ON Tuesday morning a Warrnambool City Council work crew artificially opened the mouth of the Hopkins’ River.
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Less than 24 hours later workers were back to do the job again.
Warrnambool City infra-structure services manager Glenn Reddick told The Standard Tuesday’s works had to be followed up yesterday after high seas and strong tidal conditions closed the channel dug over the sandbar.
“Reopening the river mouth is something we do two to three times annually and it can be different each time. The methods of reopening the river vary to meet conditions,” he said.
“It’s a dynamic environment and we’re working with mother nature.”
The river mouth was opened after water levels reached the 1.5-metre trigger height and tests showed river oxygen levels were at a safe level for the opening not to kill fish.