WATER from the Hopkins River is again flowing into the Southern Ocean after the mouth was manually opened yesterday.
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Workers used a small excavator to dig a channel across the sandbar after various trigger levels were met.
Concerns were raised last week about the river’s height, particularly around the ski club car park and boat ramp area, where water had spilled into the car park.
Council infrastructure services manager Glenn Reddick said water quality testing before the river mouth was opened ensured that when water is discharged, marine life will survive.
He said the PH, salinity, conductivity, temperature and dissolved oxygen levels were measured at various depths from the river surface down to the river bed. Tests are taken at eight points along a 13km stretch of the waterway from Lyndoch to Allansford.
“While flood prevention is an imperative, equally as important is ensuring the artificial opening of the river mouth does not negatively impact marine life,” he said.
“Within 48 hours of the river mouth being opened, further tests are done to ensure that river quality remained at desirable levels.”
Testing is carried out in partnership with Deakin University. A final decision on whether to manually open the river mouth lies with the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority.