Chaffey Dam water release to take place over next fortnight to help section upstream of Woolomin

Water will be released over the next fortnight to the section upstream of Woolomin, which hasn't received much of the recent rain the region has experienced.

Only stagnant pools, covered in recent weeks by thick scum, provide the last remaining habitat for native fish and other water dependent wildlife.

OzFish North West representative Anne Michie said this would "be very beneficial for everything that calls that part of the river home".

"I think it's a reasonable decision and especially because it's being released at this time of the year, we're not going to lose a lot during evaporation that would you in the height of summer," she said.

"That part of the river hasn't ceased to flow completely, it's had a small baseflow go through it, but it's not enough to get the process of the whole thing going."

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Wildlife likely to benefit include Murray cod, silver perch, freshwater catfish, platypus and rakali (or water-rat).

A spokesperson from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment said the release wouldn't have any impact on Tamworth's water security.

It would also have a minimal impact on future allocations, reducing current dam levels by just 1.5 per cent, the spokesperson said.

State government wetlands and rivers conservation officer Paul Keyte said the river section provided critical drought refuge for native fish and platypus.

"Releasing a small flow in the river now aims to support its value as a drought refuge by improving the habitat quality and food supply within this section of the river," Mr Keyte said.

Ms Michie said concerned locals should remember that "there's been lots of water coming down the Peel but none of it has come from Chaffey".

"Tamworth's been drawing all of its water from Dungowan so we haven't taken any out of Chaffey, let alone anything out of the river, and it's important to maintain the function of that stretch of the river and try to keep it alive," she told the Leader.

The release will also support Murray cod that were rescued during the drought and recently returned to the river near Tamworth as part of the NSW Native Fish Drought Response effort.

For those wanting to see the water-release in action, it is anticipated flows will reach the Woolomin Park bridge on May 26.

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