IssuesThe main two issues for Water in Tumut were: BackgroundTumut Shire is located in the north western corner of the upper Murrumbidgee River Catchment. The main stream flowing through the Shire is the Tumut River, in which flow is completely regulated by Blowering and Talbingo Dams. Flow in the Tumut has been increased by diversion waters from the Snowy River as part of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. Other important streams in Tumut Shire include the Goobarragandra River, Adelong Creek and Hillas Creek. Much of the catchment of the upper Tumut River above Blowering Dam, or one third of the Shire, is contained within the Kosciuszko National Park. Native and pine forests cover an additional 22% of the Shire. These are located mainly on the eastern edge of the Shire (in the Goobarragandra River Catchment) and on the slopes along the western edge of Blowering Dam. There is a number of naturally formed wetlands throughout the Shire, as well as artificial ones created by the storages of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme and by Council as part of its sewage nutrient reduction program. Wetlands are important as both wildlife habitats and water cleansing systems. |