The Gunbower Forest floodplain watering has been trickling into the wetlands for some time now, but the second stage will begin soon.
North Central Catchment Management Authority plans to open the Hipwell Rd regulator in the last 10 days of June.
This will allow environmental water to go into Gunbower Creek, connect to Spur Creek and follow the natural flow paths through the forest.
It’s expected water will cover a footprint of about 4500 hectares (23 per cent of the floodplain).
While swamps and ponds in the Gunbower Forest were given water last year, this flow is the first to cross the actual floodplain in four years, according to North Central CMA.
The intention is to keep this flow going until late spring, giving plants a chance to germinate and establish.
The Gunbower Forest flood plan is available for download from www.vewh.vic.gov.au with regular watering updates posted on the North Central CMA website at: www.nccma.vic.gov.au