lake, which has been the scene of a massive fish location project this year after it was decommissioned by Goulburn-Murray Water.

One person delighted with the news of the water releases is Victorian Water Ski Association secretary-manager Fran Heinz, OAM, who also manages the caravan park at Lake Cooper.

‘‘Thank God,’’ she said when told the news of inflows into Lake Cooper and Greens Lake.

‘‘We have been putting pressure on the government for the past 18 months to get water back into Lake Cooper, not only for the ski community but for environmental purposes,’’ Mrs Heinz said.

Mrs Heinz said news the lake was full again would be music to the ears of 150 people who have residences or camp sites at the caravan park, but it was too early to estimate at this stage just when water skiing would return to Lake Cooper.