The river is naturally flowing to Dimboola for the first time since 2012 and is on its way to Jeparit.

The flow is also filling Yarriambiack Creek, with water reaching the Jung Weir.

Mr Gaulke said the flow was a lifeline to the communities that live along the river.

“There’s so much positivity around, we all know we’ve got another 12 months with water in our river,” he said.

“It’s not just exciting for the ski club, but it’s great for the rowing club, the fishing club and the businesses in the town.

“It means a lot for the whole town.

“If we can have river-based events, people are going to come to our small towns to spend money and keep our economies going.”

Mr Gaulke said while there were not usually skiers in winter, the water would be well used in the warmer months.

The club has booked a professional water skier to come to the region later this year and work with young skiers.

“We had booked the session hoping we had enough water in the river and now we are pretty much guaranteed it will go ahead,” Mr Gaulke said.

“We didn’t even know if we were going to be able to get an environment flow to Dimboola this summer, and with the river level so low, it was a real possibility it was going to be too dangerous to go skiing.”

Last year the club had world number two barefoot waterskier Brendan Paige entertain the town.

Mr Gaulke said natural flows had been few and far between since the January 2011 flood. 

“I can’t remember the last time we’ve had a natural flow in winter, especially the past few years that have been so dry,” he said.

“We were facing a bleak summer.

“Many of us still remember when the river went dry and died, and our town virtually died with it. “

The Dimboola Ski Club at Picnic Bend has been going for more than 50 years.

The club has worked closely with Wimmera Catchment Management Authority and community groups during the dry years to help look after and maintain the river.

“We are trying to look after the river the best we can, and have planted native grasses on the banks to address erosion problems,” Mr Gaulke said.

“We will try to prevent damage as much as possible because the river benefits the whole town.”

Wimmera Catchment Management Authority chief executive David Brennan said people right across the region were watching the progress of the natural flow in the Wimmera River and Yarriambiack Creek.