Outcome 6: Commonwealth Environmental Water
Protection and restoration of environmental assets through the management and use of
Commonwealth environmental water
Contents
Environmental watering in the Murray–Darling Basin—roles and responsibilities
Summary of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
Progress against priorities for 2013–14
2013–14 Portfolio Budget Statements key performance indicators
Priorities for 2013–14
Management of Commonwealth environmental water in 2013–14
Commonwealth environmental water made available for use
Catchment summaries
Carryover of Commonwealth environmental water in 2013–14
Trade of Commonwealth environmental water
Monitoring of Commonwealth environmental watering
Administration of Commonwealth environmental water
Directions given to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
Longer-term portfolio planning
Murray–Darling Basin Plan—participation in implementation
Management of the portfolio of Commonwealth environmental water
Risk management for Commonwealth environmental water
Environmental water shepherding
Providing information
Working with and obtaining advice from others
Indigenous engagement
Interim classification of aquatic ecosystems in the Murray–Darling Basin
Business and information systems
Environmental Water Holdings Special Account
Appendix A: Commonwealth Environmental Water Office holdings in the
Murray–Darling Basin
Appendix B: Commonwealth environmental water delivered in Murray–Darling Basin
in 2013–14
Appendix C: Basin catchment summaries of Commonwealth environmental water use
in 2013–14
Appendix D: Commonwealth environmental water carryover into 2014–15
Environmental watering in the Murray–Darling Basin—roles and responsibilities
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder manages water entitlements acquired by the
Australian Government to improve the health and resilience of the Murray–Darling Basin’s
rivers, wetlands, floodplains and other environmental assets (as per the Water Act 2007).
To make the most of the water, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder may deliver
water to key assets within the Basin over the course of the watering year; carry it over for use
in future years; or trade water.
In 2013–14 the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder delivered 982 gigalitres of water
to rivers, wetlands and floodplains throughout the Basin, to reconnect wetlands and creeks to
Basin rivers. The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder traded 10 gigalitres of water in
the Gwydir and 340 megalitres of water in the Peel. The Commonwealth carried over 450
gigalitres into the 2014–15 water year.
By increasing the amount of water available to the environment over time, the Commonwealth
Environmental Water Holder has supported the breeding of native plants, fish, birds and other
animals in local catchments and throughout the Basin. This water has also improved water
quality downstream by flushing salt, sediments and excess nutrients out of the system through
the Murray Mouth.
Managing the Murray–Darling Basin as a connected system relies on close coordination with
state environmental water managers, river operators, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority and
other government agencies.
The work of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office is informed by a range of
stakeholders including other government agencies, scientists, catchment and local natural
resource management agencies, environmental water advisory groups, water user
associations, Indigenous communities and local landholders.
Together, these stakeholders help the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the
Commonwealth Environmental Water Office to plan water use options according to the rules
and constraints in the system, seasonal, operational, and management conditions as well as
the potential risks of watering within local catchments.
Decisions made by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder are also made in
accordance with the environmental watering plan within the Murray–Darling Basin Plan and
have regard for the Murray–Darling Basin Authority’s Basin annual environmental watering
priorities.
http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/water
Summary of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
Five years after delivering the first Commonwealth environmental water, it is pleasing to see
our work continuing to improve the health and resilience of the Murray–Darling Basin.
Since 2009 over 3487 gigalitres of Commonwealth environmental water has been delivered to
the Basin’s rivers, wetlands and floodplains. During 2013–14:

the total volume of Commonwealth environmental water in Commonwealth accounts
was 1449 gigalitres

a total of 982 gigalitres of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered

10 gigalitres of water in the Gwydir and 340 megalitres of water in the Peel was traded

after evaporative deductions, a total of 450 gigalitres of water was carried over into
2014–15

Commonwealth environmental water contributed to 36 watering actions across a total
of 16 catchments in the Basin.
Importantly, in 2013–14 water use in the tributaries of the Southern Basin (Goulburn, lower
Broken and Campaspe) has contributed to the watering strategy for the Murray, including the
Lower Lakes and Coorong. We have also been working with the South Australian Government
and the Murray–Darling Basin Authority to get better outcomes from flows and water levels in
Lake Alexandrina and the Coorong.
Our robust monitoring programme—based on best available science focused on key locations
where Commonwealth environmental water is used—shows good evidence that
Commonwealth environmental water has increased the number of native fish in the Basin, by
supporting the reproduction and recruitment of native fish, their habitat and food sources. It
has also helped them to compete with carp.
Early evidence from monitoring suggests that the watering strategy for the Murray is achieving
outcomes at the Lower Lakes and Coorong, including:

improved lake levels and water quality

supporting Ruppia tuberosa, a plant in the Coorong, which provides important habitat
for fish and waterbirds

supporting fish movement from the Coorong into the Lower Lakes and Murray River.
Monitoring results finalised in 2013–14 demonstrated that in 2012–13 environmental water
exported approximately 30 per cent of an average of two million tonnes of salt that must be
removed from the Basin each year to maintain water quality and limit land degradation.
Without this water, modelling suggests that salt would have been imported from the Southern
Ocean into the system through the Murray Mouth. This builds on the results from 2011–12
monitoring, which indicated that Commonwealth environmental water contributed to 18 per
cent of the required export of salt for the year.
Monitoring results also demonstrated Commonwealth environmental water lowered the
impacts of severe blackwater events. For example, heavy rainfall during March and April 2012
led to significant blackwater concerns in the Murrumbidgee River. This had the potential to
severely impact on fish and other aquatic species, where the Murrumbidgee flows into the
Murray River. Monitoring has shown that Commonwealth environmental water provided
freshwater refuges for fish and helped to dilute blackwater in the Murray. Although the
blackwater was a natural event, the environment’s capacity to deal with it had been diminished
by river regulation in the Murray. Commonwealth environmental water was used to fill this gap.
Effective liaison between waterway, storage and land managers, landholders, the states and
the Commonwealth is the cornerstone of Basin reform. It has proven critical to ensuring
Commonwealth environmental water planning, delivery and monitoring is delivering outcomes
for the Basin. Every drop of Commonwealth water is managed in collaboration and
consultation with a range of people who share an interest in the health and resilience of the
Basin.
I am acutely aware that the decisions I make about the use of the Commonwealth’s water
holdings affect people living and working in towns throughout the Murray–Darling Basin. I talk
to as many people as possible and listen to their perspectives, and legitimate concerns, with
regard to strategies to keep the Murray–Darling Basin healthy.
Together, we have marked a number of achievements and highlights this year, including:

Providing water to eight of the 10 Basin annual environmental watering priorities
identified by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. Operational constraints and lack of
natural cues prevented water from being delivered to support the remaining two
priorities. For more on how we met these priorities see table 1 below.

The first two trades of Commonwealth environmental water. I sold 10 gigalitres of our
Commonwealth environmental water in the Gwydir for $3.217 million and 340
megalitres in the Peel for $32 580. The money is held for reinvestment back into
protecting or restoring the environmental assets of the Murray–Darling Basin. My
decision to enter the market was preceded by the introduction of the Commonwealth
Environmental Water Trading Framework, which provides governance arrangements
including operating rules, procedures and protocols. These arrangements provide the
necessary reassurance that the Commonwealth will buy and sell water allocations or
entitlements in a responsible, fair, equitable, transparent and accountable manner.

Commencing recruitment of six local engagement officers in Berri (South Australia);
Mildura (Victoria); Deniliquin, Leeton and Dubbo (New South Wales); and Goondiwindi
in Queensland as part of our commitment to localism.

Finalising long-term monitoring arrangements that will operate from 2014–15 to 2018–
19, resulting in the monitoring of catchments where around 90 per cent of
Commonwealth environmental water is held.

Developing the interim classification of aquatic ecosystems in the Murray–Darling
Basin with the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. The classification can inform a range of
environmental water management applications, such as planning, prioritisation,
monitoring, evaluation and reporting. It will also assist in analysis for adaptive
management purposes.
In 2014–15, based on projected storage volumes, it is expected that there will be moderate
volumes of environmental water available in the Southern Basin. The volume of water held in
public storages in the Northern Basin is currently low, so without further rainfall the amount of
environmental water that can be delivered will be limited.
Our 2014–15 water options plans take the likely water availability and catchment conditions
into account. The plans form a base for us to work with and they are adapted as conditions
change. I welcome your feedback and suggestions at any time—please visit our website or
email us at ewater@environment.gov.au if you would like to comment.
http://www.environment.gov.au/aggregation/commonwealth-environmental-water-office
David Papps
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
July 2014
Progress against priorities for 2013–14
2013–14 Portfolio Budget Statements key performance indicators
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office has met its key performance indicators as
identified in the 2013–14 Portfolio Budget Statements for the Australian Government
Department of the Environment. It has demonstrated:

effective use of Commonwealth environmental water for the protection and restoration
of environmental assets in accordance with the requirements of the Murray–Darling
Basin Plan as detailed in the Commonwealth Environmental Water Outcomes Report
2012–13 (published in March 2013)

outcomes from the use of Commonwealth environmental water by publishing
monitoring reports online, including reports on the Edward–Wakool River system, the
Lower Murrumbidgee River and Murrumbidgee River system and the Lower Murray
River

engagement with local communities and their stakeholders and consideration of local
experience, knowledge and perspectives when undertaking environmental watering by
developing annual water use options plans; attending environmental water advisory
group meetings and other community meetings in Basin catchments; initiating the
recruitment of six local engagement officers to work in Deniliquin, Leeton, Dubbo,
Mildura, Berri and Goondiwindi; and improving our online presence through social
media.
Priorities for 2013–14
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office 2013–14 Business Plan identified the office
priorities for 2013–14, which build on programme deliverables outlined in the 2013–14
Portfolio Budget Statements and priorities outlined in the Department’s Annual Operation Plan
for 2013–14. Our progress against these priorities and outcomes is highlighted in the
management and administration sections of this report.
Additionally, this year the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder made decisions to
make water available to all 10 of the Basin annual environmental water priorities identified by
the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. However, due to constraints and/or the lack of natural
cues, Commonwealth environmental water could only be delivered to directly support eight of
the priority outcomes. See Table 1.
Table 1: Meeting environmental water priorities under the Murray–Darling Basin Plan
Basin annual environmental watering
priorities for 2013–14
Decisions and use of Commonwealth
environmental water in 2013–14
Northern Basin Wetlands: Improve the
resilience of colonial waterbird populations
by supporting breeding events and
improving breeding habitat in the Northern
Basin wetlands.
Supporting breeding events
Decision: Contingency volumes of
Commonwealth environmental water were set
aside in the Gwydir and Lachlan to support
colonial bird breeding events.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: 0 GL due to no breeding
events.
Supporting waterbird habitat
Decision: Up to 94 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water was made available for
use in the Lower Balonne in 2013–14, subject
to trigger flows. On average around 16% of
water from Commonwealth holdings in the
Lower Balonne (as at end June 2014) will
eventually flow into the Narran Lakes
following a water harvesting event.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: 22 GL throughout the
Lower Balonne system in a flow event in April
2014. Due to high transmission losses in this
event, only a small portion of this would have
reached Narran Lakes.
See also environmental water use in the
Gwydir Wetlands, Macquarie Marshes and
Lower Lachlan Wetlands (below), that
support waterbird habitat.
Gwydir Wetlands: Improve the condition
and maintain the extent of wetland
vegetation communities in the Gwydir
Wetlands (including Ramsar sites) by
restoring hydrological connectivity and a
flow regime that meets ecological
requirements.
Decision: Up to 60 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water was made available for
use in four complementary actions in the
Gwydir system, including up to 20 GL in the
Gwydir Wetlands.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: Due to the lack of a natural
trigger event, no Commonwealth
environmental water was delivered to the
Gwydir Wetlands; 32 GL was delivered to the
Mallowa Wetlands, Mehi River and Carole
Creek (other important Gwydir wetlands).
Macquarie Marshes: Improve ecosystem
resilience among wetland vegetation
communities in the Macquarie Marshes
including Ramsar listed sites.
Decision: Up to 10 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water was made available to
maintain the ecological health and resilience
of the Macquarie Marshes.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: 10 GL, in conjunction with
additional NSW environmental water.
Barwon–Darling River System: Improve
habitat and provide opportunities for
migration and reproduction of native fish in
the Barwon–Darling River system by
increasing flow variability and hydrological
connectivity.
Decision: Up to 24 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water was made available to
support a more naturally variable flow regime
in the Barwon–Darling.
Lower Lachlan Wetlands: Improve
ecosystem resilience among wetland
vegetation communities in the Lower
Lachlan wetlands.
Decision: Up to 75 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water was made available to
the Lower Lachlan system in April 2013.
Mid-Murrumbidgee Wetlands: Improve
the condition of wetland vegetation
communities in the Mid-Murrumbidgee
Wetlands through a winter or spring fresh.
Decision: Up to 150 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water was made available for
a wetlands reconnection event to protect and
maintain the ecological health and resilience
of the Mid-Murrumbidgee Wetlands.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: 13 GL.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: 74 GL (up to July 2013), in
conjunction with additional NSW
environmental water.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: Due to constraints and the
lack of an appropriate trigger flow, it was not
possible to proceed with the planned use.
Environmental water use in the catchment
was therefore redirected towards outcomes
on the Lowbidgee Floodplain.
Lower Goulburn River: Improve habitat
and provide opportunities for migration and
reproduction of native fish in the lower
Goulburn River through reinstating a
variable flow regime which includes a large
‘in-channel’ spring/summer fresh.
Decision: Up to 215 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water was made available for
in-stream base flows and freshes within the
Goulburn River.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: 215 GL. The Victorian
Environmental Water Holder and The Living
Murray also contributed additional water to
this event.
Mid-Murray River: Improve habitat and
provide opportunities for migration and
reproduction of native fish in the midMurray River, including the Edward–
Wakool and other smaller anabranches,
distributary creeks and low-lying wetlands
throughout the region.
Decision: Up to 45 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water was made available to
contribute in-stream flows to the Edward–
Wakool River System, including ephemeral
creeks, to support the condition and
reproduction of native fish.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: 17 GL.
Decision: Up to 35 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water return flows were made
available to contribute in-stream flows to
Gunbower Creek to support movement,
condition and reproduction of native fish.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: 19 GL.
Lower Murray River System: Improve
vegetation condition in wetlands and
floodplains and provide cues for native fish
recruitment and movement in the Lower
Murray River system by enhancing
in-stream flow variability.
Decision: Up to 47 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water was made available in
the Great Darling Anabranch within the Lower
Darling River System.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: 47 GL, in conjunction with
additional NSW environmental water.
Decision: Up to 35 GL was made available
for a range of watering actions in the Lower
Murray to support wetlands and their
vegetation, including to raise water levels at
the Locks 8 and 9 weir pools; to support
ecosystem recovery at a number of Victorian
Mallee and South Australian wetlands;
and to support black box woodland
vegetation at Hattah Lakes.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: 35 GL. A number of
delivery partners were involved with each of
the individual watering events.
Decision: Up to 300 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water was made available to
support a broad range of outcomes within the
Murray River channel, low-level floodplain
wetlands, Coorong and Lower Lakes.
Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray
Mouth: Facilitate Ruppia tuberosa recovery
by ensuring appropriate flows into the
Coorong; and maintain the connection
between the Lower Lakes to improve the
water quality in Lake Albert.
Over 207 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water was made available for
supporting vegetation and biota in the
Coorong and Lower Lakes.
Return flows from northern Victoria were also
traded to South Australia to support the
Lower Murray.
Volume of Commonwealth environmental
water delivered: 638.6 GL (which includes
235.1 GL of return flows from upstream
watering actions). Water from The Living
Murray also contributed to this watering
action.
Management of Commonwealth environmental water in 2013–14
Commonwealth environmental water made available for use
During 2013–14:

the total amount of Commonwealth environmental water in Commonwealth accounts
was 1449 gigalitres

a total of 982 gigalitres of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered

a total of 450 gigalitres of Commonwealth environmental water (30 per cent of the total
volume available in Commonwealth accounts) was carried over into 2014–15—an
increase of 56 gigalitres from the carryover on 1 July 2013. This is equivalent to
between 1.1 per cent and 2.2 per cent of public storage capacity across the Basin.
Figure 1 shows Commonwealth environmental water holdings. Commonwealth environmental
water holdings in the Basin grew from 1632 gigalitres to 2126 gigalitres during 2013–14 (at 30
June 2014; see Appendix A). These holdings will deliver, on average, 1454 giglitres to the
environment each year.
Figure 2 shows Commonwealth environmental water availability and use since 2008–09.
Figure 1: Commonwealth environmental water holdings
Figure 2: Commonwealth environmental water availability and use since 2008–09
Catchment summaries
Drier conditions continued in the Basin in 2013–14. Commonwealth environmental watering in
2013–14 continued to build on the ecological recovery of riverine and wetland communities
following the wetter conditions experienced in Basin catchments from 2010 to early 2012.
Watering actions throughout the Basin in 2013–14 were managed and delivered with the
assistance of partners including water management authorities, local advisory groups,
landholders and scientists. Commonwealth environmental water was usually delivered in
conjunction with state government environmental water.
During 2013–14 the office, with the assistance of its partners, contributed to the following key
environmental watering achievements:

coordinated environmental water planning and delivery with other state and local
environmental water holders, water managers and infrastructure operators

worked with local communities and advisory groups to plan for and manage
Commonwealth environmental water

generated ecological outcomes in response to Commonwealth environmental watering,
which were identified by observations and intervention monitoring.
A summary of the volume of Commonwealth environmental water delivered in the Basin
during 2013–14 is provided in Appendix B. More detail on each Commonwealth watering
event undertaken during 2013–14 is provided in Appendix C.
Carryover of Commonwealth environmental water in 2013–14
Carryover is a water management mechanism that entitles water licence holders to defer use
of some of their yearly water allocation until the following year, when it may be of more benefit
to them. The mechanism is available in regulated parts of the Basin.
The Commonwealth carried 450 gigalitres into 2014–15—this volume of carryover was larger
than the previous year (see Appendix D). The water is held in nine catchments and is
equivalent to about two per cent of the total public storage capacity across the Basin. In 2014–
15, 65 per cent of the carryover will be held in the Southern Basin and 35 per cent of the
carryover will be held in the Northern Basin. Carryover is high in the Southern Basin due to the
need to have water to facilitate watering actions planned for early 2014–15.
Trade of Commonwealth environmental water in 2013–14
Section 106 of the Water Act authorises trade of Commonwealth environmental water. The
aim is to improve the capacity of Commonwealth environmental water holdings to meet
environmental objectives in the Murray–Darling Basin.
This year the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder developed a trading framework
with operating rules, procedures and protocols. The framework is underpinned by both the
Water Act and the Murray–Darling Basin Plan trading rules.
The framework will ensure that Commonwealth trading activities:

support enhanced environmental outcomes

have regard to social and economic outcomes

consider impacts on the market, including any third-party impacts

are undertaken in a manner that meets legislative requirements

are financially responsible, fair, equitable, transparent and accountable.
The framework also ensures that staff of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and
Commonwealth Environmental Water Office act with integrity and high ethical standards.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder traded water for the first time in 2013–14.
It conducted two allocation sales: one in the Peel Valley and one in the Gwydir catchment of
New South Wales.
Peel Valley, New South Wales
In March 2014 the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder sold 340 megalitres of
regulated water allocation in the Peel Valley through an expression of interest process.
The water was not required this year in the Peel River because, after consecutive years of
high flows, the priority was for low flows. It is expected that these low flows will be met by
releases made to meet consumptive demand.
The sale returned $32 580. Proceeds from the sale can be used to meet the costs of
managing the portfolio and/or to purchase water for greater environmental benefit within the
Murray–Darling Basin.
Gwydir, New South Wales
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder conducted his first tender in January 2014 to
sell 10 gigalitres of regulated water allocation in the Gwydir catchment.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder made the decision to sell part of the
allocation in the Gwydir because:

the local floodplains require a drying phase after consecutive wet years

the Commonwealth had sufficient water in its accounts to sell some allocation without
affecting its ability to meet current and foreseeable future environmental requirements.
Because of the strong demand for water from consumptive users, the Commonwealth
Environmental Water Holder secured a good return for the water it traded: the sale generated
$3.217 million. The proceeds of the sale will be quarantined, as required by section 106 of the
Water Act, until the office identifies a purchase of water that will provide greater environmental
benefit within the Murray–Darling Basin.
Monitoring of Commonwealth environmental watering
In 2013–14 five short-term (one-year) monitoring projects took place in the Murrumbidgee,
Edward–Wakool, Lower Murray, Goulburn and Gwydir catchments. See Table 2 for more
details.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office monitors its watering actions:

to help it to manage Commonwealth environmental water well

to demonstrate environmental outcomes

to ensure that water is delivered as planned

to help manage risks such as unintended inundation.
Over the period from 2011–12 to 2019–20 the office is investing around $35 million in
monitoring projects in the Basin.
From 2014–15 there will be a transition from short (one-year) monitoring projects to longerterm (five-year) monitoring projects. This longer-term intervention monitoring is consistent with
our reporting obligations under the Water Act and the Basin Plan.
The office is committed to publishing the results of its monitoring. Table 3 gives examples of
outcomes by catchment.
Table 2: Summary of Commonwealth environmental water short-term ecological monitoring
projects in 2013–14 (results expected to be published in early 2015)
Catchment
Site
Indicators of ecological
response to
environmental water
(2013–14)
Organisation
Lead
Partner
Goulburn–
Broken
Goulburn
River and
Broken Creek
Primary productivity,
fish, macroinvertebrates,
habitat, sediment,
vegetation and water
quality.
University of
Melbourne
Monash
University, Arthur
Rylah Institute,
Goulburn Murray
Catchment
Management
Authority
Murray
Edward–
Wakool River
system
Water quality, organic
matter,
macroinvertebrates,
wetland vegetation,
biofilms, fish and frogs.
Charles Sturt
University
NSW Office of
Environment and
Heritage, Monash
University, NSW
Department of
Primary
Industries,
Murray Local
Land Services,
Wakool
Landholders
Murrumbidgee Murrumbidgee
River and
adjacent
wetlands
Wetland vegetation,
macroinvertebrates, fish,
frogs, water quality,
zooplankton and
carbon/nutrients.
Charles Sturt
University
NSW Office of
Environment and
Heritage,
University of
NSW, NSW
Department of
Primary
Industries,
Murrumbidgee
Catchment
Management
Authority
Lower Murray
Fish (spawning,
assemblage,
recruitment, movement
and natal origin); water
quality (salt and nutrient
export); fringing wetland
connectivity; and frogs.
South
Australia
Research
and
Development
Institute
University of
Adelaide,
University of
Western
Australia, CSIRO,
South Australian
Department of
Environment,
Water and
Murray River
channel,
Lower Lakes,
Coorong
Natural
Resources
Gwydir
Gwydir River
system
Fish, frog and turtle
diversity and abundance,
hydrological connectivity,
native vegetation, water
quality,
microinvertebrates,
macroinvertebrates.
University of
New
England
NSW Office of
Environment and
Heritage, NSW
Department of
Primary
Industries, Border
Rivers-—Gwydir
Local Land
Services
Table 3: Some early outcomes of Commonwealth environmental water based on
monitoring and interpreted using rigorous science
Catchment
Examples
Murray River
Heavy rainfall during March and April 2012 led to significant concerns that a
and
blackwater event in the Murrumbidgee River could potentially severely impact
Murrumbidgee on fish and other aquatic animals where the Murrumbidgee flows into the
Murray River.
Commonwealth environmental water was provided in the Murrumbidgee and
Murray rivers to improve water quality by diluting blackwater and providing
freshwater refuge for fish.
Edward–
Wakool
In 2011–12 and 2012–13 Commonwealth environmental watering in the
Edward–Wakool system contributed to the environmental objectives of the
Basin Plan, including:

Biodiversity—environmental water contributed to species diversity of
native fish populations by supporting their reproduction and food chains.

Resilience—environmental water provided refuges for fish during a
natural widespread blackwater event in a native fish rich area; refuges
contributed to population resilience of native fish.
Local outcomes for the Edward–Wakool include:

Fish reproduction—environmental watering assisted reproduction of the
native carp gudgeon.

Refuge—environmental water provided oxygenated refuges for fish and
macroinvertebrates during a natural hypoxic blackwater event.

Primary production—freshes reset biofilms and supported diversity in
primary producers.
Murrumbidgee Since 2011 Commonwealth environmental watering in the Murrumbidgee has
contributed to the environmental objectives of the Basin Plan, including:
Biodiversity—by increasing wetland and riparian vegetation; and providing
preferential conditions for native fish, frogs, macroinvertebrates, turtles and
waterbirds. Further, native fish species, including bony bream, carp gudgeon,
Australian smelt and golden perch, have reproduced and their condition has
improved.
Ecosystem function—by connecting wetlands to the main river and providing
carbon and nutrients from the wetlands to support food chains. In-channel,
there has been scouring of algal biofilms, which contribute to food chains and
increased fish movement. Flows provided in the Murrumbidgee connect the
Basin downstream through to the Coorong and Lower Lakes.
Goulburn–
Broken
system
Lower Murray
River, South
Australia
In 2012–13 in the Goulburn River and Broken Creek, Commonwealth
environmental water has contributed to the environmental objectives of the
Basin Plan, including:

Biodiversity—by improving habitat for aquatic fauna and assisting the
movement of golden perch through fishways.

Ecosystem function—by providing flows that move carbon and nutrients
from the river bank into the river to support
food chains.

Water quality—by providing flows that maintained medium to high levels
of dissolved oxygen and promoted the mixing of water (reducing
temperature stratification) that supported aquatic fauna during weather
conditions that, historically, have resulted in lower water quality.
In 2011–12 and 2012–13 in the Lower Murray River in South Australia,
Commonwealth environmental water has contributed to the environmental
objectives of the Basin Plan, including:

Biodiversity—by providing flows that support reproduction, recruitment
and improved condition for large-bodied native fish, particularly golden
perch.

Ecosystem function—by providing flows that connect rivers to fringing
wetlands and floodplains, allowing nutrients within the system to be
mobilised and transported.

Water quality—by providing flows through the Basin and out the Murray
Mouth, thereby transporting and exporting salt from the system and
improving salinity levels in the Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth.

Resilience—by supporting the recovery of ecosystems following the
drought.
Administration of Commonwealth environmental water
Directions given to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
No directions were given to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder in 2013–14 by
the Minister, Parliamentary Secretary or Secretary of the Department.
Longer-term portfolio planning
Multi-year planning, which builds on the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office’s annual
planning for environmental water use, helps to support environmental outcomes across the
Murray–Darling Basin by making Commonwealth environmental water available for use over
multiple years. This longer-term commitment gives certainty to delivery partners and
communities and helps the office to meet its obligations under the Basin Plan.
The office has already begun to use multi-year planning. The office has worked collaboratively
with delivery partners to make Commonwealth environmental water available over three years
for a number of lower Murray wetlands in the Victorian Mallee region and over five years for
the Warrego River at Toorale National Park and State Conservation Area.
The office continues to seek opportunities to develop longer-term arrangements and move
toward longer-term planning for all the catchments in which the Commonwealth holds water.
To manage Commonwealth environmental water holdings efficiently and effectively, all
portfolio management options—including use, water carryover for future years and trading
(disposal or acquisition)—must be used. The office is currently developing an approach to
longer-term portfolio management planning that will improve its capacity to strategically
manage use, carryover and trade to maximise environmental outcomes.
Murray–Darling Basin Plan—participation in implementation
In 2013–14 the office participated in the following committees to advise on and support
implementation of the Basin Plan:

the Basin Plan Implementation Committee and two of its working groups—the
Environmental Watering Working Group and the Monitoring and Evaluation Working
Group

the Sustainable Diversion Limits Adjustment Assessment Committee.
Management of the portfolio of Commonwealth environmental water
The annual Commonwealth Environmental Water Carryover Report for 2013–14 into 2014–15
can be found on the Department’s website.
http://www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo/publications/cew-carryover-2013-14-into-2014-15
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office published statements on the management of
Commonwealth environmental water, including trade, on the Department’s website
during 2013–14.
http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/water/commonwealth-environmental-wateroffice/portfolio-management/portfolio-management
Information about Commonwealth environmental water holdings was updated each month on
the website.
http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/water/commonwealth-environmental-water-office/aboutcommonwealth-environmental-water
In 2013–14 the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder published a trading framework
that includes operating rules, procedures and protocols.
http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/water/commonwealth-environmental-water-office/trade
Risk management for Commonwealth environmental water
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is committed to ensuring transparency and
accountability in the use of Commonwealth environmental water. The office has a series of
frameworks in place to ensure that risk management is at the core of its business. These
frameworks include:

Framework for Determining Commonwealth Environmental Water Use

Commonwealth Environmental Water—Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and
Improvement Framework

Commonwealth Environmental Water Trading Framework

Environmental Water Outcomes Framework.
The office also has criteria for assessing options for Commonwealth environmental water
which all Commonwealth environmental watering actions are assessed against.
http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/commonwealth-environmental-water-annual-useoptions-planning-approach
The office takes a conservative, risk-based approach to environmental flow management,
reflecting our good neighbour policy, so that unintended impacts do not occur. All decisions on
water use are informed by a comprehensive risk assessment and local delivery partners put
arrangements in place to ensure that any risks that have been identified are appropriately
managed.
If the office identifies any potentially unacceptable impacts on private property, it negotiates
with affected landholders to avoid or minimise any potential problems and then seeks consent
to watering events. In many situations landholders support watering events because the
outcomes are mutually beneficial—for example, watering events can not only provide
environmental benefits but also support the productivity of floodplain pastures.
The current operating framework that applies to all types of water deliveries has been
designed to avoid undesirable flooding of private land. At present, all river operators deliver
Commonwealth environmental water orders within that operating framework. Under the
framework, the flow rate at which Commonwealth environmental water is generally ordered
and delivered is below the operational limits—this is to mitigate risks such as unpredictable
local inflows as a result of rainfall.
Environmental water shepherding
Water shepherding mechanisms or arrangements allow for protection and re-use of water
entitlements (whether regulated or unregulated). They build on existing protections such as
the Murray–Darling Basin Cap on diversions (and the future sustainable diversion limits under
the Basin Plan) and the conditions of all water licences. Work on the Nimmie–Caira
shepherding project, as well as other projects (such as New South Wales Barwon–Darling and
Queensland unregulated streams), is expected to continue in 2014–15.
Providing information
The Department’s website is the office’s primary tool for making information publicly available.
It contains:

information about environmental water holdings

information about management and use of Commonwealth environmental water in
each Basin catchment

frameworks for making water use decisions and managing water

reports on monitoring projects and outcomes

reports that the office has drafted or commissioned.
Also, through the website members of the public can make comments and suggestions on the
potential use of Commonwealth environmental water.
http://www.environment.gov.au/aggregation/commonwealth-environmental-water-office
During 2013–14 the office produced the following reports on its activities:

Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Annual Report 2012–13 (in Department of
Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Annual Report 2012–
13)

Commonwealth Environmental Water Office 2013–14 Business Plan

Commonwealth Environmental Water Office 2012–13 Outcomes Report

Commonwealth Environmental Water Portfolio Management Statements

Commonwealth Environmental Water Carryover from 2012–13 into 2013–14 Report

Commonwealth Environmental Annual Water Use Options Planning Documents for
2013–14 and 2014–15

Interim Classification of Aquatic Ecosystems in the Murray–Darling Basin

monitoring and evaluation reports on Commonwealth environmental watering
commissioned by the office.
http://www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo/publications
The office also maintains a subscription email database and has an active Twitter presence to
communicate with interested parties.
Working with and obtaining advice from others
In 2013–14 the office continued to focus on a range of stakeholder engagement activities,
including:

commencing the process of recruiting six Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
local engagement officers

participating in planning processes, including regularly meeting with local partners and
landholders on a catchment-by-catchment basis

releasing publications and engaging in targeted consultation on issues including water
use, water trade, carryover and monitoring and evaluation.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Scientific Advisory Panel, which advises the office,
met once in 2013–14. A review of the panel’s terms of reference is under way and is due to be
finalised in 2014–15.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Stakeholder Reference Panel ceased operations as
of 10 February 2014. Its last meeting was held on 6 November 2013.
The office continues to meet and engage with many stakeholder groups and individuals,
including state government bodies, river operators, catchment management authorities, local
environmental water advisory groups, not-for-profit water and land management organisations,
other environmental water holders, landholders and the Murray–Darling Basin Authority.
Indigenous engagement
The office aims to increase its engagement with Indigenous people so that mutual
environmental and cultural outcomes can be achieved. In 2013–14 the office engaged with
groups such as the Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations and the Murray Lower Darling Rivers
Indigenous Nations as well as interested Indigenous communities—for example, the
Ngarrindjeri, Yorta Yorta and Nari Nari people, and the Barkindji Maraura Elders Environment
Team—to identify potential opportunities for Commonwealth environmental water to support
mutual environmental and cultural outcomes. The office is also working with the National
Native Title Council to support the National Cultural Flows Research Project.
Interim classification of aquatic ecosystems in the Murray–Darling Basin
In 2013–14 the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office and Murray–Darling Basin
Authority jointly developed an interim (point in time) classification and typology of aquatic
ecosystems across Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin by adopting the Australian National
Aquatic Ecosystems Classification Framework. The classification system, developed by the
Commonwealth and state and territory governments, establishes for the first time a consistent
and systematic method of classifying aquatic ecosystems across the Australian landscape.
Business and information systems
The office has established the Environmental Water Management System to improve its
efficiency and help it to meet Basin Plan reporting requirements.
The system manages Commonwealth environmental water holdings information and provides
financial and volumetric tracking of watering actions. The Environmental Assets Database
holds information on the management and health of environmental assets in the Basin and the
use of Commonwealth environmental water to protect and restore the health of these assets.
Environmental Water Holdings Special Account 2013–14
The Environmental Water Holdings Special Account is established under the Water Act to pay
costs, expenses and other obligations incurred in managing Commonwealth environmental
water holdings. At the start of 2013–14 the special account balance was $43.8 million.
Funding of $27.4 million was credited from the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure
Program to the account at the end of the financial year. During 2013–14, $14 million was
spent on annual water entitlement fees and allocation delivery costs (including use fees and
pumping), which accounted for approximately 66 per cent of total expenditure for the year. At
30 June 2014 the special account balance was $53.083 million (of which $9.2 million has been
committed for environmental watering actions and other projects). The key expenditure in
2013–14 is shown in Table 4.
Table 4: Environmental Water Holdings Special Account expenditure
Category of expense
Fees and charges for entitlement holdings and allocation
delivery1
Total costs ($ million)
14.036
Monitoring and evaluation
5.919
Development and maintenance of environmental registers
and water accounting systems
1.353
Environmental works and measures
0.080
Hydrological modelling services
0.036
Total
1
21.425
Fees and charges include $9.9 million for annual water entitlement fees and $4 million for allocation use fees paid
to state water authorities for the operation, maintenance and replacement of rural water infrastructure; and $0.096
million for allocation pumping costs.
Appendix A: Commonwealth Environmental Water Office holdings in the Murray–
Darling Basin
Table 1: Commonwealth Environmental Water Office holdings in the Murray–Darling
Basin (at 30 June 2014)
River system
Security/reliability
Registered
Long-term
entitlements average
(ML1)
annual yield
(ML)
Queensland
Border Rivers
Medium
13 795
4 666
Unsupplemented
4 474
1 843
Condamine Balonne
Unsupplemented
57 343
40 218
Moonie
Unsupplemented
1 415
1 100
Nebine
Unsupplemented
5 920
1 000
Warrego
Unsupplemented
16 050
8 000
Total Queensland
Medium
13 795
4 666
Unsupplemented
85 202
52 161
Barwon–Darling
Unregulated
22 275
22 275
Border Rivers
General
420
168
Gwydir
High
375
375
General
89 525
32 229
Supplementary
19 100
3 629
933
933
86 923
36 508
High
397
333
General
795
644
General
122 093
51 279
6 292
1 321
15 123
14 367
326 883
264 775
211
155
New South Wales
Lachlan
High
General
Lower Darling
Macquarie/Cudgegong
Supplementary
Murray
High
General
Supplementary
Groundwater
1 244
1 244
Conveyance
1 860
1 458
Unregulated
276
218
5 275
5 011
208 178
133 234
Conveyance
14 983
14 234
Supplementary
20 820
2 915
381 000
172 974
Groundwater
29
29
Unregulated
164
110
Namoi (upper)
General
105
81
Namoi (lower)
General
6 866
5 287
Peel
General
1 126
292
Warrego
Unregulated
17 826
17 826
Total New South Wales
High
22 102
21 018
842 914
524 496
16 843
15 692
427 423
180 994
Unregulated
40 541
40 429
Groundwater
1 273
1 273
High
117
111
Low
4
3
High
6 547
6 219
Low
395
194
High
222 491
211 170
Low
15 819
6 261
High
2 870
2 726
Low
527
142
Murrumbidgee
High
General
Supplementary (Lowbidgee)
General
Conveyance
Supplementary
Victoria
Broken
Campaspe
Goulburn
Loddon
Murray
High
265 300
252 168
Low
15 121
4 744
Ovens
High
70
67
Wimmera–Mallee
Bulk entitlement
28 000
22 568
Total Victoria
High
497 395
472 460
Bulk entitlement
28 000
22 568
Low
31 867
11 344
Murray
High
119 063
107 156
Total South Australia
High
119 063
107 156
Total Murray–Darling Basin
High
638 560
600 635
General/Medium/Low
888 576
540 505
Conveyance
16 843
15 692
Bulk entitlement
28 000
22 568
Supplementary
427 423
180 994
Unsupplemented/Unregulated
125 743
92 590
1 273
1 273
2 126 418
1 454 258
South Australia
Groundwater
TOTAL2
1
One gigalitre equals 1000 megalitres. Some volumes may differ marginally from 30 June 2013 figures posted on
the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office website due to accounting adjustments made after 30 June 2013.
2 Formal transfer of ownership to the Commonwealth takes place on registration of the entitlement by the relevant
state water authority. The entitlement becomes part of Commonwealth environmental water holdings at that time.
Appendix B: Commonwealth environmental water delivered in the Murray–Darling Basin
in 2013–14
Table 1: Summary of the volume of Commonwealth environmental water delivered in the
Murray–Darling Basin in 2013–14
Catchment
Murray
Water delivered (GL)
Actions
412 Lower Murray
Edward–Wakool
17 Instream flows and Niemur River, Yallakool
and Tuppal creeks
Macquarie
10 Macquarie Marshes
Murrumbidgee
137 Mid Murrumbidgee River flows and lower
Murrumbidgee floodplain
Loddon
3 Instream flows
Campaspe
7 Instream flows
Goulburn
215 Instream flows
Lower Broken Creek
39 Instream flows
Upper Broken Creek
<1 Instream flows
Ovens River
<1 Instream flows
Lachlan
23 Lower Lachlan swamp flows
Border Rivers
Regulated
4 Instream flows in the NSW Severn River
Gwydir
32 Flows to Mallowa wetlands, Mehi River and
Carole Creek
Border Rivers
Unregulated
(Macintyre)
<1 Instream flows
Moonie
1 Instream flows
Condamine–Balonne
(Lower Balonne)
22 Instream flows
Barwon–Darling
(Toorale)
13 Instream flows
Barwon–Darling
(Great Darling
Anabranch)
47 Flows
Warrego
1 Flows
Total
982
Appendix C: Basin catchment summaries of Commonwealth environmental water use in 2013–14
Table 1: Commonwealth environmental watering actions for the Barwon–Darling catchment in 2013–14
Location of watering
action
Type of action
Complex
River
flows
Inundation
Wetland
Floodplain
Yes
No,
unregulated
flows were
below
triggers for
off-channel
wetland
inundation.
No
NSW
Barwon–
Darling
River
catchment
river
flows—
unregulated
Site
Barwon
and
Darling
River
channel
and
fringing
wetlands
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering, <1 year
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering,
1–5 years
Contributes to
Murray–Darling
Basin Plan
Environmental
watering plan
objectives
Timing
Total
Commonwealth
environmental
water delivered
(ML)
Commonwealth
environmental water
contributed to two
separate fresh flow
events in the system
to:
Restore a
more naturally
variable flow
regime and
preserve
natural cues.
8.06(3)(b)(i)(ii)
July to
August 2013
(Barwon
River)
13 009.4

promote
hydrological
connectivity and
end-of-system
flows
Support
population
condition in
key waterhole
refuges.

maintain refuges
(waterholes) in
the main river
channel

support the
movement and
dispersal of
aquatic biota

provide for
8.06(6)(a)(b)
March to
April 2014
(Barwon–
Darling)
nutrient and
carbon cycling.
Table 2: Commonwealth environmental watering actions for the Border Rivers catchment in 2013–14
Location of
watering action
Type of action
Complex
River
flows
Border
Rivers
catchment
flows—
unregulated
Site
Dumaresq– Yes
Macintyre
River and
fringing
wetlands
Inundation
Wetland
Floodplain
Yes,
inundation is
dependent
on the
extent of
natural flow
events.
Yes,
inundation is
dependent
on the
extent of
natural flow
events.
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering, <1 year
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering,
1–5 years
Contributes to
Murray–
Darling Basin
Plan
Environmental
watering plan
objectives
Timing
Total
Commonwealth
environmental
water delivered
(ML)

The primary
aim of instream use
(subject to
natural trigger
flows) was to
support a
more naturally
variable flow
regime and
preserve
natural cues.
8.05(3)(a)
March to
April 2014
91.8


Commonwealth
environmental
water
contributed to a
small fresh flow
to:support
primary
production and
nutrient and
carbon cycling
promote
hydrological
connectivity
provide for the
dispersal of
aquatic biota.
Population
condition
(ecosystem
recovery).
8.06(3)(b)(i)
8.06(6)(a)(b)
8.06(7)
Border
Rivers–
regulated
NSW
Severn
River
Yes
No
No
Tumble in-channel
substrate to
support primary
production, wet
and interconnect
riparian areas and
in-channel
benches to provide
hydrological
connectivity and
support nutrient
and carbon cycling.
To support a
more naturally
variable flow
regime and
provide
natural cues.
8.05(3)(b)(i)
8.06(7)
August
2013
4000
(delivered in
combination
with 4000 ML
of stimulus flow
from NSW
(Pindari Dam)
Table 3: Commonwealth environmental watering actions for the Condamine–Balonne catchment in 2013–14
Location of watering
action
Type of action
Complex
River
flows
Site
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering, <1 year
Inundation
Wetland
Floodplain
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering,
1–5 years
Contributes to
Murray–Darling
Basin Plan
Environmental
watering plan
objectives
Timing
Total
Commonwealth
environmental
water delivered
(ML)
Condamine
Balonne–
Lower
Balonne
unregulated
Lower
Balonne
catchment
river
flows and
floodplain
systems
Yes
Yes,
inundation
depends on
the extent
of natural
flow events.
Yes,
inundation
depends
on the
extent of
natural flow
events.
Commonwealth
environmental
water contributed
to a small fresh
flow to:

re-establish
hydrological
connectivity
and end-ofsystem flows
to the
Barwon–
Darling

maintain
refuges
(waterholes)
in the main
river channel
and
distributary
channels

promote the
dispersal of
aquatic biota
and fish
reproduction.
Support a
more naturally
variable flow
regime
throughout the
Lower Balonne
system and
preserve
natural cues.
Support
population
condition in
key waterhole
refuges in the
Lower Balonne
distributary
channels.
8.06(3)(b)(i)
8.06(6)(a)(b)
April 2014
22 282
Table 4: Commonwealth environmental watering actions for the Gwydir catchment in 2013–14
Location of watering
action
Type of action
Complex
River
flows
Gwydir
Site
Mallowa
Yes
Wetlands
Inundation
Wetland
Floodplain
Yes
Yes
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering, <1 year
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering, 1–5 years
Contributes to
Murray–Darling
Basin Plan
Environmental
watering plan
objectives
Timing
Total
Commonwealth
environmental
water delivered
(ML)
Maintain the condition
of permanent and
semi-permanent
wetland vegetation
(e.g. water couch,
spike rush, river
cooba and lignum).
Maintain vegetation
condition and
diversity.
8.05(2)(b)(c)
September
2013 to
March 2014
20 000
Promote waterbird
diversity and
population condition.
8.06(3)(a)(b)(i)(ii)
Promote waterbird
survival and condition.
Promote fish diversity
and population
condition.
October to
November
2013
8420
Promote fish
movement and
condition, nutrient and
carbon cycling, and
primary production.
Gwydir
Mehi
River
Yes
No
No
Contribute to an instream fresh with a
slower, more natural
rate of recession to
support fish condition
and movement, larval
8.05(3)(a)(b)
8.06(6)(b)(7)
8.07(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
Support the diversity
and abundance of
other native aquatic
species (e.g.
invertebrates, frogs,
turtles).
Promote fish diversity
and population
condition.
8.05(3)(a)(b)
Support the diversity
and abundance of
other native aquatic
8.06(6)(a)(b)
8.06(3)(b)(i)
8.06(7)
abundance and
survival.
Stimulate carbon and
nutrient cycling, and
primary production
processes.
Gwydir
Carole
Creek
Yes
No
No
Contribute to an instream fresh with a
slower, more natural
rate of recession to
support fish condition
and movement, larval
abundance and
survival.
Stimulate carbon and
nutrient cycling, and
primary production
processes.
species (e.g.
invertebrates, frogs,
turtles).
8.07(5)
Promote fish diversity
and population
condition.
8.05(3)(a)(b)
Support the diversity
and abundance of
other native aquatic
species (e.g.
invertebrates, frogs,
turtles).
8.06(6)(a)(b)
8.06(3)(b)(i)
October to
November
2013
3915
8.06(7)
8.07(5)
Table 5: Commonwealth environmental watering actions for the Lachlan catchment in 2013–14
Location of
watering action
Type of action
Complex
River
flows
Site
Expected environmental
outcome(s) of watering, <1
year
Inundation
Wetland
Floodplain
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering,
1–5 years
Contributes to
Murray–Darling
Basin Plan
Environmental
watering plan
objectives
Timing
Total
Commonwealth
environmental
water delivered
(ML)
Lachlan
Lower
Lachlan
Yes
Yes
N/A
Support the ongoing
environmental recovery
following the 2012 floods.
Improve the condition of
native plant communities,
particularly river red gum
communities, lignum stands
and reed bed areas, and
support many of their natural
processes such as flowering,
seeding and germination.
Build resilience in the Lower
Lachlan system so that the
environment can survive
through dry periods and the
impacts of drought.
Provide instream benefits in
the Lachlan River channel
and fringing river areas as
well as connect the river to its
lakes, creeks and wetlands,
which provides the
opportunity for plants, animals
and nutrients to move to new
areas.
Improve
vegetation
condition and
support
recruitment in
riparian,
floodplain and
wetland areas.
8.05(2)(a)(b)(c)
8.05(3)(a)(b)
8.06(2)
8.06
(3)(a)(b)(i)(f)
8.06(6)(b)
Improve
hydrological
connectivity by
working to
reinstate a
more natural
frequency of
floodplain and
wetland
inundation.
8.07(2)(3)
June 2013
to March
2014
73 854
(23 017 in
2013–14 and
50 837 in 2012–
13)
Table 6: Commonwealth environmental watering actions for the Macquarie–Castlereagh catchment in 2013–14
Location of watering
action
Type of action
Complex
River
flows
Macquarie
Site
Macquarie N/A
River and
Marshes
Expected environmental
outcome(s) of watering,
<1 year
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering,
1–5 years
Inundation
Wetland
Floodplain
Yes
N/A
Commonwealth environmental Maintain
water was delivered to:
vegetation
condition and
 maintain adequate water
reproduction.
levels across native
Promote
wetland plant
waterbird
communities, including
survival,
water couch, reed and
condition,
spike rush to support the
reproduction
ongoing regeneration of
and fledgling.
these communities and
their native fauna
Promote
 maintain the connection of hydrological
low-lying water courses on connectivity.
the floodplain to improve
water quality and allow
native animals to move
between different areas

support the habitat needs
and breeding sites of
migratory shorebirds and
Contributes to
Murray–Darling
Basin Plan
Environmental
watering plan
objectives
Timing
8.05(2)(a)(b)
August to 10 000
November
2013
8.06(3)(b)(i)(ii)
8.06(6)(b)
Total
Commonwealth
environmental
water delivered
(ML)
waterbirds such as Glossy
ibis, Australian white Ibis,
Straw-necked Ibis,
Intermediate egrets and
Rufous night herons.
Table 7: Commonwealth environmental watering actions for the Warrego River in 2013–14
Location of watering
action
Type of action
Complex
River
flows
Inundation
Wetland
Floodplain
Yes
No
No
Warrego
and Darling
(NSW)
unregulated
at Toorale
Site
Lower
Warrego
River
catchment
flows,
Darling
catchment
river
flows
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering, <1 year
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering,
1–5 years
Contributes to
Murray–Darling
Basin Plan
Environmental
watering plan
objectives
Timing
Total
Commonwealth
environmental
water delivered
(ML)
Commonwealth
environmental
water contributed
to a fresh flow to:
Support aquatic
ecosystem
diversity.
8.06(3)(b)(i)
March
2014
506.25

maximise
hydrological
connectivity
and end-ofsystem flows to
the Darling

support the
movement and
dispersal of
aquatic biota
and nutrient
8.06(6)(a)(b)
and carbon
cycling in the
Warrego and
Darling rivers.
Table 8: Commonwealth environmental watering actions for the Moonie catchment in 2013–14
Location of watering
action
Type of action
Complex
River
flows
Inundation
Wetland
Floodplain
Yes
Yes,
inundation is
dependent
on the
extent of
natural flow
events.
Yes,
inundation is
dependent
on the extent
of natural
flow events.
Moonie
Site
Lower
Moonie
River
flows
and
fringing
wetlands
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering, <1 year
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering,
1–5 years
Contributes to
Murray–Darling
Basin Plan
Environmental
watering plan
objectives
Timing
Total
Commonwealth
environmental
water delivered
(ML)
Commonwealth
environmental water
contributed to a
moderate fresh flow
to support:
Restore a more
naturally variable
flow regime and
preserve natural
cues.
8.06(3)(b)(i)
March
2014
1415

hydrological
connectivity and
end-of-system
flows to the
Barwon River
Support aquatic
ecosystem
diversity.

maintain refuges
(waterholes) in
the main river
channel

the dispersal of
aquatic biota and
8.06(6)(a)(b)
fish reproduction.
Table 9: Commonwealth environmental watering actions for the Broken, Campaspe, Goulburn, Loddon, and Ovens catchments in 2013–14
Location of watering
action
Type of action
Complex
River
flows
Inundation
Wetland
Floodplain
Yes
N/A
N/A
Goulburn–
Broken
Site
Goulburn
River
Expected environmental
outcome(s) of watering,
<1 year
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering,
1–5 years
Contributes to
Murray–Darling
Basin Plan
Environmental
watering plan
objectives
Timing
Total
Commonwealth
environmental
water delivered
(ML)
Support the germination
and growth of riparian
native vegetation.
Support
vegetation
condition and
reproduction.
8.05(3)(a)
July 2013
to
May 2014
215 000
Improve river bank stability,
submerge snags and
improve the habitat of
native fish so that they can
breed and grow.
Provide habitat and food for
macroinvertebrates while
also maintaining suitable
water quality for other
native aquatic plants and
animals.
Support downstream
watering actions throughout
the Mid Murray, Lower
Murray, Coorong and Lower
Support fish
reproduction and
condition.
Support
hydrological
connectivity.
Support biotic
dispersal.
Increase
dissolved oxygen
and dissolve
organic carbon.
8.06(3)(b)(i)
8.06(7)
Lakes.
Goulburn–
Broken
Lower
Broken
Creek
Yes
N/A
N/A
Improve and maintain
ecological health and
resilience of the system.
Support fish
reproduction and
condition.
8.05(3)(a)
Contribute in-stream base
flows and freshes between
August 2013 and May 2014
within the lower Broken
Creek in support of native
fish reproduction and
condition, hydrological
connectivity and the
maintenance of water
quality.
Support
hydrological
connectivity.
8.06(6)(a)
Return flows from the use
of Commonwealth water in
the lower Broken Creek to
support downstream
actions throughout the Mid
Murray, Lower Murray,
Coorong and Lower Lakes,
contributing to the
protection, maintenance
and improvement of the
diversity and condition of
water dependent native
flora and fauna and
ecosystem function.
Increase
dissolved oxygen
and dissolve
organic carbon.
8.06(3)(b)(i)
September 38 593.7
2013 to
May 2014
Campaspe Campaspe Yes
River
N/A
N/A
Commonwealth
environmental water
contributed to in-stream
base flows and freshes
from 10 to 18 September
2013 within the Campaspe
River in support of:



Loddon
Yes
N/A
N/A
Vegetation
condition and
reproduction.

Fish
reproduction
and
condition.
native fish reproduction
and condition

Hydrological
connectivity.
hydrological
connectivity

Biotic
dispersal.

Dissolved
oxygen and
dissolved
organic
carbon.
biotic dispersal.
Return flows from the
Campaspe River were used
to support downstream
actions throughout the Mid
Murray, Lower Murray,
Coorong and Lower Lakes,
contributing to the
protection, maintenance
and improvement of the
diversity and condition of
water dependent native
plants and animals (such as
native fish), water quality
and ecosystem function.
Loddon

The purpose of this
Vegetation
8.05(3)(a)
July 2013
to June
8.06(3)(b)(i)(iii) 2014
6517
8.06(6)(a)(b)
8.06(7)
9.04
8.05(3)(a)
July 2013
2774.5
River
Ovens
River
Ovens
River
Yes
N/A
N/A
watering action was to
improve and maintain the
ecological health and
resilience of the Loddon
River system.
condition and
reproduction.
8.06(3)(b)(i)(iii) to June
2014
8.06(6)(a)(b)
Fish reproduction
and condition.
8.06(7)
Commonwealth
environmental water
contributed towards
in-stream baseflows
and freshes between
3 September and 3 October
2013, and from
6 to 20 November 2013,
within the Loddon River in
support of:
Hydrological
connectivity.

riparian vegetation
condition

native fish reproduction
and condition

hydrological
connectivity

water quality.
The purpose of this
watering action was to
maintain the ecological
health and resilience of the
9.04
Dissolved
oxygen and
dissolved organic
carbon.
Macroinvertebrate
diversity.
Hydrological
8.05(3)(a)
August
2013
8.06(3)(b)(i)(iii) to June
2014
8.06(6)(a)(b)
70
(in addition to
4800 ML of
bulk release
Ovens River system.
connectivity.
Commonwealth
environmental water
contributed towards instream baseflows and
freshes on 24 to 25 April
2014 within the Ovens
River in support of:
Biotic dispersal.

flow variability

improved primary
production

the provision of shallow
water habitat to
contribute toward
macroinvertebrate
diversity.
9.04
drawdown
water provided
by Goulburn–
Murray Water,
resulting in a
total watering
action of
4870 ML
delivered in the
Ovens system
between
22 April and
5 May 2014)
Dissolved
oxygen.
Table 10: Commonwealth environmental watering actions for the Murray catchment in 2013–14
Location of watering
action
Type of action
Complex
River
flows
Inundation
Wetland
Floodplain
Yes
N/A
N/A
Site
Edward– Niemur
Wakool
River,
Yallakool
Expected environmental
outcome(s) of watering,
<1 year
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering,
1–5 years
Contributes to
Murray–Darling
Basin Plan
Environmental
watering plan
objectives
Timing
Total
Commonwealth
environmental
water delivered
(ML)
Support fish condition and
reproduction.
Support fish larval
growth and
8.05(3)(a)
October
2013 to
16 815
and
Tuppal
creeks
Support vegetation condition
and reproduction.
survival.
8.06(6)(a)
April 2014
8.06(7)
Other vertebrate condition,
reproduction, growth and
survival.
9.04
Hydrological connectivity.
Salinity and pH levels.
Murray
Gunbower
Creek
Yes
N/A
N/A
Support fish reproduction and
condition.
N/A
8.05(3)(a)
8.06(b)(i)
Hydrological connectivity.
October
2013 to
May 2014
19 028
July to
December
2013
47 000
9.04
Dissolved oxygen and
dissolved organic carbon.
Barwon– Great
Darling
Darling
Rivers
Anabranch
Yes
N/A
N/A
Support the dispersal of plants
and animals residing in refuge
pools along the Great Darling
Anabranch, enabling fish, such
as Murray cod and golden
perch, to disperse and
potentially reconnect with
populations in the River
Murray.
Landscape fish
diversity.
Support improved condition of
riparian and floodplain native
plants, particularly river red
gums that line parts of the
Aid recovery.
Support larval
growth and
survival.
Support nutrient
and carbon
cycling.
8.5(3)(a)
8.06(3)(a)
8.06(6)(a)
8.06(7)
channel.
Provide habitat for native birds
and other animals such as
frogs.
Enable the transfer of nutrients
and energy between the Great
Darling Anabranch and the
Murray River, supporting both
longitudinal connectivity (i.e.
connectivity along a
watercourse) and lateral
connectivity (i.e. connectivity
between the river channel and
riparian zones).
Lower
Murray
Lower
River
Murray
Mallee
wetlands
Yes
Yes
N/A
Improve vegetation condition
in wetlands and floodplains.
Provide wetland habitat to
improve the recruitment and
survival of small bodied fish
particularly the EPBC listed
Murray hardyhead.
Increase
landscape
vegetation
diversity.
Support fish
population.
Increase
landscape
vertebrate
diversity.
Aid recovery.
8.05(2)(a)(b)
8.05(3)(a)
8.07
9.04
December
2013 to
April 2014
Cadross lakes:
505.9
Brickworks
Billabong: 159
Woorlong
Wetlands: 176.2
Psyche Bend
Lagoon: 400
Bullock Swamp:
265.5
Karadoc
Swamp: 200
J1 Creek: 209
Burra Creek:
300
Bridge Creek:
200
Liparoo East:
236
Lower
Murray
Hattah
Lakes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Support improvement in the
condition of black box
woodland native vegetation,
and to provide aquatic habitat.
Support the improvement in
the abundance and diversity of
frogs, fish and waterbirds.
Support
vegetation
diversity.
8.05(2)(a)
Support
vegetation growth
and survival.
8.06(3)(b)(i)
Increase fish
diversity.
Support fish larval
and juvenile
recruitment.
Increase other
vertebrate adult
abundance.
Increase
waterbird diversity
8.05(3)(a)(b)
8.07(3)
May to
June 2014
4633.1
Ongoing at
30 June 2014
and population
condition.
Support
population
condition
(landscape
refuges and
ecosystem
recovery).
South
Australia
Murray
Under
Nature
Foundation
SA
agreement:
Johnsons
Waterhole,
Clark’s
Floodplain,
Loxton
Riverfront
Reserve,
Thieles
Flat, Rilli
Reach,
Ramco
River
Terrace
Yes
Yes
Yes
Improve native vegetation
condition and reproduction.
Support
vegetation
recruitment and
extent.
8.05(2)(c)
8.06(6)(a)
Provide aquatic wetland
habitat to support waterbirds
and frogs.
Increase
landscape
vegetation
diversity.
Watering actions are being
implemented by landholders
on privately owned wetlands in
conjunction with the Nature
Foundation SA.
Increase
landscape
waterbird
diversity.
Reduce the local impacts of
salinity.
Increase within
ecosystem
macroinvertebrate
diversity.
8.06(3)(b)(i)
and (ii)
August
2013
ongoing at
30 June
2014
214.9
South
Australia
Murray
Lower
Murray
Wetlands
Yes
Yes
Yes
Maintain and improve the
condition, diversity and extent
of floodplain and wetland
native plants.
Improve the diversity and
condition of native fish, frog
and waterbird populations
through maintaining suitable
aquatic habitat and providing
opportunities for breeding and
recruitment.
Improve
landscape
vegetation and
vertebrate
diversity.
8.05(2)(a)(b)
8.05(3)(a)
8.07
November
2013
ongoing at
30 June
2014
1019
November
2013 to
June 2014
106 070
Aid recovery.
Improve ecosystem and
population resilience by
supporting ecological recovery
and maintaining aquatic
habitat.
South
Australia
Murray
Lower
Lakes
Coorong
and
Murray
Mouth
Yes
Yes
N/A
Improve water quality in the
River Murray channel; aquatic
vegetation,
macroinvertebrates, waterbird
and fish habitat within the
Coorong and Lower lakes; and
contribute to flows to support
an open Murray Mouth.
Promote
landscape
vegetation
diversity.
8.05(2)(a)(b)
Increase
landscape fish
diversity.
8.06(3)(c)
Support ongoing improvement
in the condition and extent of
the aquatic herb Ruppia
tuberosa, which provides
Support bird
population.
8.06(7)
Aid recovery.
8.05(3)(a)
8.06(3)(b)(i)(ii)
8.06(6)(a)(b)
This volume
has been
delivered in
combination
with
environmental
water from
other
Commonwealth
watering actions
resulting in a
Lower
Murray
River
Murray at
Locks 8
and 9 weir
pools
Yes
Yes
Yes
critical habitat for fish and
invertebrate species in the
Coorong Southern Lagoon.
Increase
landscape
refugia.
Support the operation of weir
pools that provide increased
variability in river water levels
for the purpose of improving
native vegetation condition.
Increase
landscape
vegetation
diversity.
8.05(2)(b)
Support
vegetation
recruitment and
extent.
8.06(3)(c)
Increase
landscape bird
diversity.
Increase
landscape fish
diversity.
Improve fish
larval growth and
survival.
Support nutrient
and carbon
cycling.
total of approx.
543 GL being
delivered to the
Lower Lakes,
Coorong and
Murray Mouth.
8.05(3)(a)
8.06(3)(b)(i)(ii)
8.06(6)(a)(b)
August
2013
to April
2014
216
Table 11: Commonwealth environmental watering actions for the Murrumbidgee catchment in 2013–14
Location of watering action
Type of action
Complex
River
flows
Inundation
Wetland
Floodplain
Yes
Yes
Yes
Murrumbidgee
Site
Lower
Murrumbidgee
floodplains
including:
Nimmie–
Caira
wetlands,
Yanga
National
Park, North
Redbank, the
Fiddlers
Creek system
and the
Western
Lakes
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering, <1 year
Expected
environmental
outcome(s) of
watering,
1–5 years
Contributes to
Murray–Darling
Basin Plan
Environmental
watering plan
objectives
Timing
Total
Commonwealth
environmental
water delivered
(ML)
Support
vegetation
condition and
reproduction.
Support
landscape
vegetation
diversity.
8.05(3)
November
2013 to June
2014
60 174
Support waterbird
reproduction,
survival and
condition.
Support
waterbird
recruitment.
9.04
Support other
vertebrate
condition,
reproduction and
survival.
Support fish
condition.
Improve
hydrological
connectivity.
Support biotic
Increase macroinvertebrate
diversity within
wetlands.
Support nutrient
and carbon
cycling.
8.06(3)(b)(ii)
8.07
dispersal.
Increase refugia.
Dissolve organic
carbon.
Murrumbidgee
Lower
Murrumbidgee
floodplains
(supplementary
watering)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Support
vegetation
condition and
reproduction.
Support
landscape
vegetation
diversity.
Support waterbird
reproduction,
survival and
condition.
Support
waterbird
recruitment.
Support other
vertebrate
condition,
reproduction and
survival.
Support fish
condition.
Improve
hydrological
connectivity.
Support biotic
dispersal.
Increase macroinvertebrate
diversity within
wetlands.
Support nutrient
and carbon
cycling.
8.05(3)
8.06(3)(b)(ii)
8.07
9.04
August to
October
2013 and
March to
June 2014
6967
Increase refugia.
Dissolve organic
carbon.
Appendix D: Commonwealth environmental water carryover into 2013–14
Table 1: Summary of Commonwealth environmental water carryover in the Murray–Darling
Basin into 2013–14
Part of Basin
Water source
Southern Connected Basin
Victorian Murray
Goulburn
New South Wales Murray
(including Lower Darling)
Northern Basin
Carryover (GL)
118
15
105
Murrumbidgee
56
Campaspe
<1
Subtotal
293
Lachlan
44
Macquarie and Cudgegong
19
Gwydir
80
Namoi
6
Border Rivers
7
Total
450