Keepit Dam will not be re-stocked with fish this year as the waterway drops below the pumps and the Namoi river runs dry.
On Friday the ‘catch and keep’ dam dropped below the 0.4 per cent mark, the lowest mark on record, however there is very little chance of it completely drying out.
The ‘deadwater beneath the valve represents approximately four gigalitres, or the equivalent of 1500 Olympic swimming pools, with a depth of 10 metres.
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That ‘deadwater’ sits below the release valve for the river system, and can not be accessed for release.
“DPI normally stocks Keepit Dam with approximately 25,000 Murray Cod and 70,000 Golden Perch each year, however, due to the low water levels stocking will not occur this year,” a spokesperson said.
“Stocking will resume again when levels improve.
“Fishers can fish the remnant water body, and, provided they stick to the bag and size limits are not harming the viability of the fishery.”
The DPI is looking into avoiding a possible fish kill, brought on from nutrient rich in flows when the dam refills.
