1

Cover image credit: Whirlpool Corner watered using Commonwealth Environmental Water.
Photo: Ryan Breen © CEWO.
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: Lower Murray-Darling Region 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: Lower Murray-Darling
Region, 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

Table of contents
1.
Background .........................................................................................................5
1.1.
Demonstrating how Commonwealth environmental water in 2014–15 will contribute to the Basin Plan’s environmental watering plan objectives –Lower Murray-Darling
Region ........................................................................................................................................... 5
2.
Context for water use in 2014–15 in the Lower Murray-Darling Region .........8
2.1.
Delivering environmental water to the Lower Murray-Darling Region............................. 8
2.2.
Operational and management considerations for 2014–15 in the Lower Murray-Darling
Region ......................................................................................................................................... 12
2.3.
Valley condition ........................................................................................................................ 14
3.
Water availability ..............................................................................................17
3.1.
Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Lower Murray-Darling Region for
2014–15 ....................................................................................................................................... 17
3.2.
Other sources of environmental water allocations ........................................................... 18
3.3.
Natural or unregulated flows and planned environmental water ................................. 18
4.
Planning for water use in the Lower Murray-Darling Region in 2014–15 ......20
4.1.
Planning for a range of inflows in 2014–15 ........................................................................... 20
4.2.
Implementing watering actions throughout the year ....................................................... 21
5.
Water use options for 2014–15 .........................................................................22
5.1.
Summary of watering options ................................................................................................ 22
5.2.
Assessment of environmental watering options ................................................................. 24
5.3.
Options contributing to the Basin Annual Environmental Watering Priorities ............... 37
6.
Accounting for the use of Commonwealth environmental water ...............38
6.1.
Water use accounting ............................................................................................................. 38
6.2.
Monitoring .................................................................................................................................. 39
6.2.1.
Operational monitoring .................................................................................................. 39
6.2.2.
Long term intervention monitoring ............................................................................... 39
7.
Next steps – from planning to water delivery ................................................41
8.
Partnerships .......................................................................................................43
9.
Bibliography ......................................................................................................44
3

List of Figures
Figure 1: Map of the Lower Murray-Darling Region (SEWPaC 2012). ................................................. 11
Figure 2: How inflows may vary and impact on water resource availability over the course of
2014–15 in the Lower Murray-Darling Region, from a starting point of moderate to high resource availability. ..................................................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 3: The annual management process for Commonwealth environmental water. .............. 42
List of Tables
Table 1: Expected outcomes from the use of Commonwealth environmental water in the
Lower Murray-Darling Region....................................................................................................................... 6
Table 2: Operational considerations for the Lower Murray-Darling Region in 2014–15. ................. 13
Table 3: Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Lower Murray-Darling Region as at 31 May 2014. ............................................................................................................................................. 17
Table 4: Other potential sources of environmental water in the Lower Murray-Darling Region for
2014–15. .......................................................................................................................................................... 18
Table 5: Summary of water use options for the Lower Murray-Darling Region in 2014–15. ........... 23
4

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 Lower Murray-Darling Region 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.
Commonwealth environmental water use options for the Lower Murray-Darling Region in
2014–15 include the following four flow types:
 base flows
 freshes
 bankfull
 overbank
These flow types are illustrated in Figure 4 of the document Commonwealth environmental
water use options 2014–15: Planning approach.
Wetlands and floodplains are also expected to be inundated.
The ecological response from delivering Commonwealth environmental water is reflected in the expected outcomes.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (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/environmental-water-outcomesframework .
Table 1 shows the linkage between planned flow types and the expected outcomes for the
Lower Murray-Darling Region. The table also links the short-term expected outcomes to a longterm contribution to the four Basin Plan objectives at the Basin scale (i.e. biodiversity, ecosystem function, resilience and water quality).
5

Table 1: Expected outcomes from the use of Commonwealth environmental water in the
Lower Murray-Darling Region.
Flow Type Expected outcomes for 2014–15
Contributions to longer term outcomes
Contribution to the following Basin Plan objective
Base flows and freshes
Fish condition Fish Species Diversity Biodiversity
Bank-full and
Overbank
Fish reproduction
Fish larval abundance
Vegetation condition
(aquatic)
Salinity (reduction in salinity)
Individual survival and condition for fauna
(Individual refuges)
Biotic dispersal and movement (fish)
Hydrological connectivity
Sediment transport
Waterbird reproduction (chicks)
Waterbird recruitment and fledging
(fledglings)
Vegetation reproduction and condition
Vegetation germination and dispersal
Hydrological connectivity including end of system flows
Nutrient and carbon cycling
Vegetation Diversity
Water quality
(chemical)
Population condition
(individual refuges)
Connectivity
Waterbird Diversity
Vegetation Diversity
Vegetation growth and survival
Connectivity
Process
Water quality
Resilience
Ecosystem Function
Biodiversity
Ecosystem Function
Base flows and freshes
Fish reproduction
Fish condition
Nutrient and carbon cycling
Fish Species Diversity Biodiversity
Ecosystem Process Ecosystem function
6

Base flows and freshes
Fish reproduction
Fish condition
Hydrological connectivity
Biotic dispersal and movement (fish)
Fish Species Diversity Biodiversity
Fish Species Diversity
Connectivity Ecosystem Function
Wetland inundation Vegetation reproduction and condition
Vegetation germination
Waterbird survival and condition
Other vertebrate young (frogs)
Contribute to invertebrate diversity
Vegetation Diversity
Vegetation growth and survival
Waterbird Diversity and population condition
Other vertebrate diversity
Macroinvertebrate diversity
Biodiversity
Wetland inundation Fish reproduction
Fish condition
Vegetation reproduction and condition
Vegetation germination and dispersal
Waterbird survival and condition
Fish Species Diversity Biodiversity
Vegetation Diversity
Vegetation growth and survival
Other vertebrate young (frogs)
Improve individual condition (Ecosystem resistance)
Waterbird Diversity and population condition
Other vertebrate diversity
Ecosystem Resilience Resilience
7

Flows in the Lower Murray-Darling Region are strongly influenced by inflows generated in upstream parts of the Murray-Darling Basin, including the upper River Murray and lower Darling
River systems. River flows in the upper River Murray are comprised of rainfall events, storage operations and inflows from tributaries such as the Murrumbidgee, Goulburn-Broken, Ovens, and Kiewa and Campaspe rivers. Rainfall events in the northern basin drive inflows into the
Darling River and influence the operation of the Menindee Lakes system; thus affecting inflows to the lower Darling River system and into the lower River Murray.
The day to day delivery of water (including environmental water) along the main stem of the
River Murray is managed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA) River Murray
Operations, in close consultation with state government agencies and state water authorities.
The river system is operated by taking into account a range of considerations such as water demand, flow requirements, estimated evaporation, and forecast rainfall and water carrying capacity of the river channel at various locations (Murray-Darling Basin Authority [MDBA] 2014).
River Murray Operations will provide guidance on the delivery of environmental water along the River Murray.
The capacity for Commonwealth environmental water to build river flows and contribute to environmental outcomes within the Lower Murray-Darling Region differs depending on which part of the valley that water is being delivered to. Where possible, environmental water will be managed to benefit multiple sites en-route to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of water use.
A description of the mechanisms for environmental water delivery to specific parts of the Lower
Murray-Darling Region is set out below.
Lower Darling River system
The Menindee Lakes are used to deliver environmental water to the lower Darling River system, the Great Darling Anabranch and further downstream into the River Murray. Under regulated conditions the lower Darling River receives flows from the Menindee Lakes Scheme. Releases are made from outlet regulators on Lakes Menindee, Pamamaroo and Wetherell. For each regulator the maximum capacity is in the order of 5 000 ML/day, however this is heavily dependent on water levels in the lakes. Furthermore, the order of drawdown for the lakes will also influence how much water can be released from each outlet. Under regular operations flows of 9 000 ML/day (measured at Weir 32) are not exceeded. While the release capacity of the Main Weir is much higher this structure is only used during flood operations.
The Great Darling Anabranch receives unregulated flows from the lower Darling River.
However, water can be released directly from the Menindee Lakes Scheme via Lake
Cawndilla, which flows down Cawndilla Channel, Tandou Creek, through Packers Crossing regulator and then Redbank Creek to the Great Darling Anabranch.
Lower River Murray system
The ability to deliver large scale actions in the lower River Murray is dependent upon the management of the Commonwealth environmental water portfolio across state jurisdictions, during different river flow conditions, to meet the water requirements of environmental assets across the entire southern connected basin.
Environmental water is sourced from managed releases from River Murray storages including
Hume Reservoir, Menindee Lakes system, River Murray tributaries and Lake Victoria. Water releases from Lake Victoria (an off-river storage that is operated to provide reliable water
8

supply for the Lower Murray below Lock 7) may be used to contribute towards achieving shortduration high flow targets at the South Australian border.
Environmental water delivery to specific sites within the lower River Murray occurs in two main ways. At low river flows regulating structures or pumping can be used to manage the diversion of water into anabranches, creeks, wetlands and floodplains. At high river flows regulating structures may be overtopped and water passes overbank into floodplain and wetland sites.
The ability to use environmental water to target flow rates in the lower River Murray requires the coordination of environmental releases from a number of upstream storages.
Inundation of some wetlands and watercourses in the River Murray downstream of Euston
(Lock 15) occurs under regulated flow rates up to 10 000 ML/day, with significant increases in the inundation of floodplains and wetlands occurring above approximately 37 900 ML/day
(Green and Alexander 2006).
Inflows into the Hattah Lakes occurs via the eastern arm of Chalka Creek that commences at
20 000 ML/day measured at Euston Weir (MDBA 2012a) and the area of inundation created by natural river flows significantly increases above 50 000 ML/day. Water management infrastructure has recently been constructed on the Hattah Lakes floodplain and will allow water to be pumped into the wetland system, during periods of low river flows and, to maintain water on the floodplain for extended periods.
Downstream of Lock 7 and spanning the South Australian border is the Chowilla, Lindsay-
Wallpolla Islands Icon site. This comprises a complex of anabranches, wetlands and floodplains. Channels such as Lindsay River, Mullaroo Creek and Potterwalkagee Creek are connected at normal weir pool level and regulated flows up to 10 000 ML/day. There is increasing inundation of wetlands and channels above 26 000 ML/day, however, significant inundation of floodplains commences at flows greater than 40 000 ML/day (Green and
Alexander 2006). A range of infrastructure has been constructed within the site that when operated will control flows through the anabranches, manage water to particular wetlands and enable increased areas of floodplains to be inundated. The operation of the structures may need simultaneous manipulation of weir pool level.
Within South Australia many wetlands, creeks and anabranches are connected permanently to the river channel weir pools, however some sites are managed using regulating structures to reinstate more natural patterns of temporary inundation and drying sequences. River flows in the order of 40 000–60 000 ML/day begin to overtop regulating structures at floodrunners, creeks and anabranches on a localised scale producing some overbank inundation. Flows exceeding approximately 55 000 ML/day produce increased overbank inundation (Ecological
Associates 2010). Floodplain and wetland sites requiring high river flows for inundation include the RiverlandRamsar site (including Chowilla Floodplain), Banrock StationRamsar site, Pike
Floodplain, and Katarapko Floodplain. Flows regulating infrastructure within Chowilla Creek and floodplain will be operational in 2014–15. The use of this infrastructure will enable the increased inundation of floodplain vegetation communities at relatively low river flow conditions.
The operation of River Murray weir infrastructure may also be used to provide water level variation within the River Murray channel. The temporary raising of weir pools increases the area of wetland inundation simulating higher peaks in river flows however requiring only low flow conditions and using much less water.
The Lower Lakes receive river inflows and water levels are managed through the operation of the barrages at Lake Alexandrina. Barrage operations help to manage water and salinity levels in the lakes and also provide inflows to the Coorong. Barrage flows are managed by SA Water under the direction of the MDBA and the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources South Australia (SA DEWNR). Strategies for managing the barrages are generally based on water level and salinity targets within Lake Alexandrina, Lake Albert and the Coorong lagoons, and maintaining hydrological connectivity between the River Murray
9

and the Murray estuary (Australian Water Environments et al. 2011). These general strategies target a broad range of ecological outcomes.
10

Figure 1: Map of the Lower Murray-Darling Region (SEWPaC 2012).
11

Throughout the year 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, potential risks and the ongoing monitoring of the seasonal outlook and river conditions. The Office, the
MDBA and state government agencies will continue to work collaboratively during 2014–15 to increase the effective and efficient use of environmental water through coordinated watering actions. Opportunities for coordinating watering actions will be supported by river managers implementing operating arrangements agreed by the relevant government agencies.
The delivery of environmental water in the Lower River Murray Region is limited by the release capacities from storages and channel capacities. The potential risks to third parties will continue to be an important consideration for the delivery of environmental water in the Lower
Murray-Darling Region during 2014–15. Floodplain infrastructure works may constrain maximum flow rates at different times and locations during the year. Relevant constraints to be considered include:
 The planning and construction of various works associated with the Riverine Recovery
Program South Australia may limit flows. Further advice on the critical flow rates will be sought from project managers throughout the year.
 Menindee Lakes will be managed by New South Wales (NSW) while storage levels remain below 640 GL. During this period stored water is used to supply essential stock and domestic water to local Menindee and lower Darling communities. Control over the lakes will revert to MDBA once storage levels increase to above 640 ML/day.
 Flows greater than 60 000 ML/day at the South Australian border result in overbank inundation of floodplain throughout the lower River Murray, including the inundation of privately owned land and public infrastructure. The risk of impacting on public and private infrastructure through the use of environmental water requires further investigation prior to the use of environmental water being used to target these higher flow rates. The Office will continue to seek advice from river operators, site managers and state government agencies on feasible flow targets.
Operational considerations such as delivery methods, opportunities, constraints and risks will
differ depending on the inflow scenario and are summarised in Table 2. In Table 2, operational
considerations are assessed against inflow scenarios.
Operational considerations and constraints documented within the Commonwealth
environmental water use options: Mid-Murray Region, Murrumbidgee River Valley and Victorian
Rivers provide further context for water delivery to the lower River Murray.
The MDBA has recently published Preliminary Overview of Constraints to Environmental Water
Delivery in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDBA 2013b) and Constraints Management Strategy 2013
to 2014 (MDBA 2013c) which also provide further information about constraints in the Lower
Murray-Darling Region.
12

Table 2: Operational considerations for the Lower Murray-Darling Region in 2014–15.
Inflow scenario
Opportunities
Very low Low
Coordinate environmental water releases across the southern connected basin to provide systemwide, multiple site benefits.
Use environmental water in conjunction with naturally occurring river flows to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of use, for example by prolonging or managing the recession of higher flows to provide a more natural flow pattern.
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.
River and floodplain infrastructure
(weirs and regulators) may be operated in conjunction with environmental flows to maximise the area of wetland inundation.
Constraints
Reduced ability to provide additional environmental water within operational constraints and channel capacity due to unregulated/natural flows
Reduced ability to provide additional environmental water within channel capacity due to high consumptive/irrigation demands e.g. irrigation
Flow thresholds to avoid third-party impacts, such as inundation of private land or crossings, or to avoid adverse environmental impacts, or impacts to existing river and floodplains works program may constrain the delivery rate of environmental water, particularly targeted peak flow rates.
Release capacities and available volumes within storages may constrain the magnitude of augmentation.
Risks*
Moderate High Very high
13

Inflow scenario
Availability of environmental water is insufficient to meet the desired flow regime/environmental outcome.
Very low Low Moderate High
The provision of Commonwealth environmental water may impact property and infrastructure.
Not directly related to inflow scenarios
Adverse environmental impacts as a result of environmental flows (e.g.
Blackwater, dispersal/recruitment of exotic species, mobilisation of salinity or acid sulphate soils).
Not directly related to inflow scenarios
*See Section
7
for more information on risk management.
Very high
Between 2000 and 2010 the Lower Murray-Darling Region received low inflows due to a long period of drought. When combined with the existing effects of water use and river regulation, this decade long drought had a significant effect on the condition of the valley. The MDBA released its second Sustainable Rivers Audit report in 2012 (MDBA 2012d) (based on data collected from 2008 to 2010) and concluded that both the Darling and lower River Murray valleys were in poor ecosystem health. While the Darling River valley was recognised for its good riverine vegetation condition, both the Darling and lower River Murray valleys shared poor ratings for the native fish community and had ratings that ranged from very poor to moderate for the health of the macroinvertebrate community, physical form and hydrology.
Since 2010 natural high flows and environmental water delivery has supported the start of an ecological recovery including:
 positive response of native vegetation (river red gum and black box) in the Great Darling
Anabranch, and floodplain environments along the River Murray
 increase in fish diversity and abundance in the lower Murray-Darling Region
 increased salt and nutrient export, with decreased salinity levels in Lake Alexandrina and the Coorong Lagoons.
The start of 2013–14 commenced with good storage levels of water availability and very much above average rainfall, however the year, in general, was characterised by drier than average climate conditions. Temperatures across the entire valley were above average leading to one of the warmest years on record and particularly strong heatwaves occurring throughout summer across the region.
By the end of 2013–14 it is estimated that up to 580 000 ML of Commonwealth environmental water will have been delivered through the lower reaches of the River Murray channel.
Additional environmental water has also been provided through The Living Murray program.
Monitoring and evaluation across the region was undertaken by the Office and delivery partners. Preliminary results from the monitoring program are included below.
Lower River Murray channel and wetlands
Initial monitoring and evaluation of ecological responses to the delivery of environmental water into the lower River Murray and surrounding wetlands has shown good vegetation response on the edge of wetlands and improved biodiversity, including terrestrial and aquatic species. New growth of river red gums and black box, new growth of lignum and coobas, and
14

increased abundance and species richness, of native fish, frogs and bird species were observed across the region.
Trials to improve environmental outcomes associated with environmental water delivery through complimentary river operations were also undertaken. An example of this is the Lock 8 and Lock 9 weir pool manipulation which aimed to improve the effectiveness of environmental water delivery to achieve lateral connectivity with riparian vegetation. Benefits are still being evaluated.
Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth conditions
Throughout 2012–13 and 2013–14, conditions within the Lower Lakes have benefited from above entitlement inflows associated with environmental water and subsequently, increased barrage flows into the Coorong. In 2013–14 Commonwealth environmental water contributed to supporting the water level within the Lower Lakes remaining above 0.5m AHD and continuous fishway and barrage flows into the Coorong. Environmental water also contributed salt and sand export, and maintaining Murray Mouth openness.
Water levels and salinity concentrations within Lake Alexandrina have been maintained within the target range. The salinity level within Lake Albert, while still above target level, has continued to show ongoing improvement and is significantly lower than salinities experienced in the 2012–13 water year. Environmental water contributed to maintaining lake levels which in turn supported continued hydrological connectivity between the lakes and fringing wetlands.
These flows also supported improved Murray hardyhead habitat and maintained connectivity between Lakes Albert and Alexandrina.
Coorong
Water levels and salinity concentrations within the Coorong South Lagoon have been maintained within the target range. Environmental water delivered to the Coorong during late
October and November 2013 contributed to keeping relatively high barrage releases throughout November and early December. Successful flowering of Ruppia tuberosa was observed in 2013–14. This flow was aligned with the critical period for Ruppia reproduction and contributed to reducing the decline in Coorong South Lagoon water levels. This allowed a greater area of Ruppia to be inundated for a longer period of time, increasing the reproductive output.
Lower Darling and Anabranch catchment conditions
Following extensive natural flooding in the lower Darling River region in 2011–12, conditions have dried and inflows to the Menindee Lakes in 2013–14 were low to moderate.
Natural flows in the Great Darling Anabranch (the Anabranch) triggered the start of a 53 GL spring/summer pulse using a combination of environmental water held by the Commonwealth
Environmental Water Holder and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (NSW OEH). The environmental water was delivered from September to December 2013. This water was delivered to maintain ecological health and resilience of the Anabranch system and contributed to in-channel flows during spring to reconnect residual pools within the
Anabranch, and provided through-flows to the River Murray. These flows contributed to river flows to:
 support the dispersal of plants and animals residing in refuge pools along the Anabranch, enabling fish, such as Murray cod and golden perch, to disperse, and potentially reconnect with populations in the River Murray
 support improved condition of riparian and floodplain native plants, particularly river red gums that line parts of the channel
 provide habitat for native birds and other animals such as frogs
15

 enable the transfer of nutrients and energy between the Anabranch and the River Murray, supporting both longitudinal connectivity and lateral connectivity.
Since the delivery of Commonwealth environmental water, the upper reaches of the
Anabranch have dried while the middle and lower reaches contain remnant pools. Lake
Nearie is still holding water after the extensive flooding in late 2011–12 while the other floodplain lakes have progressively dried during 2013–14. The positive ecological responses to natural flooding in 2011–12 have been maintained during 2013–14 with continued improvements to native vegetation condition, fish diversity and maintenance of suitable water quality conditions for biota.
Total storage of the Menindee Lakes dropped below 480 GL in late February 2014 triggering a switch in control over the lakes from the MDBA to NSW. In the lower Darling River, low level baseflows are currently persisting and flows are being managed by NSW to maintain water quality and supply local water orders. Earlier in the year an extended fresh was delivered to the lower Darling River between November and December 2013 by the MDBA as part of a bulk transfer of water between Menindee Lakes and Lake Victoria. This event was part of a broader strategy being implemented by the MDBA to vary operational releases to the lower Darling
River to mimic natural flow patterns and provide complementary environmental outcomes through the delivery of consumptive water. Preliminary monitoring results from the 2013 event indicate a positive ecological response including spawning of golden perch within the lower
Darling River.
16

Commonwealth environmental water holdings available for use in 2014–15 in the Lower
Murray-Darling Region are shown in Table 3 below.
Table 3: Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Lower Murray-Darling Region as at 31 May 2014.
Entitlement type Entitlement held
(GL)
Long-term average annual yield (GL)
0.3
Estimated carryover from
2013–14 (GL) 3
Forecast water availability for
2014–15 (GL )4
Lower Darling
(High Security)
Lower Darling
(General
Security)
0.4
0.8 0.6
0
0.4
1
South Australia
(High Security)
Total – Lower
River Murray
Valley 1
113.6
114.8
102.2
103.2
0
0.4
114
115
Total – Southern
Connected
Basin 2
1 228.4 1 014.7 294 1 070–1 281 5
Notes:
1.
The boundary between the Mid-Murray and Lower Murray-Darling regions used by the
Commonwealth Environmental Water Office for planning do not precisely align with entitlement types.
2.
The southern connected basin includes the Murrumbidgee, Murray, Lower Darling,
Goulburn, Campaspe (excluding Coliban) and Loddon entitlements.
3.
Future decisions about use, transfers and the ability to deliver already approved actions will affect carryover from 2013–14.
4.
Forecasts are based on the best available information including State forecasts and historical inflow scenarios. Forecasts include carryover from 2013–14. Forecasts for regulated catchments are given to the nearest whole gigalitre except where the entitlement held by the Commonwealth is below 1 GL.
5.
Total forecast water available in the southern connected basin assumes that in Victoria 100 per cent of water held in spillable accounts becomes available under a medium or dry scenario and 50 per cent becomes available under a wet scenario. These figures do not include supplementary, unregulated or ground water accruals in the southern connected basin.
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
.
17

Other sources of environmental water that may complement Commonwealth environmental water delivery in the Lower Murray-Darling Region include water held by The Living Murray programme (TLM), Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH), NSW OEH and the South
Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (SA DEWNR). Table 4
below outlines the different environmental water entitlements held by other water holders.
Table 4: Other potential sources of environmental water in the Lower Murray-Darling Region for
2014–15.
Source
Environment Entitlement - The
Living Murray programme
South Australian Class 9
Wetlands
South Australian environmental water reserve
Bulk Entitlement – (River
Murray – Flora and Fauna)
Conversion Order 1999
Management Authority
Murray-Darling Basin
Authority
South Australian
Department of
Environment, Water and
Natural Resources
Bulk Environment (River
Murray – Snowy
Environmental Reserve)
Conversion Order 2004
NSW Adaptive environmental water entitlement
Victorian Environmental
Water Holder
NSW Office of
Environment and Heritage
Entitlement
594.4 GL of multi-state entitlements for use at six ‘icon sites’ 1
200 GL for managed pool level wetlands
6–18 GL
29.8 GL high reliability
4 GL low-reliability entitlement
40 GL unregulated
29.8 GL high reliability- River
Murray
30 GL of River Conveyance entitlements
2 GL of High Security entitlements
Barmah-Millewa
Environmental Water
Allowance
NSW Office of
Environment and
Heritage, Victorian
Environmental Water
Holder
Up to 150 GL annual allocation
(100 GL high security and 50 GL low security) of Barmah-Millewa
Environmental Water Allowance
1 The 594.4 GL Living Murray entitlement includes Victorian, New South Wales and South
Australian regulated entitlements.
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 the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement, Water Sharing Plan for the
New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sources (2003) and the
Water Allocation Plan for the River Murray Prescribed Water Course South Australia (these contributions of environmental water are hereafter referred in this document as ‘planned environmental water’). Planned environmental water relevant to the lower Murray-Darling
Region includes:
 Additional Dilution Flow (ADF)
 NSW Lower Darling Environmental Contingency Allowance
18

 NSW Murray Regulated River Water Source Additional Environmental Allowance
The Bureau of Meteorology provides a seasonal streamflow forecasting service, which estimates the potential for low, median or high flows for the coming three months ahead.
19

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 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 Basin, inflows are difficult to accurately
forecast. As shown in Table 3, Commonwealth carryover from 2013–14 for the southern
connected basin is likely to be approximately 294 GL. When combined with early season allocation, it is forecast that a range of approximately 712–1 017 GL will be available for use in the southern connected basin at 31 July 2014.
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 moderate to high. From this starting point, the full range of possible inflows suggest that resource availability over the course of the year could be between low and very high, and
unlikely to become very low (Figure 2). As such, the water use options described in Section 5
have been developed for a range of resource availability between low and very high.
Figure 2: How inflows may vary and impact on water resource availability over the course of
2014–15 in the Lower Murray-Darling Region, from a starting point of moderate to high resource availability.
20

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.
21

Potential watering options for 2014–15 have been developed for the Lower Murray-Darling
Region. These 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 inflows scenarios. This provides flexibility for water use to best complement natural inflows. Options have been developed based on the hydrological characteristics of low to high inflow scenarios, in consideration of the constraints and risks
highlighted in Section 2.2.
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 Lower Murray-Darling
Region during 2014–15 will be to support the on-going environmental recovery that
commenced following the breaking of the drought (see Section 2.3). For some parts of the
system this will mean providing river flows to support fish reproduction, provide suitable habitat for water birds and other native vertebrate fauna, and contribute towards the maintenance and recruitment of water dependent vegetation in wetlands, the riparian zone and on floodplains.
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, State Water
Customer Services Committees, and the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural
Resource Management Board. 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
.
22

Table 5: Summary of water use options for the Lower Murray-Darling Region in 2014–15.
Applicable level(s) of resource availability
(see Section 4)
Options 1 (low), 2
(mod) and 3 (mod - high) – River Murray from Euston to Lower
Lakes and Coorong
Low
Support increased variability inchannel river flow by contributing towards increased baseflows and augmenting natural flow events to protect and maintain the diversity and condition of native species and communities.
Moderate
Support increased variability of river flows by contributing towards increased baseflows, and augmenting natural flow events for in-channel freshes and bankfull
flows to maintain ecosystem diversity and improve condition of native species.
High
Support increased variability of river flows by contributing towards increased baseflows, and augmenting natural flow events for in-channel freshes, bankfull and
overbank flows to improve the diversity and condition of native species and support the recovery of floodplain ecosystems.
Option 4 – Lower
Darling River
Options unlikely to be pursued under this resource availability.
Support increased variability of river flows by contributing towards baseflows and
freshes to maintain and improve ecosystem diversity and native fish populations.
Option 5 – Great
Darling Anabranch
Option 6 – Nature
Foundation South
Australia
Options unlikely to be pursued under this resource availability.
Support in-channel flows by contributing towards baseflows, freshes and wetland
inundation to maintain and improve ecosystem diversity and native fish populations.
Provide environmental water to wetlands and floodplains in the lower River
Murray to maintain ecosystem diversity and improve condition of native species.
Options unlikely to be pursued under this resource availability.
Option 7 – Mallee
Catchment
Management Authority
Provide environmental water to wetlands and floodplains in the lower River Murray Mallee region to rehabilitate targeted wetlands and floodplains, increase the abundance and distribution of Murray hardyhead, and improve the diversity and condition of native species
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.
23

Option 1 – River Murray from Euston to the Lower Lakes and Coorong
Catchment: Lower Murray
Complex: River Murray
Site: River Murray from Euston to Lower Lakes and Coorong
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Low
Relevant flow component:
Base flows
Fresh
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Expected inundation extent:
Floodplain inundation
Wetland inundation
Summary of watering option:
 Watering options under a low resource availability will aim to protect and maintain the diversity and condition of native species and communities within the river channel and in the Coorong and Lower Lakes.
 Expected outcomes from such watering actions would include: fish reproduction, reduced salinity and maintenance of wetland refuges and hydrological connectivity between the
River Murray channel, Lower Lakes and Coorong. This in turn will support the maintenance of aquatic vegetation condition (such as Ruppia) in the Coorong, and the dispersal and condition of native fish.
 Environmental water use options within the lower River Murray channel may involve: a) complementary flows to increase base flow up to 5 000–10 000 ML/day, and b) augmenting natural flow events between October and December to extend natural flow events targeting up to 15 000–20 000 ML/day.
 Watering options will aim to contribute towards barrage operations at the Lower Lakes and
Coorong, with highest barrage outflows between October and February, and subject to water availability, supplementing additional outflows at other times during the year.
 Targeted water delivery to high priority individual wetland sites may be considered as part of this option; these may include (but are not limited to) sites associated with: the Riverland
Ramsar site, the Chowilla-Lindsay-Wallpolla Islands Icon site, Hattah Lakes, Mallee wetlands and targeted wetlands within South Australia.
Timing September 2014 to April 2015
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
To supplement river flows to achieve a minimum total annual flow at the barrages of 650 GL, if feasible.
Action undertaken in this catchment previously:
Yes No
Similar action has been undertaken elsewhere in the Murray Darling Basin:
Yes No
Operational considerations and feasibility:
 This watering option is based on low inflow conditions in the River Murray. For the purpose of
24

identifying watering options relevant to this scenario, low inflow conditions would generally be characterised by flow rates to the South Australian border of close to the monthly entitlement (between 3 000 and 7 000 ML/day), with the potential for natural flows of short duration in the order of up to 10 000–15 000 ML/day between July and December.
 Commonwealth environmental water will be delivered via river flows and is expected to be sourced from Hume Reservoir, natural River Murray inflows and return flows from upstream tributaries, particularly the Goulburn River. It is not expected that Commonwealth environmental water allocation will be available for delivery from the lower Darling River under this scenario.
 When using a combination of upstream water storage releases, tributary inflows and the operation of Lake Victoria to augment flows, channel capacities and river operations may be limited to augment flows during low inflow conditions. The ability to deliver additional water from the Goulburn River, timed with River Murray flows will be important in augmenting natural flows.
 Opportunities to maximise the benefit of low river flows for riparian vegetation may be limited. However, this may occur through the complementary management of River Murray weir infrastructure, river operations or through the assistance of infrastructure such as constructed channels and wetland regulators. This may include weir pool manipulation, for example.
 Delivery of environmental water during summer may be constrained due to limitations on channel capacity supplying other water users and to minimise third party impacts.
 Barrage operations at the Lower Lakes are actively managed throughout the year. Under dry conditions operations may aim to maintain water levels at Lakes Alexandrina and Albert between 0.40–0.75m AHD and maintain minimum flows through barrages and barrage fishways throughout the year.
 Determining appropriate rates of rise and fall for the purpose of managing the recession of natural high flow events will be developed based on expert advice. However, flows may be constrained by release limits at the major storages and river channel capacities.
 Optimising the efficient use of Commonwealth environmental water allocation across the southern connected basin will be required to contribute towards high environmental water requirements. Optimisation may include the use of Commonwealth held South Australian allocation for multi-site outcomes, the use of return flows from Victorian tributaries and complementary water delivery with consumptive water en route.
Stakeholder feedback: Comments were received from MDBA and SA DEWNR and have been considered and incorporated where appropriate.
25

Option 2 – River Murray from Euston to the Lower Lakes and Coorong
Catchment: Lower Murray
Complex: River Murray
Site: River Murray from Euston to Lower Lakes and Coorong
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Moderate
Relevant flow component:
Base flows
Fresh
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Expected inundation extent:
Floodplain inundation
Wetland inundation
Summary of watering option:
 Watering options under moderate resource availability will aim to maintain ecosystem diversity and improve the condition of native species within channel, along the riverbank and in fringing wetlands. This will include continuing the recovery of key species and ecological communities in the Lower Lakes and Coorong.
 Expected outcomes are anticipated to build on those in Option 1, including: support fish and waterbird reproduction, contribute to recruitment and improved condition of riverine and aquatic vegetation, increase sediment transport, and support hydrological connectivity between the River Murray channel and fringing wetlands, and between the
Lower Lakes and Coorong.
 Environmental water use options within the lower River Murray channel may involve: a) complementary flows to increase base flow up to 6 000–10 000 ML/day, b) low-level freshes targeting around 25 000 ML/day peak flow for a minimum period of 21 days during
September to January, c) augmenting natural high flow events between September and
January to extend high flow events targeting a peak flow of around 30 000–40 000 ML/day for a minimum of 14 days, and d) managing natural high flow recession.
 Watering options will aim to contribute towards barrage operations at the Lower Lakes and
Coorong, with highest lake inflows during October to January, and supporting barrage outflows into the Coorong throughout the year.
 Targeted water delivery to high priority individual wetland sites may be considered as part of this option; these may include (but are not limited to) sites associated with: the Riverland
Ramsar site, the Chowilla-Lindsay-Wallpolla Islands Icon site, Hattah Lakes, Mallee wetlands and targeted wetlands within South Australia.
Timing September 2014 to June 2015
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
To supplement river flows to achieve a minimum total annual flow at the barrages of >1 000 GL.
Action undertaken in this catchment previously:
Yes No
Similar action has been undertaken elsewhere in the Murray Darling Basin:
Yes No
26

Operational considerations and feasibility:
 This watering option is based on moderate inflow conditions in the River Murray. For the purpose of identifying watering options relevant to this scenario, moderate inflow conditions have been generally characterised by variable base flow rate at Euston between 3 000–
12 000 ML/day, and baseflows at the South Australian border that are at the South
Australian monthly entitlement for most of the year but with periods of up to 2–3 months above entitlement flow. Natural freshes may occur throughout the lower River Murray during spring and summer with variable flow rates of 15 000–35 000 ML/day.
 Commonwealth environmental water will be delivered via river flows and is expected to be sourced from a combination of managed releases from River Murray storages including
Hume Reservoir and Menindee Lakes system (subject to water availability), natural River
Murray inflows and return flows from upstream tributaries.
 When using a combination of upstream water storage releases, tributary inflows and the operation of Lake Victoria to augment flows, operations may be limited to augmenting flows up to 10 000–15 000 ML/day. The ability to deliver additional water from the Goulburn
River and lower Darling River, timed with River Murray flows will be important in augmenting natural flows.
 Opportunities to maximise the benefit of low river flows for riparian vegetation and wetland connectivity may occur through the management of River Murray weir infrastructure, river operations or through the assistance of infrastructure such as constructed channels, wetland regulators and floodplain inundation enhancement structures.
 Delivery of environmental water during summer may be constrained due to limitations on channel capacity supplying other water users and to minimise third party impacts.
 Barrage operations at the Lower Lakes are actively managed throughout the year. Under moderate conditions operations may aim to maintain water levels at lakes Alexandrina and
Albert between 0.40–0.80m AHD and maintain flows through barrages and fishways throughout the year. The cycling of lake levels (raising and lowering) may be undertaken to increase the export of salt from Lake Albert, subject to water availability. Differential releases from the barrages will be managed to target specific outcomes throughout the year. Increased barrage flows during late summer–early autumn are expected to support improved conditions in the Coorong.
 Determining appropriate rates of rise and fall for the purpose of managing the recession of natural high flow events will be developed based on expert advice however may be constrained by release limits at the major storages and river channel capacities.
 Optimising the efficient use of Commonwealth environmental water allocation across the southern connected basin will be required to contribute towards high environmental water requirements. Optimisation may include the use of Commonwealth held South Australian allocation for multi-site outcomes, the use of return flows from Victorian tributaries and complementary water delivery with consumptive water en route.
Stakeholder feedback: Comments were received from MDBA and SA DEWNR and have been considered and incorporated where appropriate.
27

Option 3 – River Murray from Euston to the Lower Lakes and Coorong
Catchment: Lower Murray
Complex: River Murray
Site: River Murray from Euston to Lower Lakes and Coorong
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Moderate to High
Relevant flow component:
Base flows
Fresh
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Expected inundation extent:
Floodplain inundation
Wetland inundation
Summary of watering option:
 Watering options under high resource availability will aim to maintain landscape vegetation and wetland diversity, improve the condition of water dependent native species and support the recovery of floodplain ecosystems.
 Expected outcomes will build on those of Option 2 and include: support fish and waterbird reproduction and recruitment, improve the condition and support recruitment of floodplain vegetation, support lateral and longitudinal hydrological connectivity between the River
Murray channel, floodplain and wetlands, and contribute to nutrient and carbon cycling to support ecosystem function.
 Environmental water use options within the lower River Murray channel may involve: a) complementary flows to increase base flow up to 6 000–10 000 ML/day during February to
June, b) multiple in-channel freshes targeting around 25 000 ML/day peak flow for a minimum period of 21 days during September to February, c) augmenting natural high flow events between August and January to extend high flow events targeting 40 000 ML/day for up to 60 days, up to a maximum peak flow of 60 000 ML/day, and d) to manage recession of high flow events, where feasible.
 Watering options will aim to contribute towards barrage operations at the Lower Lakes and
Coorong, supplementing lake inflows during October to January, and supporting continuous barrage outflows into the Coorong throughout the year.
 Targeted water delivery to high priority individual wetland sites may be considered as part of this option; these may include (but are not limited to) sites associated with Hattah Lakes,
Mallee wetlands, Carrs, Capitts, Fletchers, Bengallow and Wee Wee creeks, Bottle Bend
Reserve, and targeted wetlands within South Australia.
Timing August 2014 to June 2015
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
To supplement river flows to achieve annual flow at the barrages of
>6 000 GL/year, or depending on natural river flows achieve a minimum three year rolling average of 2 000 GL/year.
Action undertaken in this catchment previously:
Yes No
Similar action has been undertaken elsewhere in the Murray Darling Basin:
Yes No
Operational considerations and feasibility:
 This watering option is based on high inflow conditions in the River Murray. For the purpose
28

of identifying watering options relevant to this scenario, high inflow conditions have been generally characterised by flow rates at the South Australian border above the South
Australian monthly entitlement for the majority of the year. Flows into South Australia may at times include Additional Dilution Flow. Large natural freshes and overbank flows are likely to occur as unregulated river flows throughout the River Murray during spring and summer with variable flow rates potentially of 25 000–50 000 ML/day.
 Commonwealth environmental water will be delivered via river flows and is expected to be sourced from a combination of managed releases from River Murray storages including
Hume Reservoir, Lake Victoria and the Menindee Lakes system, natural River Murray inflows and return flows from upstream tributaries.
 When using a combination of upstream water storage releases, tributary inflows and the operation of Lake Victoria to augment flows, operations may be limited to augmenting flows up to 10 000–15 000 ML/day. The ability to deliver additional water from the Goulburn
River and lower Darling River, timed with River Murray flows will be important in augmenting natural flows.
 Opportunities to maximise the benefit of low river flows for riparian vegetation and wetland connectivity may occur through the management of River Murray weir infrastructure, river operations or through the assistance of infrastructure such as constructed channels, wetland regulators and floodplain inundation enhancement structures.
 Delivery of environmental water during summer may be constrained due to limitations on channel capacity supplying other water users and to minimise third party impacts.
 Barrage operations at the Lower Lakes are actively managed throughout the year. Under wet conditions operations may aim to maintain water levels at lakes Alexandrina and Albert between 0.40–0.80m AHD and maintain flows through barrages and fishways throughout the year. The cycling of lake levels (raising and lowering) may be undertaken to increase the export of salt from Lake Albert. Differential releases from the barrages will be managed to target specific outcomes throughout the year. Increased barrage flows during late summer–early autumn are expected to support improved conditions in the Coorong.
 Determining appropriate rates of rise and fall for the purpose of managing the recession of high flow events at natural rates will be developed based on expert advice. However, flows may be constrained by remaining account balances, release limits at the major storages and river channel capacities.
Stakeholder feedback: Comments were received from MDBA and SA DEWNR and have been considered and incorporated where appropriate.
29

Option 4 – Lower Darling River
Catchment: Lower Darling
Complex: Lower Darling Catchment River Flows
Site: Lower Darling River System
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Moderate to High (Darling Inflows)
Relevant flow component:
Base flows
Fresh
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Expected inundation extent:
Floodplain inundation
Wetland inundation
Note: Low flow options for the lower Darling River are likely to be constrained by Menindee
Lakes operations (NSW control)
Summary of watering option:
 This option outlines the use of environmental water to contribute to baseflows and freshes in the lower Darling River. Additionally, environmental releases to the lower Darling River may be used to manage the recession of higher flow events in this system and in the River
Murray.
 The hydrology of the lower Darling River has been altered greatly as a result of river regulation. This option may contribute to returning a more natural pattern of flow, by restoring elements of the hydrograph that have been affected by flow regulation, such as
(low magnitude) winter flow variability.
 Expected outcomes of this watering option would include supporting native fish condition and reproduction, and entrainment of nutrients and carbon for supporting ecological function within the lower Darling River and lower River Murray.
 To support native fish reproduction, environmental flows may be used to maximise available breeding habitat and/or create flow conditions favourable for spawning. Under this scenario, timing, magnitude and duration of water delivery will reflect the spawning requirements of the target species. Hydrographs, based on spawning requirements of different functional groups of native fish (small bodied in-stream generalists, medium and large bodied fish) will be used as a basis for each fresh.
 This option may also support re-wetting of low-lying wetland habitats on the lower Darling
River, thereby supporting within ecosystem diversity.
 Delivery of environmental water may be based on cues in the system, such as increased flows in the Darling River upstream of the Menindee Lakes system, environmental demands in the lower River Murray (refer to Options 1, 2 and 3), and water quality issues.
Timing Spring 2014to Autumn 2015
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Approximately 100 GL
Action undertaken in this catchment previously:
Yes No
30
Similar action has been undertaken elsewhere in the Murray Darling Basin:
Yes No

Operational considerations and feasibility:
 The magnitude, duration and timing of environmental releases will be dependent on the prevailing flow conditions (in the lower Darling River and River Murray), target species/outcomes and operational considerations.
 Commonwealth environmental water may be released from the Menindee Lakes storage to achieve target flows at Weir 32. However, total lake storage volumes at the end of
2013–14 are very low (< 480 GL) and without significant inflows to the lakes and sufficient allocations, this option may not be feasible in 2014–15. When storage levels are less than
480 GL NSW are responsible for managing releases from the Menindee Lakes storage to supply essential stock and domestic water to local Menindee and lower Darling communities. This responsibility will return to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s River Murray
Operations if storage levels rise above 640 GL.
 Operational constraints and the availability of water in the lower Darling River system may affect the feasibility of this option. The maximum regulated releases from the Menindee
Lakes system are approximately 9 000 ML/day; however, reaching this rate is dependent on a number of factors including storage levels.
 There are stipulated maximum rates of rise and fall for releases to the lower Darling River.
 Environmental water would be used to complement rather than substitute for operational releases from the Menindee Lakes system.
 Unregulated conditions in the River Murray may call for regulated releases of environmental water from Menindee Lakes system to meet lower River Murray water requirements.
Stakeholder feedback: No comments were received.
31

Option 5 – Great Darling Anabranch
Catchment: Lower Darling
Complex: Other Lower Darling Catchment Sites
Site: Great Darling Anabranch Channel
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Moderate to High
Relevant flow component:
Base flows
Fresh
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Expected inundation extent:
Floodplain inundation
Wetland inundation
Summary of watering option:
 The primary purpose of the option is to provide environmental flows to the Great Darling
Anabranch (the Anabranch) to reflect flows that would have occurred in response to flows in the Darling River upstream. Environmental water may be used to extend the recession of a flood event.
 This option may increase hydrological connectivity between the Anabranch channel and the River Murray, thus creating opportunities for biotic dispersal between these environments. The Anabranch environment plays a key role in reproduction of native fish.
Under moderate resource availability, releases from Lake Cawndilla into the Anabranch may be made without natural cues for the purpose of supporting native fish outcomes. This would be subject to water availability, suitable environmental conditions and an assessment of risks and likelihood of positive ecological outcomes.
Timing Dependent on natural flow cues and water availability. However, potential stand alone events would be considered in spring–autumn to support native fish outcomes.
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 50 GL
Action undertaken in this catchment previously:
Yes No
Similar action has been undertaken elsewhere in the Murray Darling Basin:
Yes No
Operational considerations and feasibility:
 At the end of 2013–14, Menindee Lakes storage levels were very low and significant inflows as a result of rainfall in the northern basin would be required to allow implementation of this option in 2014–15. Following extensive natural flooding in the lower Darling River and
Anabranch in 2011–12, conditions have dried and inflows to the Menindee Lakes in
2013–14 were low. Total storage of the lakes dropped below 480 GL in late February 2014 triggering a switch in control over the lakes from the MDBA to NSW. Whilst storage levels remain below 640 GL the lakes will remain in NSW control and be managed to supply water to local needs. Control over the lakes will revert to MDBA once storage levels increase to above 640 ML/day.
 Environmental water could be delivered to the Anabranch from Lake Cawndilla via Tandou
32

Creek, Packers Crossing regulator and Redbank Creek.
 The system may receive unregulated flows from the Darling River when flows exceed
9 000 ML/day (at Weir 32). During flood operations at Menindee Lakes releases may also be made from Lake Cawndilla to the Anabranch.
 Constraints, including the capacity of delivery channels and delivery infrastructure, and any potential third party impacts, may limit the volume of water that can be delivered to the
Anabranch. These factors also restrict the delivery of water to the Anabranch channel. The maximum flow rate of the Packers Crossing regulator is 1 500 ML/day, however environmental water delivery to date has been at a rate of up to 1 100 ML/day and higher flow rates would require consultation with downstream riparian landholders.
 This option would be implemented in conjunction with local delivery partners, who will play a key role in engaging with the local community and to manage potential third party impacts from environmental water delivery.
 Where appropriate, we will seek to coordinate this option with other watering actions and flows. As a result implementation of this option may involve liaison with river operators, water managers and holders, and site managers from multiple jurisdictions.
Stakeholder feedback: No comments were received.
33

Option 6 – Nature Foundation South Australia
Catchment: Lower Murray
Complex: River Murray
Site: Lower River Murray wetlands
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Low to High
Relevant flow component:
Base flows
Fresh
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Expected inundation extent:
Floodplain inundation
Wetland inundation
Summary of watering option:
 The primary purpose of the option is to provide environmental water to undertake watering actions aimed at achieving environmental outcomes on wetlands and floodplains in the lower River Murray.
 Expected outcomes from such watering actions would include: improve the condition of, and support recruitment opportunities for river red gum and black box vegetation, and provide habitat for supporting waterbird, frog and aquatic invertebrate condition, abundance and diversity.
 This option will support targeted water delivery to wetland sites within South Australia, facilitated by the Nature Foundation South Australia. Some sites that are currently being watered under multi-year watering actions include Johnson’s Waterhole, Clark’s
Floodplain, Rilli Reach and Ramco River Terrace. Nature Foundation South Australia will continue to work with local communities to identify other opportunities for watering wetland sites within South Australia.
Timing July 2014 to June 2015
Volume of Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 10 GL
Action undertaken in this catchment previously:
Yes No
Similar action has been undertaken elsewhere in the Murray Darling Basin:
Yes No
Operational considerations and feasibility:
 Watering undertaken for this option is part of a regional partnership established with the
Nature Foundation South Australia to undertake multi-year watering program at targeted wetlands within South Australia. This partnership includes approval for the use of up to
10 000 ML per year of Commonwealth environmental water for use by Nature Foundation
South Australia for five years, from 2012 to 2017.
 Delivery to wetland sites will be by a range of methods including pumping, irrigation infrastructure and wetland regulating infrastructure.
 This option would be facilitated by Nature Foundation South Australia, who will play a key role in engaging with the landholders and local community groups.
 Where appropriate, we will seek to coordinate this option with other watering actions and
34

river flows. As a result implementation of this option may involve liaison with river operators, water managers, and other wetland site managers.
Stakeholder feedback: Comments were received from MDBA and SA DEWNR and have been considered and incorporated where appropriate.
35

Option 7 – Mallee Catchment Management Authority
Catchment: Lower Murray
Complex: River Murray
Site: Lower River Murray Mallee wetlands
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Low to High
Relevant flow component:
Base flows
Fresh
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Expected inundation extent:
Floodplain inundation
Wetland inundation
Summary of watering option:
 The primary purpose of the option is to provide environmental water to undertake watering actions aimed at rehabilitating targeted wetlands and floodplains in the lower River Murray
Mallee region.
 Expected outcomes from the multi-year watering actions would include: maintain and improve diversity and extent of floodplain and wetland native vegetation, increase the abundance and distribution of Murray hardyhead, improve the diversity and condition of frog and waterbird populations, and improve ecosystem resilience.
 This option will target the delivery of water to priority wetland sites within the Victorian
Mallee region. Wetland and floodplains sites currently identified are Cardross Lakes, Lake
Koorlong, Brickworks Billabong, King’s Billabong, Spence’s Bend, Karadoc Swamp, Psyche
Bend and Woorlong wetland.
Timing July 2014 to June 2015
Volume of Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 9 GL
Action undertaken in this catchment previously:
Yes No
Similar action has been undertaken elsewhere in the Murray Darling Basin:
Yes No
Operational considerations and feasibility:
 This watering action is part of a multi-year watering program being undertaken by the
Mallee Catchment Management Authority (Mallee CMA) in partnership with the
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the Victorian Environmental Water
Holder. Up to 9 000 ML of Commonwealth environmental water has been made available to the Mallee CMA per year, for three years, from 2013 to 2016.
 Delivery to wetland sites will be by a range of methods including pumping, irrigation infrastructure and wetland regulating infrastructure.
 This option will be facilitated by the Mallee CMA, in consultation with the landholders and local community groups.
 Where appropriate, we will seek to coordinate this option with other watering actions and flows. As a result implementation of this option is likely to involve liaison with river operators, water managers and holders, and site managers from multiple jurisdictions.
Stakeholder feedback: No comments were received.
36

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 lower Murray-
Darling region and the watering options that could contribute to achieving the identified outcomes.
Table 6: 2014–15 Basin annual environmental watering priorities for the lower Murray-Darling region
2014–15 Basin annual environmental watering priorities relevant to lower Murray-Darling region
Theme: Support in-stream functions
Watering options that may contribute to the achievement of priority outcomes
Connectivity in the River Murray System:
Improve riparian, littoral and aquatic vegetation (e.g. Ruppia tuberosa) and native fish populations by increasing ecosystem connectivity through coordinating water delivery in the River Murray system
Option 1 – River Murray from Euston to the
Lower Lakes and Coorong
Option 2 – River Murray from Euston to the
Lower Lakes and Coorong
Option 3 – River Murray from Euston to the
Lower Lakes and Coorong
Option 4 – Lower Darling River
Winter flows for fish in the southern Basin:
Improve survival, recruitment, and condition of native fish populations by providing winter flows to tributaries and creeks of the River
Murray and through the barrages to the
Coorong
Theme: Enhance and protect refuge habitat
Options 1 – River Murray from Euston to the
Lower Lakes and Coorong
Option 3 – River Murray from Euston to the
Lower Lakes and Coorong
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 2 – River Murray from Euston to the
Lower Lakes and Coorong
Option 3 – River Murray from Euston to the
Lower Lakes and Coorong
Option 6 – Nature Foundation South Australia
Option 7 – Mallee Catchment Management
Authority
37

New South Wales
Across NSW, Commonwealth environmental water is generally transferred to NSW OEH’s environmental accounts. NSW OEH is then responsible for making arrangements with river operators such as State Water Corporation to deliver the environmental water. In some instances, Commonwealth held NSW allocation may be delivered without trade to NSW OEH environmental accounts.
River flows will be accounted for at storages or at downstream flow gauges and will be reported to the Office by NSW OEH. Where applicable, water delivered to individual wetland sites will be accounted at flow gauges or metered pumps at those sites.
Victoria
Across Victoria, Commonwealth environmental water is transferred to the VEWH’s environmental accounts. The VEWH is then responsible for coordinating the implementation of watering actions and providing accounting information to the Office. Watering actions are managed by regional waterway managers including the Goulburn-Broken Catchment
Management Authority, North-Central Catchment Management Authority and Mallee
Catchment Management Authority. These delivery partners and waterway managers obtain any water delivery approvals that are required for the watering action, and will generally liaise with Goulburn-Murray Water and Lower Murray Water to actively manage the release of
Commonwealth environmental water on a day-to-day basis, in accordance with the agreed flow regimes and accepted river operating practices. In some instances, water may be delivered without transfer to the VEWH’s environmental water accounts, such as in the Ovens
River system.
River flows will be accounted for at storages or at downstream flow gauges. Where applicable, water delivered to individual wetland sites will be accounted at flow gauges or metered pumps at those sites.
South Australia
There are two approaches available for the use of Commonwealth environmental water within
South Australia. In the majority of circumstances Commonwealth environmental water is transferred to the South Australian Water Minister’s water access licence. The delivery of environmental water is then facilitated by the SA DEWNR and the South Australian Murray-
Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board, in consultation with wetland managers,
Local Action Planning groups and other community advisory groups. The active delivery of environmental water is undertaken by SA Water and the MDBA River Murray Operations. SA
DEWNR obtains any water delivery approvals and consents that are required for the watering action.
Where direct relationships have been established with non-government delivery partners, such as the Nature Foundation South Australia, environmental water allocation may be transferred to a water access licence nominated by the delivery partner who would then make arrangements for all necessary approvals and consents to facilitate water delivery.
38

Environmental water delivery is accounted as a volume delivered at the South Australian border. Delivery partners will also account water use at targeted assets such as floodplain wetlands or flow at the Lower Lake barrages.
Operational monitoring is monitoring that helps assess whether water has been delivered as planned [e.g. the volumes, timing (frequency and duration), 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
Lower Murray-Darling Region, this includes the MDBA River Murray Operations, SA DEWNR, NSW
Office of Water, NSW OEH, the VEWH, regional catchment management authorities and local non-government organisations such as the Nature Foundation South Australia.
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/fortnightly basis)
 flow rate that water is delivered at (hydrograph of delivery if possible)
 monitoring associated with identified risks.
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
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 Basin scale.
39

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 River Murray.
These areas were chosen to be representative of Commonwealth environmental watering across the Murray-Darling Basin.
A Monitoring and Evaluation Plan that captures the long term arrangements between scientific organisations and delivery partners has been developed for the Lower River Murray Selected
Area.
Results from the LTIM Project will be published on the Office’s website and the data will be publicly available.
40

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 against the following criteria is undertaken:
 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
41

review is informed by the weekly operational monitoring, results of ecological monitoring, and feedback provided by site managers and the local community.
Annual planning for
Commonwealth environmental water use options
Approval of Water
Use Options documents by CEWH
Assessment of catchment conditions
Detailed planning and scoping of feasible watering actions
Eliminate unrealistic/ unfeasible options
Preparation of paperwork for decision includes assessment against criteria
Detailed risk assessment
Decision by CEWH
Change, suspend or cancel watering actions to reflect changing conditions
Implementation of watering action
Ongoing weekly operational monitoring
Watering action finished – acquittal report
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.
42

The Office has consulted with a range of stakeholders to develop the Commonwealth environmental water use options for the Lower Murray-Darling Region for 2014–15, including our delivery partners as follows:
 Murray-Darling Basin Authority
 South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
 Victorian Environmental Water Holder
 New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage
 New South Wales Office of Water
 New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
 Mallee Catchment Management Authority.
 Goulburn-Broken Catchment Management Authority
 Nature Foundation South Australia
The Office will continue to work with stakeholders and other interested community members in the planning, delivery, management and monitoring of Commonwealth environmental water.
43

Aldridge, K., Busch, B., and Hipsey, M. (2013). An assessment of the contribution of environmental water provisions to salt and nutrient dynamics in the Lower Murray, November
2011 to July 2012. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities, Canberra.
Australian Water Environments, Ecological Associates and GHD Ptd Ltd (2011). Environmental
Water Delivery: Coorong, Lower Lakes and the main channel below Lock 1. Prepared for the
Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, Department of Sustainability, Environment,
Water, Populations and Communities, Canberra.
Bogenhuber, D. and Linklater, D. (2012). The Darling Anabranch Adaptive Management
Monitoring Program Condition Monitoring 2011. Report prepared for the Office of Environment and Heritage.
Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (2012). 2012–13 Annual
Environmental Watering Plan for the South Australian River Murray. Adelaide.
Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (2013). Environmental Monitoring
Progress Report February 2013. Monitoring progress report for the Murray Futures Coorong,
Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth and The Living Murray programs.
Ecological Associates (2010). The Environmental Water Requirements of the SA River Murray, prepared for the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board,
Adelaide.
Green, D. and Alexander, P. (2006). River Murray Wetland Database: NSW, Victoria. NSW
Murray Wetlands Working Group.
Murray-Darling Basin Authority (2012a) Hattah Lakes: Environmental Water Management Plan.
MDBA Publication No. 222/11, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra.
Murray-Darling Basin Authority (2013b).
Preliminary Overview of Constraints to Environmental
Water Delivery in the Murray–Darling Basin. [online] available: www.mdba.gov.au/mediapubs/publications/constraints-overview , accessed 19 May 2014.
Murray-Darling Basin Authority (2013c). Constraints Management Strategy 2013 to 2024. [online] available: www.mdba.gov.au/what-we-do/water-planning/managing-constraints , accessed
19 May 2014.
Murray-Darling Basin Authority (2012d). Sustainable Rivers Audit 2: The ecological health of
rivers in the Murray–Darling Basin at the end of the Millennium Drought (2008–2010). MDBA
Publication 75/12. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra.
Murray-Darling Basin Authority (2014). River data and operations. [online] available: www.mdba.gov.au/water/river_operations
,
accessed 19 May 2014.
NSW Office of Water (2013). NSW Murray and Lower Darling water allocation outlook for
2013/14 water year.
Ye, Q., Livore, J., Bucater, L., Cheshire, K., and Fleer, D. (2013). Larval fish assemblages and golden perch spawning with reference to Commonwealth environmental water release to the
lower River Murray in 2011–12. Prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office,
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities, Canberra.
44