Commonwealth environmental water
use options 2014–15:
Border Rivers
1
Cover image credit: Macintyre River, Border Rivers. Photo: Clare d’Arcy © CEWO
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: Border Rivers 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: Border Rivers,
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: Border Rivers
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 – Border
Rivers ............................................................................................................................................ 5
2. Context for water use in 2014–15 in the Border Rivers .................................... 7
2.1.
2.2.
2.3.
Delivering environmental water to the Border Rivers ......................................................... 7
Operational and management considerations for 2014–15 in the Border Rivers ......... 8
Valley condition ......................................................................................................................... 9
3. Water availability ............................................................................................. 11
3.1.
3.2.
3.3.
Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Border Rivers for 2014–15 ...... 11
Other sources of environmental water allocations .......................................................... 11
Natural or unregulated flows and planned environmental water ................................ 11
4. Planning for water use in the Border Rivers in 2014–15 ................................ 13
4.1.
4.2.
Planning for a range of inflows in 2014–15 .......................................................................... 13
Implementing watering actions throughout the year ...................................................... 14
5. Water use options for 2014–15 ........................................................................ 15
5.1.
5.2.
5.3.
Summary of watering options ............................................................................................... 15
Assessment of environmental watering options ................................................................ 17
Options contributing to the Basin Annual Environmental Watering Priorities .............. 21
6. Accounting for the use of Commonwealth environmental water .............. 22
6.1.
Water use accounting ............................................................................................................ 22
6.2.
Monitoring ................................................................................................................................. 22
6.2.1.
Operational monitoring ................................................................................................. 22
6.2.2.
Long term intervention monitoring .............................................................................. 22
7. Next steps – from planning to water delivery ............................................... 24
8. Partnerships ...................................................................................................... 26
9. Bibliography ..................................................................................................... 27
3
List of Figures
Figure 1: The Border Rivers (CSIRO 2007).................................................................................................... 8
Figure 2: How inflows may vary and impact on water resource availability over the course of
2014–15 in the Border Rivers, from a starting point of low to high resource
availability..................................................................................................................................... 13
Figure 3: The annual management process for Commonwealth environmental water. .............. 25
List of Tables
Table 1: Expected outcomes from the use of Commonwealth environmental water in the
Border Rivers. .................................................................................................................................. 6
Table 2: Operational considerations for the Border Rivers in 2014–15. ................................................ 9
Table 3: Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Border Rivers as at 31 May
2014. ............................................................................................................................................... 11
Table 4: Other potential sources of environmental water in the Border Rivers catchment for
2014–15.......................................................................................................................................... 12
Table 5: Potential watering options for 2014–15 for the Border Rivers valley. ................................... 16
Table 6: 2014–15 Basin annual environmental watering priorities for the Border Rivers ................. 21
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 Border Rivers 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 catchment 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 –
Border Rivers
Commonwealth environmental water use options for the Border Rivers in 2014–15 include the
following two flow types:

base flows (low flows)

freshes.
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 Border Rivers may be delivered to
various parts of the river system including:

anabranches

and floodplain lagoons.
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.
Table 1 shows the linkage between planned flow types and the expected outcomes for the
Border Rivers. 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).
5
Table 1: Expected outcomes from the use of Commonwealth environmental water in the
Border Rivers.
Flow Type
Expected outcomes for
2014–15
Contributions to
longer term
outcomes
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
Other vertebrate
reproduction, growth and
survival
Adult abundance
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
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
Freshes
6
2. Context for water use in 2014–15 in the
Border Rivers
2.1.
Delivering environmental water to the Border Rivers
The principle streams of the Border Rivers region are the Macintyre River (New South Wales
(NSW)), Severn River (NSW), Dumaresq River (Queensland (Qld)), Macintyre Brook (Qld) and
the Weir River (Qld) (Figure 1). The Macintyre River's main tributary is the NSW Severn River. The
most significant unregulated tributary in the floodplain zone is the Weir River (Qld) and joins the
Macintyre River upstream of Mungindi. Below the confluence of the Weir and Macintyre Rivers,
the main stream becomes the Barwon River. The principal tributaries of the Dumaresq River are
the Beardy River and Ottley's Creek.
Collectively, public storages providing regulated supplies have a capacity of 635 GL,
comprising Pindari Dam on the Severn River in NSW (312 GL), Glenlyon Dam on Pike Creek in
Queensland (254 GL) and Coolmunda Dam on Macintyre Brook in Queensland (69 GL). The
volume of on-farm storage is comparable to public storage, reflecting the importance of
unregulated flows (diversion of river and overland flows) to irrigation supplies in the catchment.
On average, the majority of water use in the Border Rivers catchment is based on opportunistic
access to unregulated flows (supplementary water access in NSW and unsupplemented water
allocations in Queensland). Regulated water entitlements (supplemented water allocations in
Queensland, high and general security licences in NSW) comprise a smaller component of
overall water use.
Below Goondiwindi, effluent creeks and anabranches break off the Macintyre River channel
and form a meandering complex of billabongs and wetlands across an extensive floodplain.
These breakouts include Callandoon and Dingo creeks in Queensland, and Whalan Creek and
Boomi River in NSW. Hydrological connectivity of this floodplain area relies on overbank flows.
Intermittent connection of anabranches with the rivers stimulates nutrient and carbon cycling,
the fundamental ecosystem processes which drive food web dynamics at higher trophic levels
(Thoms et al. 2005; McGinness and Arthur 2011; Reid et al. 2012).
When the complex floodplain of billabongs and wetlands are inundated, they have supported
breeding for a range of nationally and internationally important birds such as brolgas, blacknecked storks, and magpie geese (Murray-Darling Basin Authority [MDBA] 2012). The rivers and
wetlands of the Border Rivers also provide habitat for a range of large and small bodied native
fish species many which used to be widespread in the Murray-Darling Basin but now have a
patchy distribution. Native fish species found in the Border Rivers include golden perch, Murray
cod, purple spotted gudgeon and unspecked hardyhead (Davies et al. 2012; Wilson and
Ellison 2010).
The Morella Watercourse/Boobera Lagoon/Pungbougal Lagoon complex is located on the
floodplain between Goondiwindi and Mungindi and is listed in the Directory of Important
Wetlands in Australia (Department of the Environment 1993). It is one of the few permanent
waterbodies in the Murray-Darling Basin. Boobera Lagoon is considered to be one of the most
important Aboriginal sites in south-eastern Australia. The local Aboriginal people, the
Gamilaraay, believe that Boobera Lagoon is the resting place of the rainbow serpent, Garriya.
Environmental water demand in the Border Rivers includes baseflow and in-channel fresh
requirements. Baseflows target habitat availability, nutrient cycling, fish passage, and riparian
health outcomes, and are limited to in-channel flows which can be satisfied through relatively
low release rates from dams. In-channel fresh events aim to improve nutrient cycling, facilitate
the migration and recruitment of native fish species, and enhance some anabranch
connection. Due to high commence to flow rates, connection of the anabranch system
downstream of Goondiwindi is likely only with a major unregulated flow.
7
Regulated releases from storages can be timed to coincide with unregulated flows in order to
contribute to in-channel fresh requirements. Where possible, environmental water will be
managed to benefit multiple sites en route to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of
water use.
The Commonwealth’s unregulated flow access entitlements cannot be actively ‘delivered’
and are left in-stream during unregulated flow conditions. This augments unregulated water
already protected from extraction in the system and contributes to local and downstream flow
benefits. The extent of how far benefits flow through the system depends on the circumstances
for individual flow events. Benefits may extend downstream to the Barwon-Darling.
Figure 1: The Border Rivers (CSIRO 2007).
2.2.
Operational and management considerations for 2014–15 in the Border
Rivers
The achievement of desired environmental outcomes will be closely related to the careful
coordination of the timing of environmental water releases to coincide with unregulated flows
in the Border Rivers. Regulated releases (including irrigation orders, stock and domestic
replenishment flows or NSW stimulus flow) also offer opportunities to ‘piggy back’
Commonwealth environmental water and increase its impact in achieving environmental
objectives, and assist with delivery efficiency.
For the first time, in 2012–13, river operators in the NSW and Queensland managed the delivery
of Queensland allocation from the NSW Pindari Dam. On a trial basis, 626 ML of
Commonwealth Queensland allocation was successfully delivered without any impacts on
other licence holder’s water availability or reliability. This was repeated in 2013–14 to deliver
3 971 ML of Commonwealth environmental water in combination with the NSW stimulus flow.
Further delivery of Queensland allocation from NSW Pindari Dam water will be considered by
the state resource operators on a case by case basis.
8
Operational considerations such as delivery methods, opportunities, constraints and risks will
differ depending on the inflow scenario and are summarised in Table 2. These considerations
will be assessed throughout the year as decisions to make water available for use are made
and implemented. This includes 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 Border Rivers in 2014–15.
Inflow scenario
Very low
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Opportunities
Manage the recession of unregulated flows
to provide for a more natural flow pattern.
Use environmental water in conjunction
with, or to maximise the environmental
benefit of, unregulated river flows.
Use environmental water in conjunction
with, or to maximise the environmental
benefit of, other water orders.
End of system flows contribute to additional
environmental outcomes in the BarwonDarling system.
Constraints
Delivery options are limited due to high
unregulated flows resulting in reduced
channel capacity, limiting the operation of
river infrastructure and inhibiting additional
releases from storages.
Maximum annual usage on current
regulated entitlements is 0.42 GL (NSW) and
12.2 GL (Qld) and 7.2 GL unregulated flow
access entitlements1.
Flow thresholds for existing river infrastructure
may constrain the delivery of environmental
water.
Risks*
The provision of Commonwealth
environmental water must consider potential
inundation impacts to property and
infrastructure.
*See Section 7 for more information on risk management.
2.3.
Valley condition
Between 2002 and 2010 the Border Rivers catchment received low inflows due to a long period
of drought, which coupled with river regulation, had a significant effect on the environmental
condition of the valley. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) released its second
Based on holdings as at 30 April 2014, please note that Queensland Border Rivers (Medium)
entitlements have an 85 per cent account limit at any one time.
1
9
Sustainable Rivers Audit report in 2012 and concluded that the Border Rivers valley was in poor
ecosystem health. While the Border Rivers valley was recognised as having good hydrology
with moderate physical form, fish and macroinvertebrate communities, the valley was rated as
poor for riparian vegetation communities (Davies et al. 2012).
Some moderate inflows occurred during this period in 2003–04, but drought breaking inflows
were experienced in 2010–11 with further high inflows experienced across the valley in 2011–12.
Consecutive years of widespread flooding and overbank flows have provided significant
longitudinal and lateral connection of river channel and fringing wetlands. This would have
provided breeding and recruitment opportunities for a range of native aquatic species and an
improvement in their condition.
The 2012–13 water year returned to drier than average conditions in the Border Rivers valley. To
late January 2013, rainfall was very much below average across the entire valley, while above
average temperatures were experienced particularly throughout summer, resulting in high
consumptive demand. Unregulated flow events in February and March 2013 peaked at
30 000 ML/day at Mungindi in early February 2013, transmitted nutrients and carbon inputs to
the river, drowned out weirs, inundated benches and riparian vegetation and connected
fringing wetlands and lagoons along the length of the Macintyre River.
In 2013–14 Commonwealth environmental water was delivered in combination with NSW
planned environmental water to deliver a stimulus flow for a second successive year (refer
Section 3.3). Monitoring indicated the stimulus achieved its objectives to disturb and reset algal
communities, stimulate production through all levels of the aquatic food chain, inundate
riparian areas and provide aquatic species access to a diversity of habitats to feed and find
shelter (Foster 2013). Conditions were otherwise dry in the Border Rivers and sufficient rainfall
did not eventuate to trigger an unregulated event. There was some rainfall in late March to
early April in the lower catchment, downstream of headwater storages. A short period of water
harvesting was announced in the Queensland Border Rivers main stem in late March to early
April 2014 resulting in total take of 92 ML against Commonwealth unregulated entitlements.
Improvements to threatened species and vegetation regeneration resulting from consecutive
years of unregulated events will require support in the coming water years to ensure their
survival and to continue to improve their condition.
10
3. Water availability
3.1.
Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Border Rivers for
2014–15
Commonwealth environmental water holdings available for use in 2014–15 in the Border Rivers
are shown in Table 3 below.
Table 3: Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Border Rivers as at 31 May 2014.
Entitlement type1
Entitlement held
(GL)
Long-term
average annual
yield (GL)
Carryover from
2013–14 (GL)
Forecast water
availability for
2014–15 (GL)2
NSW Border Rivers
(General B)
0.4
0.2
0.1
0.1–0.3
Qld Border Rivers
(Medium)
12.0
3.9
4.8
6–10
Qld Macintyre
Brook (General B)
0.2
0.2
0.4
Total
12.6
4.3
5.3
6–10
Notes:
1. The Commonwealth also holds 4.5 GL of unsupplemented water in the Border Rivers
which is discussed in the document ‘Commonwealth environmental water use options
2014–15: Northern Unregulated Rivers’
2. The forecast for unregulated 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. Forecast total is exclusive of unregulated water.
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
There are currently no other sources of held environmental water in the Border Rivers.
3.3.
Natural or unregulated flows and planned environmental water
In addition to water entitlements held by the Commonwealth, 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’). Other sources of
environmental water may be available to supplement Commonwealth environmental water
delivery in the catchment during 2014–15 (Table 4).
The NSW Border Rivers Water Sharing Plan includes the high conservation value reach of the
Severn (NSW) and Macintyre Rivers downstream of Pindari Dam. The Pindari Dam stimulus flow
and translucency rules (i.e. inflows up to 50 ML/day between September and May are passed
downstream; up to 200 ML/day between June and August) attempts to mitigate the impacts
11
of the dam on the natural hydrological regime and aquatic ecosystems in the Severn River
(NSW). Commonwealth environmental water would be in addition to these flows and provide
increased benefits to this asset.
NSW and Queensland have water management rules in place for the Macintyre River
downstream of Goondiwindi. These rules aim to provide additional flows to this area. There is
an end of system low flow rule that protects tributary inflows to maintain flows at Mungindi on
the Barwon above 100 ML/day (September–March). When unregulated flow events arise,
announcements are made constraining the times, locations and rates for the take of water
under unregulated flow access entitlements. There are complex rules for determining these
announcements. For example, access to freshes below the junction of the Macintyre River and
the Dumaresq River that arise from inflows above Goondiwindi, does not commence until the
total flow over two consecutive days exceeds 10 000 ML. Access ceases when the total flows
over two consecutive days at Goondiwindi drops below 3,650 ML. In dry to medium years it is
likely that some of these events will be protected in order to meet downstream requirements
for freshes in the Barwon-Darling River (although in very dry years such events are less likely to
occur). Commonwealth environmental water would be in addition to these rules and provide
increased benefits to this asset.
Table 4: Other potential sources of environmental water in the Border Rivers catchment for
2014–15.
Source
Instrument
Management
Authority
NSW OEH and
NOW
Stimulus flow Pindari
Dam
NSW Water
Sharing Plan
Translucency flows
Pindari Dam
NSW State
Water
(delivery)
NSW State
Water
Potential Allocation
4 GL/year reserved for a
stimulus flow, provided trigger
conditions are achieved. Can
be accrued to a maximum of
8 GL.
Up to 0.05 GL/day (September–
May)
Up to 0.2 GL/day (June–
August)
Maximum of 30 GL/year
Improving low flows at
end of system
NSW Water
Sharing Plan
High flow protection
NSW-Queensland
Intergovernmental
Agreement on the
Border Rivers 2008
Low flow allowance
Coolmunda Dam
Queensland
Border Rivers
Resource
Operations Plan
Qld DNRM
NSW State
Water/NOW
Tributary inflows protected to
maintain flow at Mungindi on
the Barwon above 0.1 GL/day
(September–March)
25% of unregulated flows in
main trunk and Macintyre River
in NSW protected from point of
inflow to Mungindi
Queensland
SunWater
12
The first 0.1 GL/day of inflows
released to 6 GL/year.
4. Planning for water use in the Border Rivers
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) 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. The Bureau of Meteorology provides a quarterly seasonal streamflow forecasting
service, which estimates the potential for low, median or high flows. As shown in Table 3,
carryover from 2013–14 for the Border Rivers is likely to be approximately 6 GL. Forecast early
season allocations (up to 31 July 2014) are likely to be minimal.
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 low to high (but not very low or very high). From this starting point, the full range of
possible inflows suggests that resource availability over the course of the year could be
between very low and very high (Figure 2). The full range of possible inflows increases due to
decreasing confidence in anticipating climatic conditions over a longer period time. As such,
the water use options described in Section 5 have been considered for the full range of
resource availability. NSW State Water Corporation (NSW SWC) has advised that a Bulk Release
delivery strategy will be applied in the Border Rivers for 2014–15. While the current resource
availability has been assessed as moderate, some options developed for this scenario may not
be pursued due to delivery constraints.
Figure 2: How inflows may vary and impact on water resource availability over the course of
2014–15 in the Border Rivers, from a starting point of low to high resource availability.
13
4.2.
Implementing watering actions throughout the year
Resource availability will change over the course of 2014–15 as new allocation
announcements are made, and 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.
14
5. Water use options for 2014–15
5.1.
Summary of watering options
Potential watering options for 2014–15 have been developed for the Border Rivers, which
reflect the approach to supply Commonwealth environmental water to contribute to the
overall environmental objectives under the Basin Plan’s environmental watering plan.
Broadly, the aim of Commonwealth environmental watering in the Border Rivers during 2014–15
will be to support in-stream outcomes, with a focus on the ongoing environmental recovery
that commenced following the breaking of the drought (see Section 2.3). Watering actions will
focus on contributing to in-stream objectives, including contributing to low flows and freshes to
maintain in-channel habitat and support the growth and survival of native aquatic species.
These watering options have been designed to specifically enable the scaling of actions
across potential inflow scenarios. This provides flexibility for water use to best complement
unregulated inflows and support natural inundation. The provision of Commonwealth
environmental water in combination with small to moderate unregulated freshes would
promote hydrological and ecological connectivity and support permanent and semipermanent wetland vegetation condition, and potentially, recruitment opportunities for a
range of native aquatic species (e.g. fish, frogs, turtles, invertebrates). During large floods,
unregulated flows pass overbank and river operators have little or no influence on how water is
distributed on the floodplain and into wetlands. Such flooding would achieve many
environmental outcomes and provision of additional environmental water would likely cause
adverse third party impacts. However as floodwaters recede Commonwealth environmental
water may be delivered to extend the overall period of inundation of core wetland areas and
increase the chance of long-term ecological outcomes such as successful waterbird
reproduction.
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.
15
Table 5: Potential watering options for 2014–15 for the Border Rivers valley.
Applicable level(s) of
resource availability
(see Section 4)
Very Low
Low
Option 1 – In-stream
Contribute to base flows to
refresh drought refuges and
mitigate the risk of
degrading water quality.
Contribute to base flows to
maintain water in pools
that provide refugial
habitat for native fish
during times of very low
flow.
Option 2 – Anabranches
and Floodplain Lagoons
Contribute to off-stream refuge habitat for native fish by
ensuring the persistence of pools and contributing to
water quality within pools.
Moderate
High
Contribute to regulated and unregulated flows to tumble
in-channel substrate to scour algae and reset biofilms.
Flows will also increase access to in-stream habitats, flush
and maintain water quality in river pools that provide
habitat for native fish and other aquatic fauna.
Provide flows to support connectivity to, and between
anabranches and floodplain lagoons downstream of
Goondiwindi.
Note: Under certain resource availabilities, options may be not 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.
16
5.2.
Assessment of environmental watering options
Option 1 – In-stream
Catchment: Border Rivers
Complex: Border Rivers Catchment River Flows
Site: Severn River/Dumaresq River/Lower Macintyre River
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Very Low to High
Relevant flow component:
Expected inundation extent:
Base flows
Floodplain inundation
Fresh
Wetland inundation
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Summary of watering option:

The purpose of this option is to enhance in-stream flows by contributing to base flows and
freshes, providing a more naturally variable flow. This will contribute to the health of instream habitat and water quality, provide longitudinal connectivity, as well as ensure the
persistence of pools as refuges.

Depending on the level of resource availability, this action would achieve a range of
outcomes from supporting and extending freshes to providing base flows under drier
conditions. During periods of low or no flow, this option will provide refugial habitat for
native fish and other aquatic species.

The provision of water in combination with regulated and/or unregulated flows will support
native fish condition and reproduction by providing improved opportunities for fish to
access breeding habitat and to feed and find shelter. The option has the potential to
benefit large bodied native fish such as the EPBC Act listed Murray cod as well as small
bodied native fish, including the rare purple spotted gudgeon and olive perchlet.

To achieve this outcome, regulated Commonwealth allocations could supplement:
o
o

an unregulated fresh by increasing the duration with a managed rate of fall to baseflow
rates and/or
a NSW stimulus flow release or other source of water with a release regime designed to
mimic a natural flow pattern downstream of Pindari Dam.
During unregulated flow conditions, the Commonwealth’s unregulated entitlements cannot
be actively ‘delivered’ and are left in-stream, augmenting planned environmental water
already in the system.
Timing
All year (most likely spring to autumn)
Volume of Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 10.8 GL depending on available allocation.
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:

This option would supplement unregulated flow (up to 7.2 GL unsupplemented) or
regulated flow (irrigation supply or stimulus flow or stock and domestic replenishment flow).
To achieve this outcome, Commonwealth environmental water may contribute to flows up
to 500 ML/day at Mungindi. The precise rate will be determined based on antecedent
conditions and flows through the season.
17

Commonwealth environmental water could complement a decision by NSW Office of
Water to provide up to 4 GL of planned environmental water as a stimulus flow downstream
of Pindari Dam. Release regime from storages will be designed to mimic a natural flow
pattern and use up to the outlet maximum flow capacity for the storage.

Should special delivery arrangements be introduced in response to very dry conditions,
such as the block release of irrigation orders, environmental water may be used to
augment these releases to provide hydrological connectivity and flow integrity to the end
of the system.

The ecological requirements of native fish species vary in terms of spawning time, water
temperature, in-stream habitat requirements and preferred flow regime. Native fish species
in the Border Rivers system typically reproduce during spring and summer associated with
an increase in flow and temperatures. Considerations of water temperature may prevail
over other factors such as preferred flow rate and timing.

Deliveries in winter may provide adult fish opportunities to feed and grow before they
reproduce. Providing flows that access in-channel habitat in September to October would
coincide with the smaller reproduction ‘window’ (water temperature related) of Murray
cod and catfish. Larvae and juveniles of these species have been recorded in fish surveys in
late September to early October in northern Murray-Darling Basin valleys. Deliveries during
spring to summer may support larval dispersal and contribute to larval/juvenile fish growth
and survival.

Consideration will also be given to coordinating delivery such that return flows are used to
contribute to downstream outcomes, namely longitudinal connectivity (especially under
very low to low resource availability where end of catchment discharge would otherwise
be negligible).

Water orders will be developed in conjunction with river operators to ensure operational
feasibility and environmental objectives can be achieved. Commonwealth environmental
water will be delivered and managed within the normal water delivery arrangements.
Stakeholder feedback:

Current river operations and flow requirements at Mungindi have resulted in increased
periods of low flow connectivity in the lower sections of the river compared to natural flow
regimes. Some stakeholders questioned the need for additional environmental water to
fulfil this need.
o

With the current level and location of Commonwealth Holdings it may be difficult for
Commonwealth environmental water to contribute to downstream outcomes in the
Barwon-Darling.
o

In making the decision on whether to proceed with an action the Office takes into
consideration the prevailing river and catchment conditions at the time, other sources
of available water and operational constraints within the system.
In designing options for use of Commonwealth environmental water in the Border Rivers,
the primary focus is in catchment needs. Other considerations, such as the contribution
to downstream outcomes, are secondary.
Stakeholders suggested that many of the environmental objectives being targeted may be
compromised by a lack of complementary natural resource management work, such as
carp control and riparian fencing.
o
The Office welcomes suggestions on how environmental water could be used to
complement natural resource management works within catchments. Such an option
would need to be consistent with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder’s
responsibilities under the Water Act 2007 and be assessed against the Framework for
Determining Commonwealth Environmental Water Use.
18
Option 2 – Anabranches and floodplain lagoons
Catchment: Border Rivers
Complex: Other Border Rivers Catchment Sites
Site: Anabranches and floodplain lagoons (e.g. Morella Watercourse/Pungbougal/Boobera)
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Very Low to High
Relevant flow component:
Expected inundation extent:
Base flows
Floodplain inundation
Fresh
Wetland inundation
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Summary of watering option:

The purpose of the option is to inundate the complex system of anabranches and lagoons
downstream of Goondiwindi. The low lying areas of the Border Rivers are important habitat
for a range of waterbird and native fish species. When sufficiently inundated, these lagoons
are known to support bird breeding events.

Floodplain lagoons of the mid Macintyre River depend on overbank and flooding flows and
local catchment inflows to reconnect and refill. These flows have diminished as a result of
river regulation and the development of irrigated agriculture. Some lagoons may receive
water via pumping to discrete sites.

Connecting and extending the wetted period of floodplain and wetland habitat with the
main channel will contribute to nutrient and food production for the aquatic ecological
community. Inundation of the anabranches and floodplains are critical for the life history
stages of some small-bodied fish (e.g. olive perchlet) that require access to off-channel
habitat to breed and disperse.

The preference is for the provision of Commonwealth environmental water in combination
with other flows in the system (e.g. irrigation deliveries). Commonwealth unsupplemented
water (Qld) could be used to protect a proportion of naturally occurring small to moderate
fresh flows (if access is triggered). Deliveries from the dam will typically seek to enhance low
to medium in-channel river flows and inundation of low lying wetland areas.

In the event of low resource availability Commonwealth environmental water may be
provided to the floodplain lagoons fringing the Macintyre River (e.g. Morella
Watercourse/Pungbougal/Boobera system) to ensure the persistence of pools as refuge,
contribute to water quality within pools, and maintain the health of riparian vegetation.
Water provided under this scenario may need to be pumped from the river.
Timing
All year (most likely late winter to autumn)
Volume of Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 10.8 GL depending on available allocation.
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:

Under very low to low inflow scenarios consideration may be given to pumping to selected
off-stream refuges. Options have not been developed for a very high inflow scenario in
recognition that at these times, large areas of the Border Rivers valley (including the target
sites) are likely to experience flooding. The provision of additional environmental water is
not required in these conditions and would likely exacerbate adverse third party impacts.
19

Under natural conditions, rain generated fresh flows contribute to high primary productivity
within the Severn River/Dumaresq River/Macintyre River associated with carbon inputs from
runoff and high flows inundating benches and connecting anabranches.
o
o
Unregulated freshes that exceed 700 ML/day to 4 500 ML/day downstream of Kanowna
are likely to improve nutrient and carbon cycling and provide greater availability to
habitat by wetting banks, benches and bars present in the lower Macintyre River
channel.
Unregulated freshes that exceed 4 000 ML/day to 9 000 ML/day downstream of
Mungindi are likely to provide maximum morphological anabranch diversity in the lower
Macintyre River.

Due to high commence to flow rates, connection of the anabranch system downstream of
Goondiwindi is likely only with a major unregulated flow. In the absence of a large
unregulated event, water may be provided to selected fringing lagoons using private
infrastructure and pumped from the river as per normal irrigator water ordering practice.

In some cases access to channels will need to be negotiated with landholders and
agreement for inundation of privately owned wetlands will need to be sought. Some
modifications to works to allow this to occur, and to allow water to appropriately flow
between lagoons, could also be required.

Implementation of this option is highly dependent on support from local delivery partners.

Water orders will be developed in conjunction with river operators to ensure operational
feasibility and environmental objectives can be achieved. Commonwealth environmental
water will be delivered and managed within the normal water delivery arrangements.
Stakeholder feedback:

Stakeholders raised concerns that not enough is known about the comparative
environmental values of floodplain wetlands and anabranches in the Border Rivers and that
the river flows required to deliver water to these assets may have unintended
consequences.
o
o
The Office works closely with river operators and the NSW Government in the design of
watering actions. Any identified constraints or risks to the delivery of Commonwealth
environmental water are considered during the approval process.
The Office would welcome any further information from local stakeholders to assist in
developing a better understanding of assets in the Border Rivers.
20
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 Border Rivers
and the watering options that could contribute to achieving the identified outcomes.
Table 6: 2014–15 Basin annual environmental watering priorities for the Border Rivers
2014–15 Basin annual environmental watering
priorities relevant to the Border Rivers
Watering options that may contribute to the
achievement of priority outcomes
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 – In-stream
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 – Anabranches and Floodplain
Lagoons
Option 2 – Anabranches and Floodplain
Lagoons
21
6. Accounting for the use of Commonwealth
environmental water
6.1.
Water use accounting
In the Border Rivers the Office is responsible for making arrangements to deliver
Commonwealth environment water with river operators such as State Water Corporation and
Queensland Department of Natural Resource and Mines.
River flows will be accounted for at storages or at downstream flow gauges and will be
reported to the Office by State Water Corporation and Queensland Department of Natural
Resource and Mines. Where applicable, water delivered to individual wetland sites will be
accounted at flow gauges or metered pumps at those sites.
6.2.
Monitoring
6.2.1. Operational monitoring
Operational monitoring 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
Border River valley, this includes NSW State Water Corporation, NSW Office of Water and
Queensland Department of Natural Resource and Mines.
Delivery partners provide regular operational monitoring updates to the Office. The operational
monitoring requirements are set out in the Office’s 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
22
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 Border Rivers catchment.
Results from the LTIM Project will be published on the Office’s website and the data will be
publicly available.
23
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 (see
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.
24
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
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.
25
8.Partnerships
The Office has consulted with a range of stakeholders to develop the Commonwealth
environmental water use options for the Border Rivers for 2014–15, including our delivery
partners as follows:

Murray-Darling Basin Authority

New South Wales Office of Water

New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage

New South Wales State Water Corporation

New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

North West Local Land Services

Queensland Department of Natural Resource and Mines

Queensland Murray Darling Commission

Sunwater.
The Office will continue to work with stakeholders and other interested community members
(through briefing the State Water Border Rivers Customer Service Committee and the Border
Rivers Environmental Watering Network) in the planning, delivery, management and
monitoring of Commonwealth environmental water.
26
9. Bibliography
Davies, P., Stewardson, M., Hillman, T., Roberts, J. and Thoms, M. (2012). Sustainable Rivers
Audit 2: The ecological health of rivers in the Murray–Darling Basin at the end of the Millennium
Drought (2008–2010). Volume 2., Canberra, Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
Department of the Environment (1993). Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia [Online].
Canberra: Australian Government. [online] available: www.environment.gov.au/node/25064,
accessed 8 May 2014.
Foster, N. (2013). Pindari Dam Stimulus Flow - An Assessment of the December 2012 Release.
Draft Report. Tamworth, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Office of Water.
McGinness, H. M. and Arthur, A. D. (2011). Carbon dynamics during flood events in a lowland
river: the importance of anabranches. Freshwater Biology, 56, pp. 1593-1605.
Murray-Darling Basin Authority (2012). Assessment of environmental water requirements for the
proposed Basin Plan: Lower Border Rivers (in-channel flows). Canberra, Murray-Darling Basin
Authority.
Reid, M., Delong, M. and Thoms, M. (2012). The influence of hydrological connectivity on food
web structure in floodplain lakes. River Research and Applications, 28, pp. 827-844.
Thoms, M. C., Southwell, M. and McGinness, H. M. (2005). Floodplain–river ecosystems:
Fragmentation and water resources development. Geomorphology, 71, pp. 126-138.
Wilson, G. G. and Ellison, T. L.( 2010). Pindari Dam fish monitoring project. Final report to the New
South Wales Office of Water. Armidale, University of New England.
27