While there has been a lot of attention on the West Moorabool and the Lower Moorabool Rivers in recent years the East Moorabool River has tended to get a little ignored. It suffers greatly from over allocation of its water resources particularly due to the fact that a high proportion of its flows are channelled down to the Barwon Water's She Oaks Treatment Plant rather than having the run of the river as happens in the West Branch. But there are still some very beautiful spots to be found, particularly around the Bungal Forest and further north.
Access via the Crossing Track was not an option so entry was gained from the northern part of the park. Our visit this time was not only to do some more gorse removal but also to make our way to the confluence between the East Moorabool and Bungal Creeks.
After about a 5 km walk in off the ridge we were pleased to find Bungal Creek with a small flow. Some of the larger pools looked relatively healthy and the water was reasonably clear.
While there remains relatively high turbidity in many of the pools the water moving over the riffles seemed clearer.
The confluence was a little tricky to get to and is impacted by blackberries directly downstream. But it still proved to be a pretty spot.
Further upstream turbity becomes more of an issue in the East Moorabool but the are some really high value sections. While gorse infestation is evident it is still at a manageable level. There is some evidence of Park's Victoria spraying in the southern section but the eastern part of the park the weed is in isolated clumps out of easy reach.
We are planning a return soon to do another round of gorse removal and would welcome any volunteers who would like to visit what is a beautiful part of this remakable river and assist with its maintenance. Contact can be made through this site.
The East Moorabool River is deserving of renewed efforts in restoring flows. The evidence of gold mining operations some of which can be seen instream serve as a reminder of just how much this river has had to contend with. The scars within the landscape are healing and it is sobering to recognise that past impacts have probably allowed this section of the river to arrive to us as a welcomed forested refuge.