Commonwealth environmental water
use options 2014–15:
Macquarie River Valley
1
Cover image credit: Coolabah on Pillicawarrina in the Macquarie Marshes. Photo: Louise
Armstrong © CEWO.
The environmental health of this area was supported by managed
environmental and natural flows during 2012.
Acknowledgement of the traditional owners of the Murray-Darling Basin
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office respectfully acknowledges the traditional
owners, their Elders past and present, their Nations of the Murray-Darling Basin, and their
cultural, social, environmental, spiritual and economic connection to their lands and waters.
© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia, 2014.
Commonwealth environmental water use options 2014–15: Macquarie River Valley is licensed by the Commonwealth
of Australia for use under a Creative Commons By Attribution 3.0 Australia licence with the exception of the Coat of
Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report, content supplied
by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/
This report should be attributed as ‘Commonwealth environmental water use options 2014–15: Macquarie River Valley,
Commonwealth of Australia 2014’.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the
Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that
the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the
accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned
directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.
2
Commonwealth environmental water use options
2014–15: Macquarie River Valley
Table of contents
1.
Background .............................................................................................................. 5
1.1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Demonstrating how Commonwealth environmental water in 2014–15 will contribute to
the Basin Plan’s environmental watering plan objectives – Macquarie River Valley ...... 5
Context for water use in 2014–15 in the Macquarie River Valley....................................... 8
2.1.
Delivering environmental water to the Macquarie River Valley .......................................... 8
2.2.
Operational and management considerations for 2014–15 in the Macquarie River
Valley ............................................................................................................................................. 10
2.3.
Valley condition ........................................................................................................................... 12
Water availability ..................................................................................................... 13
3.1.
Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Macquarie River Valley for 2014–
15 .................................................................................................................................................... 13
3.2.
Other sources of environmental water allocations .............................................................. 13
3.3.
Natural or unregulated flows and planned environmental water .................................... 14
Planning for water use in the Macquarie River Valley in 2014–15.................................... 15
4.1.
Planning for a range of inflows in 2014–15 .............................................................................. 15
4.2.
Implementing watering actions throughout the year .......................................................... 16
Water use options for 2014–15 .................................................................................... 17
5.1.
Summary of watering options ................................................................................................... 17
5.2.
Assessment of environmental watering options .................................................................... 19
5.3.
Options contributing to the Basin Annual Environmental Watering Priorities .................. 29
Accounting for the use of Commonwealth environmental water ................................... 30
6.1.
Water use accounting ................................................................................................................ 30
6.2.
Monitoring ..................................................................................................................................... 30
6.2.1.
Operational monitoring ..................................................................................................... 30
6.2.2.
Long term intervention monitoring .................................................................................. 30
7.
Next steps – from planning to water delivery ............................................................... 32
8.
Partnerships ............................................................................................................. 34
9.
Bibliography ............................................................................................................ 35
3
List of Figures
Figure 1: The Macquarie River Valley (Produced by NSW OEH). .......................................................... 9
Figure 2: How inflows may vary and impact on water resource availability over the course of
2014–15 in the Macquarie River Valley, from a starting point of very low to low resource
availability. ..................................................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 3: The annual management process for Commonwealth environmental water. .............. 33
List of Tables
Table 1: Expected outcomes from the use of Commonwealth environmental water in the
Macquarie River Valley. ................................................................................................................................ 6
Table 2: Operational considerations for the Macquarie River Valley in 2014–15. ........................... 10
Table 3: Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Macquarie River Valley as at 31
May 2014. ....................................................................................................................................................... 13
Table 4: Other potential sources of environmental water in the Macquarie River Valley for 2014–
15 as at March 2014. .................................................................................................................................... 13
Table 5: Summary of water use options for the Macquarie River Valley .......................................... 18
Table 6: 2014–15 Basin annual environmental watering priorities for the Macquarie River Valley
......................................................................................................................................................................... 29
4
1.Background
This document is designed to be read in conjunction with the Commonwealth environmental
water use options 2014–15: Planning approach, which outlines the approach to planning for
the use of Commonwealth environmental water this coming water year. The planning
document provides the context for key aspects of the approach including determining
resource availability, the expected outcomes from watering actions and the relationship
between the function of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (the Office) and the
Basin Plan.
This document outlines watering options for the use of Commonwealth environmental water in
the Macquarie River Valley this year. The options, which describe potential watering actions,
series of actions, or watering strategies, do not represent a commitment for water use.
Consistent with the Office’s framework, decisions to make water available for any of the
potential options will be subject to an assessment against five published criteria (available from
the Office’s website) and seasonal, operational and management considerations at the time
of the action. All relevant watering actions will be assessed to ensure the best possible use of
environmental water within the relevant planning area and across the Murray-Darling Basin
and having regard to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Basin annual environmental watering
priorities.
1.1.
Demonstrating how Commonwealth environmental water in 2014–15 will
contribute to the Basin Plan’s environmental watering plan objectives –
Macquarie River Valley
Commonwealth environmental water use options for the Macquarie River Valley in 2014–15
include the following three flow types:

base flows (low flows)

freshes

discrete wetland inundation.
These flow types are illustrated in Figure 4 of the document Commonwealth environmental
water use options 2014–15: Planning approach.
Commonwealth environmental water delivery within the Macquarie River Valley may be
delivered to various parts of the river system including:

Macquarie Marshes

effluent creek systems

and fringing wetlands.
The ecological response from delivering Commonwealth environmental water is reflected in
the expected outcomes.
The Office has used the best available science to determine how the expected outcomes of
Commonwealth environmental water contribute towards the objectives of the Basin Plan’s
environmental watering plan. For further information please refer to The Environmental Water
Outcomes Framework at www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo/publications/environmentalwater-outcomes-framework.
5
Table 1 shows the linkage between planned flow types and the expected outcomes for the
Macquarie River Valley. The table also links the short-term expected outcomes to a long-term
contribution to the four Basin Plan objectives at the Basin scale (i.e. biodiversity, ecosystem
function, resilience and water quality).
Table 1: Expected outcomes from the use of Commonwealth environmental water in the
Macquarie River Valley.
Flow Type
Expected outcomes
for 2014–15
Contributions to
longer term
objectives
Contribution to the
following Basin Plan
objective
Base flows (low flows)
Hydrological
connectivity, including
end of system flows
Connectivity
Ecosystem Function
Individual survival and
condition (individual
refuges)
Population condition
(individual refuges)
Resilience
Individual condition
(ecosystem resistance)
Population condition
(ecosystem recovery)
Resilience
Management of water
quality issues (salinity,
dissolved oxygen, pH
and dissolved organic
carbon)
Chemical
Water Quality
Vegetation condition
and reproduction
Vegetation diversity
Biodiversity
Vegetation germination
and dispersal
Vegetation growth
and survival
Biodiversity
Within ecosystem
macroinvertebrate
diversity
Macroinvertebrate
diversity
Biodiversity
Fish condition
Fish diversity
Biodiversity
Fish reproduction, larval
growth and survival
Larval and juvenile
recruitment
Biodiversity
Waterbird survival and
condition
Waterbird diversity
and population
condition
Biodiversity
Waterbird reproduction,
recruitment and fledging
Waterbird diversity
and population
condition
Biodiversity
Other vertebrate
reproduction, growth
and survival (frogs)
Adult abundance
(frogs)
Biodiversity
Hydrological
connectivity, including
end of system flows
Connectivity
Ecosystem Function
Mobilisation and
dispersal of biotic and
abiotic materials
Connectivity
Ecosystem Function
Primary production,
decomposition, nutrient
and carbon cycling
Process
Ecosystem Function
Freshes and discrete
wetland inundation
6
Flow Type
Expected outcomes
for 2014–15
Contributions to
longer term
objectives
Contribution to the
following Basin Plan
objective
Individual survival and
condition (individual
refuges)
Population condition
(individual refuges)
Resilience
Individual condition
(ecosystem resistance)
Population condition
(ecosystem recovery)
Resilience
Management of water
quality issues (salinity,
dissolved oxygen, pH
and dissolved organic
carbon)
Chemical
Water Quality
7
2. Context for water use in 2014–15 in the
Macquarie River Valley
2.1.
Delivering environmental water to the Macquarie River Valley
Macquarie River flows are heavily influenced by rainfall events in the upper catchment and
flows in tributary systems. The river is formed when the Campbells and Fish rivers join above
Bathurst in Central Western New South Wales (NSW) followed by tributary flows from the
Winburndale River, Turon River and Pyrmul Creek. The River then drains into Burrendong Dam,
south east of Wellington. Below the dam tributary flows are provided by the Bell River which
enters at Wellington; Little River and Wambangalong Creek which enter upstream of Dubbo;
and, Talbragar River and Coolbaggie Creek which enter just downstream of Dubbo.
Subsequently, as the land flattens further west of Dubbo, the Macquarie River provides flows to
distributary creeks, wetlands and rich alluvial river flats associated with braided channels. At
this point, water flows are slow resulting mainly from extensive silt deposits and high
attenuation.
Two major storages, Windamere Dam (capacity 368 GL) on the Cudgegong River and
Burrendong Dam (1 188 GL, which includes 489 GL of airspace in the flood mitigation zone) on
the Macquarie River, regulate catchment water supplies. Commonwealth environmental
water delivery is gravity fed from Burrendong Dam into the Macquarie River to downstream
environmental assets such as the Macquarie Marshes and effluent creeks. Regulating structures
are utilised to manage the diversion of water into distributary creeks at lower rates or overbank
at high flow rates onto floodplains and wetlands.
The primary environmental asset in the catchment is the Macquarie Marshes complex on the
lower reaches of the Macquarie River. Other assets in the catchment include the Macquarie
River, the unregulated component of the lower Macquarie River downstream of Warren Town
Weir and the effluent creeks.
The Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source
(2003) provides for planned environmental water and stock and domestic (replenishment)
flows. Such releases offer opportunities to align Commonwealth environmental water deliveries
to increase the potential for environmental objectives to be achieved and assist with delivery
efficiency.
8
Figure 1: The Macquarie River Valley (Produced by NSW OEH).
9
2.2.
Operational and management considerations for 2014–15 in the
Macquarie River Valley
Delivery of environmental water in the Macquarie catchment is currently constrained by
storage release capacities, channel capacity constraints, infrastructure and potential
unintended third party impacts from high environmental flows.
Watering options will be developed in consideration of the following constraints:

South Dubbo weir drown out at > 14 385 ML/day

Marebone Choke – third party impact at prolonged flows > 4 000 ML/day

Crooked Creek off take capacity of 100 ML/day

structures such as banks, weirs, regulators and diversion channels in the Marshes.
In 2014–15 an additional consideration for the delivery of environmental water will be cold
water pollution mitigation works and safety upgrades on Burrendong Dam. The cold water
pollution mitigation works commenced in early 2014 and are planned to be completed by mid
2014. The safety upgrades will commence in March, and are expected to be completed by
late 2014. Although these works may constrain maximum delivery rates, this is considered
unlikely.
Operational considerations such as delivery methods, opportunities, constraints and risks will
differ depending on the inflow scenario and are summarised in Table 2. Operational
considerations are assessed against inflow scenarios.
Adaptive environmental water and discretionary planned environmental water, managed by
the New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage (NSW OEH), may also be used in
order to undertake complementary environmental watering actions with Commonwealth
environmental water.
Throughout the year seasonal, operational and management considerations will be addressed
as decisions are taken to make water available for use and as these decisions are
implemented. This will include refining the ecological objectives, assessing operational
feasibility and potential risks and the ongoing monitoring of the seasonal outlook and river
conditions.
Table 2: Operational considerations for the Macquarie River Valley in 2014–15.
Inflow scenario
Very low
Opportunities
Manage the recession of naturally
occurring high flows to provide for a
more natural flow pattern.
Use environmental water in
conjunction with, or to maximise the
environmental benefit of, naturally
occurring river flows.
End of system flows contribute to
additional environmental outcomes
in the Barwon-Darling system.
10
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Inflow scenario
Very low
Low
Pumping and water diversion via
regulating structures to key sites may
be considered depending on an
assessment of the action and the
level of river flows.
Constraints
Environmental water delivery is limited
by high flows, which reduce channel
capacity and limits the use of
infrastructure and additional releases
from storages.
High irrigation demand may constrain
environmental water delivery by
limiting available channel capacity.
Flow thresholds to avoid third party
impacts, such as inundation of
crossings, which restricts access to
land.
Release capacities of storages will
constrain the magnitude of flow
augmentation.
Flow thresholds for existing river and
floodplains works may constrain the
delivery of environmental water,
particularly targeted peak flow rates.
The level of inundation possible
throughout the Macquarie Marshes is
constrained by in channel and
floodplain structures.
Risks*
Water available is insufficient to meet
the desired flow
regime/environmental outcome.
Adverse environmental impacts as a
result of environmental flows (e.g.
breeding of exotic species).
The provision of Commonwealth
environmental water must consider
potential inundation impacts to
property and infrastructure.
Conditions in the Macquarie River
need to be considered to assess the
likelihood of reregulation of return
flows.
*See Section 7 for more information on risk management.
11
Moderate
High
Very high
2.3.
Valley condition
Water extraction in the Macquarie River Valley, particularly within the Macquarie Marshes, has
affected the abundance and richness of fish assemblages, wetland vegetation and water
birds (Brandis et al. 2009; Kingsford and Thomas 1995; Kingsford and Auld 2005; Kingsford et al.
2011; NSW OEH 2011; Rayner et al. 2009). River regulation combined with a prolonged drought
and low inflows in the Macquarie River Valley between 2001 and 2010 have significantly
affected the environmental condition of the valley. The 2012 Sustainable Rivers Audit report
classified the river ecosystem health of the Macquarie River Valley as very poor (Murray-Darling
Basin Authority [MDBA] 2012). Although macroinvertebrate communities, riverine vegetation,
physical form and hydrology were found to be in moderate condition, the condition of native
fish communities was identified as extremely poor (MDBA 2012).
A strong La Niña that started in 2010 and continued through until 2012 resulted in Australia’s
wettest 24 month period on record (Bureau of Meteorology 2012). Within the Macquarie
catchment major flooding occurred in March 2012, inundating approximately
175 000 hectares of wetland habitat. Positive ecological responses were observed in the
catchment as a result of the increased flows, with improvements in semi-permanent wetland
species richness. While the inundation of key bird breeding areas across the Macquarie
Marshes saw colonies of various species breed successfully from 2010 to 2012 (NSW Office of
Environment and Heritage [NSW OEH] 2011, NSW OEH 2013), observations of migratory species
have declined (Kingsford et al. 2011). Ecological responses were also observed in distributary
systems and creeks across the catchment. Marra and Crooked creeks were found to be in
moderate to good condition in April 2011 (Torrible et al. 2011).
Drier than average conditions returned to the Macquarie River Valley in spring 2012 with above
average temperatures and low rainfall recorded. In response to these drying conditions, a joint
action between NSW OEH and the Office was undertaken between September 2012 and
January 2013, delivering 266 GL to the Macquarie Marshes. The condition and extent aquatic
and flood-tolerant vegetation showed continued signs of improvement in areas that were
inundated. Moderate to high numbers of waterbirds were observed during environmental
watering, however, only minor bird breeding occurred (NSW OEH 2014a, NSW OEH 2014b).
Monitoring has indicated an overall improvement in wetland condition over the three years of
wetter conditions, with a significant improvement since 2008 (NSW OEH 2014a).
During 2013–14 very much below average rainfall and above average temperatures across
the catchment has resulted in significant drying of the floodplains, with only the core wetlands
remaining wet. NSW OEH and the Office delivered 63.5 GL of environmental water to the
Macquarie Marshes between September and November 2013. The focus of this watering was
on maintaining the core wetlands, in particular wetland vegetation. Some positive responses
were observed with increased growth in winter responding vegetation, the maintenance of
core areas of water couch meadows, mixed marsh and river red gum forest, and good
numbers of waterbirds in parts of the Marshes with several endangered bird species being
observed (NSW OEH 2013 pers. comm. 2 September; NSW OEH 2014c). Following the delivery of
environmental water the system has continued to dry down, with only small volumes of water
from irrigation being delivered over the remainder of the year (NSW OEH 2014 pers. comm. 3
February).
The development of watering options in Section 5 of this document takes into account the
antecedent conditions described here and the possible range of water availability and inflow
scenarios.
12
3. Water availability
3.1.
Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Macquarie River
Valley for 2014–15
Commonwealth environmental water holdings available for use in 2014–15 in the Macquarie
River Valley are shown in Table 3 below.
Table 3: Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Macquarie River Valley as at 31
May 2014.
Entitlement type
Entitlement held
(GL)
Long-term
average annual
yield (GL)
Expected
carryover from
2013–14 (GL)1
Forecast water
availability for
2014–15(GL)2
Macquarie
(general
security)
121.9
51.2
19
19–141
Macquarie
(supplementary)
6.3
1.3
N/A
Up to 6.3
Total
128.2
52.5
19
Notes:
1. Future decisions about use, transfers and the ability to deliver already approved actions will
affect expected carryover from 2013–14.
2. The forecast for supplementary water is to receive up to the maximum allowed use, subject
to the announcement of trigger flows. Forecasts are based on the best available
information including state forecasts and historical inflow scenarios. Forecasts include
carryover from 2013–14. Forecasts for are given to the nearest whole gigalitre for regulated
entitlements.
The full list of Commonwealth environmental water holdings can be found at
www.environment.gov.au/topics/water/commonwealth-environmental-water-office/aboutcommonwealth-environmental-water/how-much and is updated monthly.
Portfolio management updates for the Commonwealth’s environmental water holdings are
available at www.environment.gov.au/topics/water/commonwealth-environmental-wateroffice/portfolio-management/portfolio-management.
3.2.
Other sources of environmental water allocations
Other sources of environmental water that may be used to complement Commonwealth
environmental water delivery in the Macquarie River Valley include water held by NSW OEH.
Table 4 below outlines the different environmental water entitlements held by other water
holders.
Table 4: Other potential sources of environmental water in the Macquarie River Valley for 2014–
15 as at March 2014.
Source
Management Authority
Entitlement
General Security (NSW
Riverbank, Rivers
Environmental Restoration
Program, Wetland Recovery
Program)
NSW OEH
48.42 GL
13
Supplementary (Riverbank,
Rivers Environmental
Restoration Program,
Wetland Recovery Program)
NSW OEH
1.45 GL
Total
3.3.
Up to 49.87 GL
Natural or unregulated flows and planned environmental water
In addition to water entitlements held by environmental water holders, environmental
demands may also be met via natural or unregulated flows and water provided for the
environment under rules in state water plans (referred to as ‘planned environmental water’).
The Macquarie Water Sharing Plan has allocated 160 GL of planned environmental water for
use in the Macquarie River Valley. To date, this allocation has largely been used to provide
flows to the Macquarie Marshes in conjunction with held environmental water entitlements
held by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and NSW Riverbank. A further
‘environmental translucency’ allocation of 10 GL is stored in the Windamere Dam for the
Cudgegong system.
14
4. Planning for water use in the Macquarie
River Valley in 2014–15
4.1.
Planning for a range of inflows in 2014–15
In addition to influencing opportunities, constraints and risks in relation to environmental
watering (see Table 2), inflows are a primary driver of resource availability. Resource availability
also reflects a combination of the allocations available to the Commonwealth Environmental
Water Holder (Section 3.1) and other environmental water holders (Section 3.2) as well as
natural or unregulated flows and planned environmental water (Section 3.3).
Given the variable rainfall experienced across the Murray-Darling Basin, inflows are difficult to
accurately forecast. As shown in Table 3, carryover from 2013–14 for the Macquarie is likely to
be approximately 19 GL, with forecast early season allocations (up to 31 July 2014) likely to be
minimal, giving a total allocation range of approximately 19–49 GL available for use in early
2014–15.
Consideration of this allocation range relative to the total entitlement volume (Table 3) and the
full range of inflows that may be possible suggests that resource availability early in 2014–15
may be very low to low. From this starting point, the full range of possible inflows suggest that
resource availability over the course of the year could be between very low and high, but
unlikely to be very high (Figure 2). As such, the water use options described in Section 5 have
been developed for a range of resource availability between very low and high.
Figure 2: How inflows may vary and impact on water resource availability over the course of
2014–15 in the Macquarie River Valley, from a starting point of very low to low resource
availability.
15
4.2.
Implementing watering actions throughout the year
Resource availability will change over the course of 2014–15 as new allocation
announcements are made, water is used or traded. Climatic conditions will also affect the
potential for inflows. The Office will regularly review allocations against environmental
entitlements and seasonal streamflow forecasts over the course of the year to assess resource
availability.
This assessment, along with up to date information on environmental needs and the
operational and management conditions (Section 2) will allow the watering options in
Section 5 to be refined for implementation as required.
16
5. Water use options for 2014–15
5.1.
Summary of watering options
The following section details potential watering options for 2014–15 for the Macquarie River
Valley, which reflect the approach to supply Commonwealth environmental water to
contribute to the overall environmental objectives under the Basin Plan’s environmental
watering plan.
These watering options have been designed to specifically enable the scaling of actions
across several potential inflow scenarios. This provides flexibility for water use to best
complement natural inflows.
A summary of potential watering options across the water resource availability scenarios is
provided at Table 5.
Broadly, the aim of Commonwealth environmental watering in the Macquarie River Valley
during 2014–15 will be to support the ongoing environmental recovery that commenced
following the breaking of the drought, and to support ecosystem resilience (see Section 2.3).
For some parts of the system, this will mean providing river flows to support the recruitment of
fauna, and vegetation health in wetlands, the riparian zone and on floodplains. For other parts
of the system, this may mean making decisions not to provide water to sites that require a
drying phase.
Any volumes described in the options tables below are approximations only. The final volume
of Commonwealth environmental water made available will depend on river conditions at the
time of use, other environmental water contributions and in consideration of Basin wide needs.
Feedback has been sought during the development of water use options for 2014–15 using
existing state frameworks, for example, Environmental Water Advisory Groups and State Water
Customer Service Committees. This feedback has been incorporated into the water use
options where appropriate, particularly in relation to implementation risks and opportunities to
improve outcomes through environmental water delivery.
The water use options identified do not represent a commitment for use, nor do they reflect all
the possible water use options available. Additional water use options may be identified
throughout the water year. The Office welcomes information from the community on how
environmental water can best be used and managed. If you have any comments or
suggestions, please call 1800 218 478 or send an email to: ewater@environment.gov.au.
17
Table 5: Summary of water use options for the Macquarie River Valley
Applicable level(s) of
resource availability
Very Low
Low
Moderate
High
(see Section 4)
Option 1 – Macquarie
Marshes
Option 2 – Fish flows in the
Macquarie River
Option 3 – Effluent Creeks
Option 4 – Waterbird
reproduction
Contingency
Option 5 – Supplementary
water use
Contribute to baseflows, freshes, bankfull and overbank flows during late winter to spring to improve vegetation
condition, contribute to recruitment and provide ideal conditions for further growth during the following spring and
summer.
Option unlikely to be
pursued under this resource
availability.
Contribute to river flows (freshes) to maintain water levels
in reaches with identified fish reproduction and drought
refuge values.
Option unlikely to be pursued under this resource
availability.
Option unlikely to be
pursued under this resource
availability.
Option unlikely to be pursued
under this resource availability.
Contribute to baseflows and freshes to support hydrological
connectivity, vegetation condition and reproduction, birds,
fish and frogs.
Contribute to river flows (baseflows and freshes) and low level wetland inundation in key
waterbird reproduction areas, to maintain flows of an appropriate depth and duration
should a colonial bird breeding event occur.
Option unlikely to be pursued under this resource availability.
Contribute to unregulated
baseflows and freshes to
support hydrological
connectivity, wetland and
riparian vegetation condition,
and the survival and
reproduction of birds, fish and
other vertebrates.
Note: Under certain resource availabilities, options may not be pursued for a variety of reasons including that environmental demand may be met by
unregulated flows and that constraints and/or risks may limit the ability to deliver environmental water.
18
5.2.
Assessment of environmental watering options
Option 1 – Macquarie Marshes
Catchment: Macquarie
Complex: Macquarie Marshes
Site: North, South and East Marsh
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Very Low, Low, Moderate, High
Relevant flow component:
Expected inundation extent:
Base flows
Floodplain inundation
Fresh
Wetland inundation
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Summary of watering option:

This option is to provide river flows (baseflows, freshes, bank full and over bank flows) to key
areas of the Macquarie Marshes with water dependent vegetation.

Depending on the volume of water available the purpose of the watering action would
range from avoiding damage to core wetland areas (very low to low availability) through
to helping maintain the improvements observed since 2010 as a result of natural inundation
and environmental flows (moderate to high availability). In particular, the focus would be
on semi-permanent wetland vegetation, providing refuges for a range of waterbirds, fish
and other aquatic species, and where volumes allow, promoting connectivity and end of
system flows.

Should dry conditions continue, environmental water would be required to help maintain
refuges and to build resilience in the core wetlands. Environmental water would be used to
target semi-permanent wetland vegetation, including reedbeds, water couch and river red
gum, which have been recovering since the drought. Should conditions and water
availability improve during 2014–15, environmental flows would likely be used to contribute
to increasing vegetation extent and small scale recruitment of fish and other aquatic
species.

Under a dry scenario, Commonwealth environmental water would likely be delivered to the
North and South Marshes. However, depending on the water resource availability scenario
and available allocations, water may also be provided to the East Marsh, including
providing connectivity with Gum Cowal.

Pending allocations, this option would commence from late winter and continue for three
months through spring.

This option could be coordinated with Option 2 – Fish Flows in the Macquarie River.
Timing
August to November 2014
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 10 GL under very low or low scenarios. The volume of water for this
option is scalable based on water availability and allocations.
Action undertaken in this catchment
previously:
Yes
Similar action has been undertaken elsewhere
in the Murray Darling Basin:
Yes
No
19
No
Operational considerations and feasibility:

Commonwealth environmental water will be delivered via river flows out of Burrendong
Dam to Marebone Weir (delivery and accounting point), taking up to 11 days to reach the
weir.

Commonwealth environmental water will contribute a portion of flow rates up to
3 500 ML/day at Marebone Weir.

This option will be coordinated with NSW OEH to ensure complementary delivery with NSW
managed environmental water (including the ecological contingency allowances).

NSW State Water Corporation (NSW SWC) will manage environmental water delivery into
the Marshes at a rate that minimises the risk of inundation of private property and other
third party impacts.

Commencing this option in late winter would allow for efficient delivery with reduced
transmission losses (e.g. evaporation). There should also be adequate channel capacity for
the environmental flows as irrigation demand is unlikely to be high.

Under very high inflow conditions this option may not be required as natural flows could
meet environmental demand. High natural flows could also limit channel capacity and the
ability to deliver environmental water to the Macquarie Marshes at that time.

This option will be implemented in conjunction with local delivery partners, who will also
play a key role in engaging with the local community and third parties to manage potential
inconveniences from environmental water delivery.
Stakeholder feedback:
Feedback was received regarding the need to provide water to the East Marsh should
sufficient water become available.
20
Option 2 – Fish flows in the Macquarie River
Catchment: Macquarie
Complex: Macquarie River
Sites: River reaches along the Macquarie River
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Low, Moderate
Relevant flow component:
Expected inundation extent:
Base flows
Floodplain inundation
Fresh
Wetland inundation
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Summary of watering option:

This option would deliver Commonwealth environmental water with a particular rate of rise
and fall and magnitude over a specified time period to provide benefits for a target flow
guild of native fish.

The purpose of this option is to support the condition and reproduction of native fish, by
contributing to appropriate in-stream flows (freshes) and increasing hydrological
connectivity to maximise the available breeding habitat.

This option can be tailored to suit fish from different flow guilds, but is likely to target medium
and large bodied species such as trout cod, Murray cod and golden perch, which respond
to larger magnitude flows. Alternatively, flows could target small bodied generalist fish
species, such as gudgeons, which are known to respond to small river rises (10 to15 cm).

Water delivery will be triggered by a suitable tributary flow event and appropriate water
temperature (which will mostly likely occur in spring). Using natural triggers should provide
particular chemical characteristics required by fish to move and breed. Delivering
environmental water at the same time as natural tributary flows may also increase the size
and duration of flows entering the Macquarie Marshes.

This option could also be operationalised in late summer or autumn 2015, depending on
conditions, and the target species selected.

Depending on timing and conditions in the system, this option would likely be undertaken in
conjunction with Option 1 – Macquarie Marshes. This would enable water en route to the
Marshes to be used to create a hydrograph that will provide benefits for fish in the
Macquarie River along the way.

The option will be further refined and hydrographs developed in consultation with NSW
OEH, NSW Fisheries, NSW SWC and other relevant state government agencies as allocations
and conditions become more apparent. Hydrographs developed in other catchments to
target native fish may guide the development of appropriate flows for this option.
Timing
August 2014 to April 2015
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 10 GL under very low or low scenarios. The volume of water for this
option is scalable based on water availability and allocations.
Action undertaken in this catchment
previously:
Yes
Similar action has been undertaken elsewhere
in the Murray Darling Basin:
Yes
No
No
Operational considerations and feasibility:

Commonwealth environmental water would be sourced from Burrendong Dam and
delivered into the Macquarie River targeting river reaches upstream of the Marshes.

This option would take advantage of in-stream flows by supplementing tributary flows
and/or consumptive orders with environmental water to create the desired increase and
21
recession of river height.

A controlled recession is required to provide the correct cues to fish to minimise the risk of
fish stranding in wetlands or on benches.

The feasibility of this option may be constrained by seasonal conditions, water allocations,
channel capacity, and system constraints. The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
will seek advice from river operators (NSW SWC) on plausible flow targets for this option, and
will adaptively manage the option as conditions change.

Under high or very high inflow conditions this option may not be feasible because natural
flows would meet environmental demand and channel capacity would limit the ability to
deliver environmental water to the Macquarie River at that time.

There are three significant structures on the Macquarie River at Narromine and Dubbo.
Flows of 15 000 ML/day at Dubbo would be required to drown out those structures to
enable fish passage.

The cold water pollution works at Burrendong Dam (expected completion mid 2014) will
increase the likelihood of achieving good native fish outcomes such as reproduction and
recruitment.

This option will be implemented in conjunction with local delivery partners, who will also
play a key role in engaging with the local community and third parties to manage potential
inconveniences from environmental water delivery.
Stakeholder feedback:
Feedback was received regarding the objectives and timing of this option, and the need to
coordinate with Option 1.
22
Option 3 – Effluent Creeks
Catchment: Macquarie
Complex: Effluent Creeks
Sites: Marra Creek, Crooked Creek, Duck Creek, Gunningbar Creek (including connectivity with
the Barwon River and lower Bogan River)
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Moderate, High
Relevant flow component:
Expected inundation extent:
Base flows
Floodplain inundation
Fresh
Wetland inundation
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Summary of watering option:

Commonwealth environmental water may be used to provide flows to one or more of the
effluent creeks in the Macquarie River Valley.

Where appropriate, environmental water may augment unregulated or stock and
domestic replenishment flows, using either General Security or Supplementary entitlements.

The purpose of this option is to provide baseflows or freshes to Marra Creek, Crooked Creek,
Duck Creek and/or Gunningbar Creek to promote riparian vegetation condition and
reproduction, hydrological connectivity, nutrient cycling, and to build on the ecological
improvements that have resulted from natural inundation between 2010 and 2013.

Delivering Commonwealth environmental water to the effluent creeks system would
contribute to reinstating a more natural flow regime, which would enhance the diversity
and condition of riparian and in-stream habitats and semi-permanent wetland vegetation,
and would provide opportunities for the movement and reproduction of fish and other
biota.

Providing flows to effluent creeks would help improve connectivity in the Macquarie
catchment, which would promote environmental benefits at multiple sites. In particular,
providing flows to the unregulated Marra Creek during high flows may enable connection
with the Barwon River to occur, and providing flows to Duck and Gunningbar creeks may
provide connectivity with the lower Bogan River.

Freshes into the effluent creeks were likely to have occurred at any time of the year under
natural conditions. It is considered that the most ecological benefit would be gained by
delivering in late winter to early spring, similar to the Macquarie Marshes. However, this
option could be implemented at any time during 2014–15 subject to appropriate conditions
and water availability.

This option would only be considered under moderate and high water resource availability
scenarios. It is unlikely that this option would be pursued under very low or low resource
availability scenarios because of a lack of available allocations. It is considered likely that
environmental demands would be met by natural flows under a very high scenario.
Timing
July 2014 to June 2015
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
The volume of water for this option is scalable depending on allocations
and requirements. Up to 5 GL could be made available.
23
Action undertaken in this catchment
previously:
Yes
Similar action has been undertaken elsewhere
in the Murray Darling Basin:
Yes
No
No
Operational considerations and feasibility:

Commonwealth environmental water would be delivered as in-stream flows, which are
gravity fed from Burrendong Dam and diverted from the Macquarie River channel into the
effluent creeks system.

Commonwealth environmental water could be provided to the effluent creeks using either
General Security or Supplementary entitlements, depending on conditions and water
availability. Supplementary water would only be available when an event is announced by
NSW. The volume would depend on the size of the supplementary event and the allowable
take.

Close collaboration with landholders in the effluent creeks system is required to deliver
environmental water to the system.

This option would be implemented in conjunction with local delivery partners, who will also
play a key role in engaging with the local community and third parties to manage potential
inconveniences from environmental water delivery.

This option will be dependent on receiving moderate to high allocations and may be
provided in addition to any replenishment or unregulated flows that may occur. Should
environmental water be added to such flows it may be possible to achieve connectivity
with the Barwon and/or Bogan rivers.
Stakeholder feedback:
Feedback was received regarding the inclusion of the lower Bogan River as part of the option
for effluent creeks considering its connectivity with Duck and Gunningbar creeks and the
values of the lower Bogan River. Feedback was also received regarding the potential for
effluent creeks to receive environmental water under different water resource availability
scenarios and the prioritisation of sites.
24
Option 4 – Waterbird reproduction contingency
Catchment: Macquarie
Complex: Macquarie Marshes
Site: North, South and East Marsh
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Low, Moderate, High
Relevant flow component:
Expected inundation extent:
Base flows
Floodplain inundation
Fresh
Wetland inundation
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Summary of watering option:

Commonwealth environmental water would be provided as regulated flows into the
Macquarie Marshes.

The purpose of this option is to provide flows, where a bird breeding event has occurred
naturally, to maintain inundation of wetlands to an appropriate depth and for a suitable
duration, consistent with the nesting requirements of colonial waterbird species such as ibis,
egrets and spoonbills.

This option would support waterbird survival and condition, breeding and fledging, by using
environmental water to ensure as far as possible that nest abandonment is avoided by
maintaining stable water levels in the event of lower than expected inflows to the breeding
area or areas.

Specific target sites are unknown but are likely to be pre-existing waterbird nesting sites in
the Marshes. These sites regularly provide important breeding habitat for a number of
species listed under the Environmental Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999
and the NSW Threatened Species and Conservation Act 1994, including migratory waders,
colonially nesting species, such as ibis and egrets and the Australian painted snipe.

Commonwealth environmental water will contribute a portion of the flow required to reach
target sites with specific details dependent on available water, the location of the
waterbird breeding event and the degree to which it requires support from environmental
water.
Timing
September 2014 to March 2015
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 10 GL
Action undertaken in this catchment
previously:
Yes
Similar action has been undertaken elsewhere
in the Murray Darling Basin:
Yes
No
No
Operational considerations and feasibility:

Commonwealth environmental water will be delivered via river flows out of Burrendong
Dam to Marebone Weir (the delivery and accounting point) taking up to 11 days to reach
the weir. Water will then be diverted to the relevant bird breeding site within the Marshes
complex.

The delivery of Commonwealth environmental water will be triggered by a shared
recognition with NSW OEH, and other key agencies that catchment conditions and short
term future flows into the Marshes will not be sufficient to maintain the conditions required
to achieve a successful bird breeding event.

This option may not be operationalised if other flows e.g. irrigation, unregulated flows or
water sharing plan replenishment flows are deemed sufficient to support a breeding event
25
to completion.

The capacity to deliver the environmental flows may be limited during peak delivery of
water for irrigation

The ability of NSW SWC to deliver water to the precise location of the bird breeding event
may be limited by existing infrastructure.

This option will be implemented in conjunction with local delivery partners, who will also
play a key role in engaging with the local community and third parties to manage potential
inconveniences from environmental water delivery.
Stakeholder feedback:
No feedback was received on this option.
26
Option 5 – Supplementary water use (As per the Commonwealth Environmental Water
Holder decision of July 2013)
Catchment: Macquarie
Complex: Macquarie Marshes and Effluent Creeks
Site: North, South and East Marsh, Marra Creek, Lower Crooked Creek
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: High
Relevant flow component:
Expected inundation extent:
Base flows
Floodplain inundation
Fresh
Wetland inundation
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Summary of watering option:

Should rainfall and tributary flows during 2014–15 result in the announcement of a
Supplementary Access event, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office may express
an interest in accessing supplementary water and delivering either to a site in the
Macquarie Marshes or one of the effluent creeks (e.g. Marra or Crooked creeks).

The purpose of this option is to provide Commonwealth supplementary water to augment
unregulated baseflows and freshes in the lower Macquarie River catchment. Subject to
availability, the use of supplementary water will contribute to improving hydrological
connectivity, supporting wetland and riparian vegetation condition, and the survival and
reproduction of birds, fish and other vertebrates.

Decisions to use supplementary water and the selection of target sites will depend on water
availability, demand for supplementary flows, the likely duration of the supplementary
event, antecedent conditions and the previous watering history of each asset.
Timing
July 2014 to June 2015
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 6.3 GL
Action undertaken in this catchment
previously:
Yes
Similar action has been undertaken elsewhere
in the Murray Darling Basin:
Yes
No
No
Operational considerations and feasibility:

Commonwealth environmental water will be delivered by gravity down the Macquarie
River within existing operational rules.

Water will be accounted for at Marebone Weir for the Macquarie Marshes, and at the
Crooked Creek offtake and Marra Channel offtake for water diverted to Crooked or Marra
creeks.

Access to supplementary water is in part dependent on climatic conditions, including high
rainfall in tributary systems, and usually occurs during wetter periods. Use of Commonwealth
supplementary entitlements in the Macquarie catchment is subject to announcements by
the NSW Government, and is based on rules outlined in the Water Sharing Plan for the
Macquarie and Cudgegong Regulated Rivers Water Source 2003.

Decisions to access supplementary water and determining priority assets for water delivery
will be informed by advice from NSW OEH and the Macquarie Cudgegong Environmental
Flows Reference Group.

This option will be implemented in conjunction with local delivery partners, who will also
play a key role in engaging with the local community and third parties to manage potential
inconveniences from environmental water delivery.
27
Stakeholder feedback:
Feedback was received regarding the importance of selecting sites for supplementary water
delivery based on critical needs. This will be addressed as decisions are made throughout the
year.
28
5.3.
Options contributing to the Basin Annual Environmental Watering
Priorities
Each year the Murray-Darling Basin Authority develops Basin annual environmental watering
priorities (‘Priorities’). All environmental watering in the Murray-Darling Basin, including the use
of both held and planned environmental water, is to be undertaken having regard to the
Priorities.
The Priorities are not an exhaustive list of all important assets and functions throughout the Basin
and hence do not exclude other watering actions undertaken by environmental water holders
and managers.
The 2014–15 Basin annual environmental watering priorities were published on 30 June 2014
and are available here: www.mdba.gov.au/what-we-do/environmental-water/environmentalwatering-priorities/priorities-14-15. Table 6 identifies the relevant Priorities for the Macquarie
River Valley and the watering options that could contribute to achieving the identified
outcomes.
Table 6: 2014–15 Basin annual environmental watering priorities for the Macquarie River Valley.
2014–15 Basin annual environmental watering
priorities relevant to Macquarie River Valley
Water use options that may contribute to the
achievement of priority outcomes
Theme: Support in-stream functions
Macquarie River: Improve native fish habitat
within the Macquarie River below Burrendong
Dam by restoring a more natural flow regime
and addressing cold water pollution
Option 2 – Fish flows in the Macquarie River
Theme: Enhance and protect refuge habitat
Native fish in the northern Basin: Improve
survival of native fish populations by
enhancing and protecting dry period refuge
habitat in the northern Basin
Option 1 – Macquarie Marshes
Option 2 – Fish flows in the Macquarie River
Option 3 – Effluent Creeks
Option 5 – Supplementary use
Waterbird Refuge: Maintain waterbird habitat,
including refuge sites, and food sources, to
support waterbird populations across the
Murray-Darling Basin. Support waterbird
breeding, where feasible
Option 1 – Macquarie Marshes
Option 3 – Effluent Creeks
Option 4 – Waterbird reproduction
contingency
Option 5 – Supplementary use
29
6.Accounting for the use of Commonwealth
environmental water
6.1.
Water use accounting
Across NSW Commonwealth environment water is generally transferred to the NSW OEH’s
environmental accounts. NSW OEH is then responsible for making arrangements to deliver the
environment water with river operators such as NSW SWC. In some instances, water may be
delivered without trade to NSW OEH environmental accounts.
River flows will be accounted for at storages or at downstream flow gauges (for example,
Marebone Weir) and will be reported to the Office by NSW OEH. Where applicable, water
delivered to the effluent creeks may be accounted for at other gauges.
6.2.
Monitoring
6.2.1. Operational monitoring
Operational monitoring is monitoring that helps assess whether water has been delivered as
planned (e.g. the volumes, timing (frequency and duration), and location and flow rates of
water delivered) and can include observations of immediate environmental responses.
This monitoring is mostly undertaken by delivery partners in conjunction with the Office. In the
Macquarie River Valley, this includes the NSW OEH, NSW SWC and NSW Office of Water.
Delivery partners provide regular operational monitoring updates to the Office. The operational
monitoring requirements are set out in the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
Operational Monitoring template.
Key parameters required through operational monitoring are:

date of Commonwealth environmental water delivery (commencement and finish)

point of debit/delivery (both if they are different)

volume of Commonwealth environmental water delivered (provided on a weekly basis)

flow rate that water is delivered at (hydrograph of delivery if possible)

monitoring associated with identified risks.
6.2.2. Long term intervention monitoring
The Long Term Intervention Monitoring Project (LTIM Project) is the primary means by which the
Office will undertake monitoring and evaluation of the ecological outcomes of
Commonwealth environmental watering. The LTIM Project will be implemented at seven
Selected Areas over a five year period from 2014–15 to 2018–19 to deliver five high level
outcomes (in order of priority):
1. evaluate the contribution of Commonwealth environmental watering to the objectives of
the MDBA’s Environmental Watering Plan
2. evaluate the ecological outcomes of Commonwealth environmental watering at each of
the seven Selected Areas
30
3. infer ecological outcomes of Commonwealth environmental watering in areas of the
Murray-Darling Basin that are not monitored
4. support the adaptive management of Commonwealth environmental water
5. monitor the ecological response to Commonwealth environmental watering at each of the
seven Selected Areas.
This approach has a sound scientific basis that allows the Office to understand environmental
outcomes in catchments where around 90 per cent of Commonwealth environmental water is
held. A Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser will undertake evaluation at the Murray-Darling Basin
scale.
The seven Selected Areas where monitoring will occur are:
1. Junction of the Warrego and Darling rivers
2. Gwydir River system
3. Lachlan River system
4. Murrumbidgee River system
5. Edward-Wakool River system
6. Goulburn River
7. Lower Murray River.
These areas were chosen to be representative of Commonwealth environmental watering
across the Murray-Darling Basin.
The results from the LTIM Project can be used to infer ecological outcomes of Commonwealth
environmental watering in the Macquarie River Valley catchment.
Results from the LTIM Project will be published on the Office’s website and the data will be
publicly available.
31
7. Next steps – from planning to water
delivery
Local knowledge and experience is critical to effectively manage and deliver Commonwealth
environmental water. Stakeholders have an important role and provide critical information that
informs each stage of the process for managing Commonwealth environmental water (Figure
3).
The planning phase is the first stage in the cycle of environmental water management. The
planning process occurs on an annual basis between January and the end of June, and each
planning document represents the culmination of months of work and consultation.
Throughout the planning process the Office consults closely with state environmental water
managers, river operators and local environmental water advisory groups. The information
gathered as part of the planning process feeds into the development of the options for the
following water year.
Towards the beginning of the new water year the focus shifts from planning to implementation.
Greater consideration is given to current and forecast catchment conditions and water
availability to determine which of the options identified during the planning process can
feasibly be implemented. Local on-ground knowledge is important for detailing a specific
watering action including the flow magnitude, timing, triggers for commencement, rates of rise
and fall and the area to be inundated. Once an action has been scoped in more detail an
assessment is undertaken against the following criteria:

ecological value of the river, floodplain or wetland

expected outcomes from watering

potential risks of watering

long-term sustainability and management of the site

cost effectiveness and feasibility of watering.
Site managers and local community groups provide important information to inform these
assessments. In particular, information related to potential risks provides critical input to the
detailed risk assessment that is undertaken before a decision is made on a watering action. For
further information see the Framework for Determining Commonwealth environmental water
use (available at: www.environment.gov.au/topics/water/commonwealth-environmentalwater-office/assessment-framework).
Following the scoping and assessment of potential watering actions, the Commonwealth
Environmental Water Holder is required to make a decision on whether or not to commit the
water and funds required to support the watering action. In doing so the Commonwealth
Environmental Water Holder also has regard to the Basin Annual Priorities as required by the
Basin Plan.
When a decision is made by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to proceed with
a watering action arrangements for implementation are made with delivery partners. This
includes river operators, who manage the delivery of the water and operational monitoring.
Local community involvement is crucial at this stage of implementation and during water
delivery as conditions can change rapidly and may result in the need to adjust, suspend or
even cancel the watering action.
Upon completion of the watering action, a review process, which generally takes place from
March through to October, informs future watering actions and long term management. This
32
review is informed by the weekly operational monitoring, results of ecological monitoring, and
feedback provided by site managers and the local community.
IMPLEMENTATION
Detailed planning and
scoping of feasible
watering actions
Approval of Water
Use Options
documents by CEWH
Preparation of
paperwork for decision
includes assessment
against criteria
Assessment of
catchment conditions
Eliminate
unrealistic/
unfeasible
options
Detailed risk assessment
Decision by CEWH
Change, suspend or
cancel watering
actions to reflect
changing conditions
REVIEW
Implementation of
watering action
Ongoing weekly
operational monitoring
Watering action
finished – acquittal
report
Stakeholder input to CEWO required
Mar - Oct 2015
Annual planning for
Commonwealth
environmental water
use options
Jun 2014- Jun 2015
Jan– Jun 2014
PLANNING
Completion of all
watering actions within
a catchment –
Watering Action
Review
Ecological monitoring:
• Short term ecological
monitoring by other
agencies
• Long Term
Intervention Monitoring
Figure 3: The annual management process for Commonwealth environmental water.
33
8.Partnerships
The Office has consulted with a range of stakeholders to develop the Commonwealth
environmental water use options for the Macquarie River Valley for 2014–15, including our
delivery partners as follows:
 Central West Local Land Services
 Murray-Darling Basin Authority
 New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries)
 New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage
 New South Wales Office of Water
 New South Wales State Water Corporation.
The Office will continue to work with stakeholders and other interested community members in
the planning, delivery, management and monitoring of Commonwealth environmental water.
34
9. Bibliography
Baumgartner, L. J., Conallin, J., Wooden, I., Campbell, B., Gee, R., Robinson, W., and Mallen
Cooper, M. (2013). Using flow guilds of freshwater fish in an adaptive management framework to
simplify environmental flow delivery for semi-arid riverine systems. Fish and Fisheries. Blackwell
Publishing.
Blackwood, A., Kingsford, R., Nairn, L., and Raynor, T. (2010). The effects of river red gum decline
on woodland birds in the Macquarie Marshes. Australian Wetlands and Rivers Centre. School of
Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of NSW.
Brandis, K., Nairn, L., Porter, J., and Kingsford, R. (2009). Preliminary assessment for the
environmental water requirements of waterbirds species in the Murray Darling Basin. University of
New South Wales.
Bureau of Meteorology (2012). Record-breaking La Niña events, An analysis of the La Niña life
cycle and the impacts and significance of the 2010–11 and 2011–12 La Niña events in Australia
[online] available: www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/history/ln-2010-12/, accessed 27 March 2014.
Kingsford, R. T. and Auld, K. (2005). Waterbird breeding and environmental flow management
in the Macquarie Marshes, arid Australia, River Research and Application, 21, pp. 187–200.
Kingsford, T. and Thomas, R. F. (1995). The Macquarie Marshes in Arid Australia and their
waterbirds: A 50-year history of decline. Environmental Management, 19, pp. 867-878.
Kingsford R.T., Porter, J.L., and Halse S.A. (2011). National waterbird assessment, Waterlines
Report, National Water Commission, Canberra.
Lintermans, M. (2007). Fishes of the Murray-Darling Basin. An introductory guide. MDBC
Publication No: 10/07.
Morton, S.R., Short, J., and Barker, R. D. (1995). Refugia for biological diversity in arid and semiarid Australia, Biodiversity Series, Paper No. 4. Biodiversity Unit, Department of the Environment,
Sport and Territories.
Murray-Darling Basin Authority (2012). Sustainable Rivers Audit 2: The ecological health of rivers
in the Murray–Darling Basin at the end of the Millennium Drought (2008–2010). Summary. MDBA
Publication 75/12. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra.
NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) (2010). Aerial surveys
of wetlands and waterbirds, Terry Korn and Peter Terrill 6-10 September 2010.
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (2011). Environmental Water Use in New South Wales:
Annual Report 2010–11. Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney.
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (2013). Environmental Water Use in New South Wales:
Annual Report 2011–12. Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney.
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (2014a). Environmental water use in New South Wales:
Outcomes 2012–13. Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney.
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (2014b). Macquarie Valley Annual Environmental
Watering Plan 2013–14. Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney,
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (2014c). Macquarie Valley environmental water
updates. [online] available:
www.environment.nsw.gov.au/environmentalwater/envwatermacquarieupdate.htm, accessed
17 March 2014.
35
Rayner, T.S., Jenkins, K.M., and Kingsford, R.T. (2009). Small environmental flows, drought and
the role of refugia for freshwater fish in the Macquarie Marshes, arid Australia. Ecohydrology,
vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 440-453.
Roberts, J. and Marston, F. (2011). Water regime for wetland and floodplain plants. A source
book for the Murray-Darling Basin. National Water Commission, Canberra.
Torrible, L., Wettin, P., Barma, D., Wilson, G., Hobcroft, D. and O’Cock., J (2011).
Post Flood Assessment and Determination of Environmental Water Requirements for
Gunningbar Creek, Lower Crooked Creek, Marra Creek and the Lower Macquarie
River. Prepared by IRPEC Pty For BWR on behalf of The Australian Government
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
36