Commonwealth environmental water use
options 2014–15:
Murrumbidgee River Valley
1
Cover image credit: Murrumbidgee River Valley. Photo: Helen Owens © 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.
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This report should be attributed as ‘Commonwealth environmental water use options 2014–15: Murrumbidgee River
Valley, Commonwealth of Australia 2014’.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the
Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that
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2
Commonwealth environmental water use options
2014–15: Murrumbidgee River Valley
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 – Murrumbidgee River
Valley ............................................................................................................................................... 5
2. Context for water use in 2014–15 in the Murrumbidgee River Valley ..............7
2.1.
Delivering environmental water to the Murrumbidgee River Valley ................................... 7
2.2.
Operational and management considerations for 2014–15 in the Murrumbidgee
River Valley...................................................................................................................................... 8
2.3.
Valley condition ........................................................................................................................... 11
3. Water availability ................................................................................................ 12
3.1.
Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Murrumbidgee River Valley for
2014–15 .......................................................................................................................................... 12
3.2.
Other sources of environmental water allocations .............................................................. 13
3.3.
Natural or unregulated flows and planned environmental water .................................... 13
4. Planning for water use in the Murrumbidgee River Valley in 2014–15 ...........15
4.1.
Planning for a range of inflows in 2014–15 .............................................................................. 15
4.2.
Implementing watering actions throughout the year .......................................................... 16
5. Water use options for 2014–15 ...........................................................................17
5.1.
Summary of watering options ................................................................................................... 17
5.2.
Assessment of environmental watering options .................................................................... 20
5.3.
Options contributing to the Basin Annual Environmental Watering Priorities .................. 38
6. Accounting for the use of Commonwealth environmental water .................40
6.1.
Water use accounting ................................................................................................................ 40
6.2.
Monitoring ..................................................................................................................................... 40
6.2.1.
Operational monitoring ..................................................................................................... 40
6.2.2.
Long term intervention monitoring .................................................................................. 40
7. Next steps – from planning to water delivery ..................................................42
8. Partnerships .........................................................................................................44
9. Bibliography ........................................................................................................45
3
List of Figures
Figure 1: Map of the Murrumbidgee River Valley (courtesy of the MDBA). ....................................... 7
Figure 2: How inflows may vary and impact on water resource availability over the course of
2014–15 in the Murrumbidgee River Valley, from a starting point of moderate to high resource
availability. ..................................................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 3: The annual management process for Commonwealth environmental water. .............. 43
List of Tables
Table 1: Expected outcomes from the use of Commonwealth environmental water in the
Murrumbidgee River Valley. ......................................................................................................................... 6
Table 2: Operational considerations for the Murrumbidgee River Valley in 2014–15. ...................... 9
Table 3: Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Murrumbidgee River Valley as at
31 May 2014. ................................................................................................................................................. 12
Table 4: Other potential sources of environmental water in the Murrumbidgee River Valley for
2014–15 as at March 2014. ......................................................................................................................... 13
Table 5: Summary of water use options for the Murrumbidgee River Valley. .................................. 18
Table 6: 2014–15 Basin annual environmental watering priorities for the Murrumbidgee River
Valley. ............................................................................................................................................................. 38
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 Murrumbidgee River Valley this year. The options, which describe potential watering
actions, series of actions, or watering strategies, do not represent a commitment for water use.
Consistent with the Office’s framework, decisions to make water available for any of the
potential options will be subject to an assessment against five published criteria (available from
the Office’s website) and seasonal, operational and management considerations at the time
of the action. All relevant watering actions will be assessed to ensure the best possible use of
environmental water within the relevant planning area and across the Murray-Darling Basin
and having regard to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Basin annual environmental watering
priorities.
1.1.
Demonstrating how Commonwealth environmental water in 2014–15 will
contribute to the Basin Plan’s environmental watering plan objectives –
Murrumbidgee River Valley
Commonwealth environmental water use options for the Murrumbidgee River Valley in 2014–15
include the following two flow types:

base flows and

freshes
Wetlands are also expected to be inundated. These flow types are illustrated in Figure 4 of the
document Commonwealth environmental water use options 2014–15: Planning approach. 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
valley. The table also links the short-term expected outcomes from watering in the
Murrumbidgee River Valley to a long-term contribution to the four Basin Plan objectives at the
Murray-Darling Basin scale.
5
Table 1: Expected outcomes from the use of Commonwealth environmental water in the
Murrumbidgee River Valley.
Flow Type
Expected outcomes
for 2014–15
Contributions to
longer term
objectives
Contribution to the
following Basin Plan
objective
Base flows and
freshes
Vegetation condition
and reproduction
Vegetation diversity
Biodiversity
Fish condition
Fish diversity
Fish larval
abundance
Fish reproduction
Waterbird survival
and condition
Waterbird diversity
Waterbird chicks
Waterbird fledging
Other vertebrate
young
Other vertebrate
diversity
Hydrological
connectivity including
end of system flows
Connectivity
Ecosystem function
Individual survival and
condition (individual
refuges)
Ecosystem resilience
Resilience
Dissolved oxygen
Chemical
Water quality
Connectivity
Ecosystem function
Dissolved organic
carbon
Freshes
Biotic dispersal and
movement
Sediment transport
Nutrient and carbon
cycling
Process
6
2. Context for water use in 2014–15 in the
Murrumbidgee River Valley
2.1.
Delivering environmental water to the Murrumbidgee River Valley
The Murrumbidgee River is the second largest river in the Basin and is home to almost 550 000
people (more than 25 per cent of the Murray-Darling Basin’s population). Dryland grazing and
cereal based cropping account for more than 75 per cent of land use in the Murrumbidgee
River Valley (Figure 1). Five per cent of the catchment is irrigated, producing rice, grapes,
citrus, vegetables and other crops and livestock (Murray-Darling Basin Authority [MDBA]
2014a). The Murrumbidgee catchment also includes the Ramsar listed site of Fivebough and
Tuckerbill Swamps, and two wetlands of national importance - the Mid-Murrumbidgee
Wetlands and the Lower Murrumbidgee Floodplain (CSIRO 2008).
An overview of the Murrumbidgee River operating environment (including details on major
tributaries, storages, water users and ecological assets) is provided in Environmental Water
Delivery: Murrumbidgee Valley (Sinclair Knight Merz 2011). Further information about previous
use of Commonwealth environmental water and water holdings information is also available
from the Murrumbidgee catchment page on the Office’s website.
Figure 1: Map of the Murrumbidgee River Valley (courtesy of the MDBA).
7
Environmental assets that are able to be watered by releases from Blowering and Burrinjuck
dams and in-channel flows include the river channel itself and low lying wetlands and creek
systems with commence to flow thresholds occurring below bankfull height. Such
environmental assets include the Mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands, areas of the Yanco-Billabong
Creek system and Old Man Creek system that fall inside the Murrumbidgee River water
management area.
Some off-channel assets such as those within the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, Coleambally
Irrigation Area and Lower Murrumbidgee Floodplain can be watered using irrigation delivery
infrastructure. Pumping water directly to wetlands is possible in some cases, but this practice
can be expensive, is often inefficient, and lacks the hydrological connectivity sought by
watering wetland assets.
Environmental water delivery in the Murrumbidgee is facilitated by the New South Wales Office
of Environment and Heritage (NSW OEH) and in most cases delivery is undertaken and
managed by the NSW State Water Corporation (SWC). Where targeted environmental assets
are off the main NSW SWC managed system, the NSW OEH (including the New South Wales
National Parks and Wildlife Service), landholders and irrigation corporations undertake the
physical management of the delivery. The NSW Office of Water and NSW SWC charge usage
fees on licensed water delivered in the state. This applies equally to environmental and
irrigation water.
2.2.
Operational and management considerations for 2014–15 in the
Murrumbidgee River Valley
The delivery of environmental water in the Murrumbidgee River Valley is currently constrained
by the release capacities from storages, channel capacities, and system constraints. The Water
Sharing Plan for the Murrumbidgee River Regulated Water Source includes river channel
capacity constraints on maximum flows (NSW Legislation 2003; NSW Office of Water 2013).
Burrinjuck and Blowering dams have storage capacities of 1 028 and 1 628 GL respectively with
maximum outlet capacities (when full) of 29 100 and 21 300 ML/day (State Water Corporation
2014).
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has recently published Preliminary Overview of
Constraints to Environmental Water Delivery in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDBA 2013a) and
Constraints Management Strategy 2013 to 2024 (MDBA 2013b) which also provide further
information about constraints in the Murrumbidgee catchment. The Office will develop
watering options within existing water delivery and channel capacity constraints unless the
agreement of all affected parties has been obtained for an alternative delivery approach.
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.
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 and
potential risks and the ongoing monitoring of the seasonal outlook and river conditions.
8
Table 2: Operational considerations for the Murrumbidgee River Valley in 2014–15.
Inflow scenario
Very low
Opportunities
Manage the recession of naturally
occurring high flows to provide for a
more natural flow pattern.
Use environmental water in
conjunction with, or to maximise the
environmental benefit of, naturally
occurring river flows.
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.
2.2.1.1.1.
Constraints
2.2.1.1.1.1.
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.
2.1.1.1.1.1.
Flows in the Murrumbidgee River at
Gundagai are limited to less than
29 500 ML/day to prevent inundation
of Tenandra Bridge on the Mundarlo
Road near Gundagai.
.1.1.1.1.1.1.
Flows in Tumut River are limited to less
than 9 000 ML/day at Oddy’s Bridge
and 9 300 ML/day at Tumut to
minimise bank erosion.
Yanco Weir has a maximum diversion
capacity of 1 400 ML/day to Yanco
Creek. Flows over ~2 000 ML/day may
cause floodplain inundation.
Release capacities of storages may
constrain the magnitude of
augmentation.
Risks*
The provision of Commonwealth
environmental water must consider
potential inundation impacts to
property and infrastructure.
Environmental flows inundate
floodplain and wetland habitat that is
rich in organic matter, creating
adverse water quality conditions.
9
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Inflow scenario
Very low
Low
Environmental flows promote
spawning and recruitment by exotic
invasive species.
Significant natural rainfall occurs on
an environmental watering action
resulting in unintended third party
impacts.
Return flows are re-regulated for
irrigation purposes, limiting
environmental benefits of upstream
environmental flow releases for the
lower Murrumbidgee floodplain and
lower Murray River.
* See Section 7 for more information on risk management.
10
Moderate
High
Very high
2.3.
Valley condition
From late 2013 to early 2014, one of the most significant multi-day heatwaves on record
affected much of the central and eastern interior of Australia (Bureau of Meteorology [BOM],
2014a). This resulted in drying and evaporation across many areas of the Basin. Above average
rainfall occurred for the early autumn period (February to April 2014) in the Basin (BOM 2014b).
As at late May 2014, a drier than normal winter is more likely for most of the southeast Australian
mainland (BOM 2014c).
The Bureau of Meteorology has also noted that warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean is likely
in the coming months. International climate models surveyed by the Bureau are showing
Pacific Ocean temperatures approaching or exceeding El Niño thresholds in winter. Over
much of southern and inland eastern Australia, El Niño events are often, but not always,
associated with an increased probability of drier conditions and above average daytime
temperatures (BOM 2014d).
The conditions of key assets in the Murrumbidgee catchment are discussed below.
Murrumbidgee River channel
The overall health of the Murrumbidgee River ecosystem was rated as poor by the Sustainable
Rivers Audit carried out during 2008–2010 (Davies et al. 2012). The rivers, particularly its native
fish communities, are continuing to recover from the hypoxic blackwater event that resulted
from the large natural floods during 2010–12. Environmental watering of the Murrumbidgee
River channel is expected to have benefited fish recruitment, helping communities to recover
from the impacts of prolonged drought and blackwater.
Mid-Murrumbidgee Wetlands
The condition of the inundation dependent vegetation of the Mid-Murrumbidgee Wetlands
was critical and declining by the end of the millennium drought as many areas had not been
inundated for 5–14 years. Natural floods since 2010 and the use of Commonwealth and NSW
environmental water in 2011 further aided the recovery of these wetland communities
(Wassens et al. 2012). Additional watering actions are required before these wetlands are likely
to recover to their pre millennium drought state (Wassens et al. 2014).
This area was an environmental watering priority for 2013–14 (MDBA 2014b; NSW Office of
Environment and Heritage 2013; Commonwealth Environmental Water Office 2013a). Planned
use of Commonwealth environmental water for the Mid-Murrumbidgee Wetlands in spring 2013
did not proceed due to third party impact concerns and approvals required in relation to the
Yanco Creek offtake flow limit which prevented the delivery of the desired flow regime.
Lowbidgee Wetlands
The Lowbidgee Wetlands, which includes Nimmie-Caira, is also continuing to recover from the
impacts of the millennium drought. Areas within these wetlands are being managed through
wetting and drying phases to continue improving the capacity to provide drought refuge and
habitat for threatened species. Commonwealth and NSW environmental water was provided
to parts of the Lowbidgee Wetlands during 2013–14 including parts of the Nimmie-Caira
wetlands, Yanga National Park, North Redbank, the Fiddlers Creek system and the Western
Lakes, including Hobblers Lake.
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3. Water availability
3.1.
Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Murrumbidgee
River Valley for 2014–15
Commonwealth environmental water holdings available for use in 2014–15 in the
Murrumbidgee River Valley are shown in Table 3 below.
Table 3: Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Murrumbidgee River Valley as at
31 May 2014.
Entitlement type
Entitlement held
(GL)
Long-term
average annual
yield (GL)
Estimated
carryover from
2013–14 (GL)2
Forecast water
availability for
2014–15 (GL)4
Murrumbidgee
(high security)
5.1
4.9
N/A
Murrumbidgee
(general
security)
208.2
133.2
56
Murrumbidgee
(conveyance)
12.8
12.1
Murrumbidgee
(supplementary)3
20.8
2.9
N/A
Up to 20.8
Murrumbidgee
(Other)
0.2
0.1
0
Up to 0.2
Total –
Murrumbidgee
247.1
153.3
56
128–219
1 228.4
1 014.7
294
1 070–1,2815
Total – Southern
Connected
Basin1
128–219
Notes:
1. The southern connected basin includes the Murrumbidgee, Murray, Lower Darling,
Goulburn, Campaspe (excluding Coliban) and Loddon entitlements.
2. Future decisions about use, transfers and the ability to deliver already approved actions will
affect carryover from 2013–14.
3. As at 31 May 2014 the supplementary entitlement associated with the Nimmie-Caira
project has not been registered to the Commonwealth.
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.
12
Portfolio management updates for the Commonwealth’s environmental water holdings are
available at www.environment.gov.au/topics/water/commonwealth-environmental-wateroffice/portfolio-management/portfolio-management.
3.2.
Other sources of environmental water allocations
Other potential sources of environmental water that may be used to complement
Commonwealth environmental water delivery in the Murrumbidgee River Valley are shown in
Table 4. These include water held by The Living Murray Programme and NSW OEH.
Table 4: Other potential sources of environmental water in the Murrumbidgee River Valley for
2014–15 as at March 2014.
Source
Management
Authority
Entitlement
Environment
Entitlement - The
Living Murray
Programme
Murray-Darling
Basin Authority
81.9 GL of Murrumbidgee general security entitlement.
Environmental Water
Allowance
NSW Office of
Environment
and Heritage
Water volumes accrue according to complex rules set out
in the Murrumbidgee Water Sharing Plan. The NSW Office
of Environment and Heritage estimate approximately 63
GL will be available for use from the allowance early in
2014–15.
NSW licensed
entitlement
NSW Office of
Environment
and Heritage
27 676 ML of general security entitlement.
NSW Parks and
Wildlife Service
2.9 GL of general security entitlement (however, NPWS
notes usually not available for use).
Yanga Lowbidgee
entitlement
5 679 ML of supplementary access entitlement.
7 962 ML GL of unregulated entitlement.
155 GL of Lowbidgee supplementary access entitlement.
3.3.
Natural or unregulated flows and planned environmental water
In addition to water entitlements held by environmental water holders, environmental
demands may also be met via natural or unregulated flows and water provided for the
environment under rules in state water plans (referred to as ‘planned environmental water’).
The Water Sharing Plan for the Murrumbidgee Regulated River Water Source (NSW Legislation,
2003) establishes releases of planned environmental water (under Part 3, Clause 15) under
operating rules for Burrinjuck and Blowering dams.


Transparent releases (where all dam inflows are released coincidentally with their
occurrence):
o
Transparent releases from Blowering Dam to the Tumut River are equal to
560 ML/day plus any water use expected to occur between the dam and the
confluence with the Murrumbidgee River. When inflows fall below 560 ML/day,
release volumes are equal to inflows in addition to expected use.
o
Transparent releases from Burrinjuck Dam are the lesser of either the volume of
inflows to the dam over the previous 24 hours or 615 ML.
Translucent releases (where some portion of dam inflows are released coincidentally with
their occurrence):
13
o
Translucent releases are made from Burrinjuck Dam on each day between 22 April
and 21 October. Daily release volumes are calculated based on catchment
conditions and storage volumes in Lake Burrinjuck.
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.
14
4. Planning for water use in the
Murrumbidgee River Valley in 2014–15
4.1.
Planning for a range of inflows in 2014–15
In addition to influencing opportunities, constraints and risks in relation to environmental
watering (see Table 2), inflows are a primary driver of resource availability. Resource availability
also reflects a combination of the allocations available to the Commonwealth Environmental
Water Holder (Section 3.1) and other environmental water holders (Section 3.2) as well as
natural or unregulated flows and planned environmental water (Section 3.3).
Given the variable rainfall experienced across the 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 (see Figure 2 in Planning Approach document for more
information). As such, the water use options described in Section 5 have been developed for a
range of resource availability between low and very high as shown in Figure 2 below.
Figure 2: How inflows may vary and impact on water resource availability over the course of
2014–15 in the Murrumbidgee River Valley, from a starting point of moderate to high resource
availability.
15
4.2.
Implementing watering actions throughout the year
Resource availability will change over the course of 2014–15 as new allocation
announcements are made 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.
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5. Water use options for 2014–15
5.1.
Summary of watering options
The following section details draft watering options for 2014–15 for the Murrumbidgee River
Valley, which reflect the approach to supply Commonwealth environmental water to
contribute to the overall environmental objectives under the Basin Plan’s environmental
watering plan.
NSW OEH develops annual environmental watering plans for the Murrumbidgee River Valley.
The Commonwealth’s water use options are developed utilising plans made by NSW OEH and
other information in the context of supplying water to meet environmental demands.
Commonwealth environmental watering in the Murrumbidgee River Valley seeks to achieve
outcomes at local, catchment and Murray-Darling Basin scales.
These watering options have been designed to specifically enable the scaling of actions
across several potential inflow scenarios. This provides flexibility for water use to best
complement the range of natural inflows that may occur during 2014–15. Options have been
developed for a range of resource availability scenarios, from dry to very wet. 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 availability to deliver environmental water. The current environmental demand
and asset condition in the Murrumbidgee River Valley has also been considered when
developing water use options.
Broadly, the aim of Commonwealth environmental watering in the Murrumbidgee River Valley
during 2014–15 will be to support the on-going environmental recovery that commenced
following the breaking of the millennium drought. For some parts of the system, this will mean
providing river flows to support fauna recruitment and vegetation health in wetlands, the
riparian zone and on floodplains. For other parts of the system, this may mean making decisions
not to provide water to sites that require a drying phase. 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.
Any volumes described in the options tables 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 Murray-Darling
Basin wide needs.
Feedback has been sought during the development of water use options for 2014–15 using
existing state frameworks, for example, Environmental Water Advisory Groups and State Water
Customer Service Committees. This feedback has been incorporated into the water use
options where appropriate, particularly in relation to implementation risks and opportunities to
improve outcomes through environmental water delivery.
The water use options identified do not represent a commitment for use, nor do they reflect all
the possible water use options available. Additional water use options may be identified
throughout the water year. The Office welcomes information from the community on how
environmental water can best be used and managed. If you have any comments or
suggestions, please call 1800 218 478 or send an email to: ewater@environment.gov.au.
17
Table 5: Summary of water use options for the Murrumbidgee River Valley.
Applicable level(s) of
resource availability
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
(see Section 4)
Option 1 – MidMurrumbidgee River
Wetlands
Contribute to river flows (fresh) and inundation of fringing
wetlands to continue recovery of wetland vegetation
communities, and provide habitat to support survival and
maintain the condition of waterbirds and native aquatic biota
(including fish, turtles, frogs and macro invertebrates).
Option unlikely to be pursued under this resource
availability.
Option 2 – MidMurrumbidgee Wetlands
(infrastructure assisted
delivery)
Contribute to wetland inundation, using existing water delivery
infrastructure, to refill low lying wetlands in the MidMurrumbidgee Floodplain to provide habitat to support survival
and maintain the condition of waterbirds and native aquatic
biota (including fish, turtles, frogs and macro invertebrates).
Option unlikely to be pursued under this resource
availability.
Option 3 – Murrumbidgee
River Native Fish Fresh
Contribute to river flows (base flows and freshes) to maintain and improve ecosystem diversity
and native fish populations. The option would also aim to promote movement, reproduction,
larval dispersal and survival through zooplankton production and, dependant on the peak flow
of the event, reconnect low-lying wetlands and allow fish movement into, and out of, these
wetlands.
Option unlikely to be
pursued under this
resource availability.
Option 4 – Mid-Yanco
Creek Anabranches and
Wetlands
To maintain river red gum and other wetland vegetation by reconnecting and refilling the
anabranch creeks and lagoons located in the mid-Yanco Creek system.
Option unlikely to be
pursued under this
resource availability.
Option 5 – Restoring
natural flow variability
Contribute to river flows (base flows and freshes) to the Murrumbidgee River channel, Yanco-Colombo-Billabong Creek
system, Old Man Creek system and/or other creeks to restore natural flow events that are truncated by river regulation
and/or extraction.
Option 6 – Lowbidgee –
wetlands in Yanga, North
Redbank, Nimmie-Caira
and Fiddlers-Uara Creek
system
Contribute to river flows (fresh) using regulators to inundate wetlands in the North Redbank system, South Redbank (Yanga),
Nimmie-Caira and Fiddlers-Uara systems to maintain and improve wetland vegetation diversity and condition, provide
habitat to support survival and maintain the condition of native fish, waterbirds, and other aquatic vertebrates (e.g. frogs),
hydrological connectivity between the floodplain and river, and contribute to processes such as nutrient and carbon cycling.
18
Applicable level(s) of
resource availability
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
(see Section 4)
Option 7 – Wetlands west
of the North Redbank
Channel
Contribute to inundation of wetlands and lakes located at the western edge of the Lowbidgee Floodplain (northwest of
Balranald and west of the North Redbank Channel) to promote continued recovery of riparian and wetland vegetation
communities, and to provide habitat for waterbirds and native aquatic fauna.
Option 8 – Contingency
to support significant bird
or other native aquatic
vertebrate breeding
events in wetlands
Maintain wetland water levels and acceptable levels of water quality to support the completion of a significant breeding
event of birds or other native aquatic vertebrates in wetlands. This contingency is not to trigger a breeding event but for use
when a breeding event is already underway but considered in danger of failure due to drying.
Option 9 – Murrumbidgee
water quality and habitat
Provide localised refuge habitat
for fish and aquatic biota to
prevent, or during, an adverse
water quality event. The trigger
for this option would be a drying
down that creates an adverse
water quality issue in the lower
catchment or for the purpose of
diluting low quality water being
returned to the river channel
during a managed return flow
event.
Option unlikely to be pursued
under this resource
availability.
Provide localised refuge habitat for fish and aquatic biota
during an adverse water quality event. The trigger for this
option would be a natural flooding event that creates an
adverse water quality issue in the lower catchment.
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 the deliver environmental water.
19
5.2.
Assessment of environmental watering options
Option 1 – Mid-Murrumbidgee wetland reconnection
Catchment: Murrumbidgee
Complex: Mid-Murrumbidgee River Wetlands
Site: Mid-Murrumbidgee Floodplain Wetlands
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Low to Moderate
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 provide hydrological connectivity to refill low lying wetlands
in the Mid-Murrumbidgee Floodplain (Wagga Wagga to Hay). This is to continue the
recovery of wetland vegetation communities, provide habitat to maintain condition of
waterbirds, native fish, other aquatic vertebrates (turtles, frogs) and macro invertebrate,
and allow for movement and dispersal of aquatic animals.

Environmental flows would be delivered between winter and late spring 2014 to avoid peak
irrigation season (November to April). If flows are delivered in winter 2014, there may be
potential to provide a follow-up watering late spring 2014.

A large proportion of the flow is expected to continue through to the lower Murrumbidgee
and into the Murray River. A small proportion of these flows is expected to provide
beneficial inundation in the Junction Wetlands should flows in the Murray River upstream of
the junction be 10 000 ML/day or greater at the time. Flows from this option may also
contribute to environmental requirements in the lower Murray River.
Timing
Winter 2014 to late spring 2014
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 220 GL from all sources with nominally 150 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water.
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:

Flows would be delivered from Blowering and Burrinjuck dams by NSW SWC with the option
managed by NSW OEH in consultation with a technical advisory group.

This option is planned to be undertaken by piggy-backing onto a natural event. Should no
suitable event occur by mid-late August, a standalone option would be considered.

While the volume of environmental water required will depend on the volume of baseflows,
the proposed flow limits for this option are:
o
8 500 ML/day (1.32 metres gauge height) at Tumut. This will keep flows below the
Water Sharing Plan limit of 9 300 ML/day (9 300 ML/day has been delivered through
periods of higher demand in the irrigation season), thereby providing a buffer and
20
potentially reducing river bank erosion.
o
28 000 ML/day (4.73 metres gauge height) at Gundagai. This will keep flows well
under Tenandra Bridge at Mundarlo, which is inundated when flows exceed
29 500 ML/day (4.87 metres gauge height).
o
28 200 ML/day (5.00 metres gauge height) at Wagga. This will minimise any potential
third party impacts.

The environmental flow option would include a ramp up over two to three days, a peak
flow rate for three to five days and a recession that mimics natural recession rates
(nominally a 10 to 15 per cent decrease in flow per day).

Where feasible, higher flows in the Murray may be coordinated with this option so that
beneficial inundation is also provided to the Junction Wetlands, downstream of the
Murrumbidgee.

This option is likely to provide flows required to inundate the mid-Yanco Creek system
wetlands (Option 4), and if delivered in late spring, this could provide some of the required
flows for, and provide additional benefits to, the proposed Murrumbidgee River Fish Flow
(Option 3).

The requirement for this option will depend on whether a natural event inundates the
wetlands. If a natural event occurs, environmental water may be provided to extend the
flow recession or the period of wetland inundation. However this could only be done once
flows have reduced below 28 000 ML/day at Gundagai to ensure environmental water
does not inundate Tenandra Bridge at Mundarlo. Decisions on whether and at what flow
rates to provide environmental water to a recession will be influenced by assessment of any
risks (including third party impacts) and the likely ecological benefits.

Achieving the target flows outlined above will result in the 1 400 ML/day Yanco Creek offtake constraint specified in the Water Sharing Plan being exceeded. This constraint may be
addressed through the current water sharing plan review or, alternatively, approval to
exceed the 1 400 ML/day constraint at the Yanco Creek off-take may be sought from the
NSW Minister for Primary Industries.

Releases of up to 1 700 ML/day may be made from Tom Bullen storage to aid in the
inundation of significant low lying wetlands downstream of Darlington Point. This would
occur to coincide with the peak flow at Darlington Point, or in the event that current
constraints remain, opportunistic releases may be made when natural river freshes at
Darlington Point reach 13 000 ML/day.

High irrigation extraction may reduce flows downstream so that commence to fill levels are
not reached for key wetlands. This risk is lower if environmental flows are delivered in winter
before the irrigation season is fully underway. In late spring this risk is much higher and is
likely that this watering option will only be possible if a period of low irrigation demand
occurs due to high rainfall. Even for a winter event it is possible that supplementary water
take during the event may reduce the peak of the flow below desired levels. Discussions
with major water extractors about the scheduling of their take (while ensuring required
volumes are still able to be accessed) may assist in reducing this risk
Stakeholder feedback: Stakeholder feedback has recommended that this option be a priority
for 2014–15 to promote the recovery of vegetation communities in the mid-Murrumbidgee
wetlands after extended drought of 2001–10. It was noted that Commonwealth environmental
water was not delivered to the mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands in 2013–14, resulting in a
substantial decline in aquatic vegetation communities compared to 2011–13. Stakeholder
feedback also noted issues related to constraints and road infrastructure.
21
Option 2 – Mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands (infrastructure assisted delivery)
Catchment: Murrumbidgee
Complex: Mid-Murrumbidgee River Wetlands
Site: Mid-Murrumbidgee Floodplain Wetlands
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Low to Moderate
Relevant flow component:
Expected inundation extent:
Base flows
Floodplain inundation
Fresh
Wetland inundation
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Summary of watering option:

This option aims to refill wetlands in the Mid-Murrumbidgee Floodplain that have
infrastructure to allow delivery to them. The purpose of this option is to continue the recent
improvements in wetland vegetation condition and provide habitat to maintain condition
of waterbirds, native fish, other aquatic vertebrates (turtles, frogs) and macroinvertebrates.
For initial filling: winter to early spring 2014.
Timing
For top up to provide water through summer: late spring to early summer
2014.
For top up to prevent desiccation of fish and frog communities and
juvenile turtles: mid-summer to early autumn 2015.
Initial filling for 2015 winter: late May to June 2015.
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 10 GL from all sources with nominally 7 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water.
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:

The wetlands in the mid-Murrumbidgee that can be delivered to via regulators and without
higher reconnecting flows include, but are not limited to:
o
Gras Innes and Oak Creek off Bundidgerry Creek
o
Yanco Agricultural (McCaughey’s) Lagoon, Turkey Flat and Gooragool Lagoon off
Murrumbidgee Irrigation infrastructure
o
Coonancoocabil Lagoon (off Murrumbidgee Irrigation infrastructure or off Gogeldrie
Weirpool)
o
A number of wetlands off the Yanco Creek system
o
Other privately owned wetlands and waterways to restore ecological function to
these areas.

In some cases, access to channels will need to be negotiated with landholders or irrigation
corporations and agreement for inundation of privately owned wetlands will need to be
sought. Access to irrigation channels will only be possible after existing users needs have
been met first.

Delivery to mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands through regulators is not as ecologically effective
as filling the wetlands with a reconnecting river flow. The higher river flow provides
22
hydrological connectivity for the exchange of biota, nutrients, sediment and carbon and
cues for biota. Infrastructure assisted delivery is only able to provide water to a very small
portion of the many hundreds of wetlands in the mid-Murrumbidgee, the system as a whole
can only be maintained through reconnecting river flows.

If a reconnecting river flow (e.g. Option 1) is undertaken it will reach some of the low-lying
wetlands covered here. However, a number of the wetlands identified are higher and
environmental river flows cannot reach them under current constraints. These wetlands will
still require watering even if a reconnecting river flow is undertaken.

Metering is still required at some wetlands before licensed water may be used at those
locations.

Some specific issues to be considered and managed include the extraction of water by
consumptive users from wetlands and gaining access to infrastructure at the required time.
Stakeholder feedback: No stakeholder feedback received.
23
Option 3 – Murrumbidgee River Native Fish Fresh
Catchment: Murrumbidgee
Complex: Murrumbidgee River Channel
Site: : Murrumbidgee River Channel
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: 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 support the habitat, food source, movement, condition,
reproduction and growth of native fish. This may involve contributing in-stream flows to
maximise available breeding habitat, create flow conditions favourable for reproduction,
or contribute to the survival of native fish.

Environmental water may contribute to base flows, freshes and the recession of natural
bankfull and overbank flows. Replicating a more natural rate of recession is beneficial as it
may cue native fish to vacate off-stream and floodplain habitats, avoiding stranding or
death.

Hydrographs based on the reproduction requirements of different functional groups of
native fish (small bodied in-stream generalists, medium and large bodied fish) will inform
flows to support native fish populations. These will be considered along with recent
monitoring results, prevailing flow conditions and likely levels of base flows under natural
conditions for each season.

A portion of the flows may flow through to the Murray River and contribute to
environmental flow requirements in the lower Murray River.
July 2014 to June 2015.
Timing
For flows targeting large bodied fish (including Murray cod and trout
cod), commencement will coincide with either an increase in water
temperature to around 16–17 oC or a day length known to trigger fish
spawning (around early October). Evidence of preparedness to spawn
from observations at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre will also be used
where available to help determine the optimal start date for the option.
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 225 GL from all sources with nominally 150 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water.
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:

Environmental water would be delivered from Blowering and Burrinjuck dams. Tombullen
Storage and weirs on the river channel may also be used to prevent flows from rising or
falling too quickly (flows can go up and down due to rainfall events, rainfall rejections of
orders or higher than expected take from the channel). Beavers weir could also be used to
provide the desired hydrograph in the Old Man Creek system independent of flows in the
24
Murrumbidgee main channel.

The use of weir pools is limited by requirements to keep within acceptable rates of rise and
fall at these structures.

Flows will be adaptively managed to integrate with other demands in the system, higher
natural flow events and to minimise third party impacts.

This option could provide an additional mid-Murrumbidgee Wetlands reconnection if
provided in the spring after the winter reconnection outlined in Option 1. The ability to
provide the reconnection of low-lying wetlands as part of this option in late spring will
depend on water availability, channel capacity and potential impacts on riparian
landholders.

Watering in late spring may result in cold water pollution from dam releases with effects
particularly within approximately 200 km of the dams.
Stakeholder feedback: No stakeholder feedback received.
25
Option 4 – Mid-Yanco Creek Anabranches and Wetlands
Catchment: Murrumbidgee
Complex: Yanco Creek system
Site: Mid-Yanco Creek anabranches and wetlands
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: 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 option would aim to maintain riparian and wetland vegetation condition (including
river red gums) by reconnecting and refilling the anabranch creeks, flood-runners, lagoons
and wetlands off mid-Yanco Creek (between Morundah and Yanco Bridge on Kidman
Way).

Target site includes the ‘Silver Pines’ wetland complex.
Timing
Winter to spring 2014
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 15 GL from all sources with nominally 7 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water.
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:

Flows of up to, but not exceeding, 1 400 ML/day will be targeted at the Yanco Creek offtake for seven days. Additional environmental water delivery would be provided through
Coleambally Catchment Drain (CCD) for 10 to 15 days to connect with the peak flows in
Yanco Creek. The CCD joins Yanco Creek upstream of the targeted wetland complexes.
The addition of water via the CCD will help reconnect and refill the low-lying anabranches
and wetlands off mid-Yanco Creek, which would otherwise be unable to be reached with
environmental water within the current system constraints.

The current capacity of the CCD is 150 ML/day, however an upgrade is planned to bring
this up to 350 ML/day.

Access to the CCD would need to be agreed to by Colleambally Irrigation.

Agreement from landholders whose properties might be inundated by environmental flows
would be required

The mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands reconnection event (Option 1) is expected to meet the
objectives for this option should it proceed.

A specific issue to be considered and managed is potential water quality issues (such as
salinity levels) from water passing through the CCD.

Managed reconnection deliveries may not reach the commence to fill levels of the
targeted wetlands as this option is still being trialled and commence to fill levels are to be
confirmed.
26
Stakeholder feedback: No stakeholder feedback received.
27
Option 5 – Restoring natural flow variability
Catchment: Murrumbidgee
Complex: Murrumbidgee River Channel
Site: Murrumbidgee River Channel
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Low to Very High
Relevant flow component:
Expected inundation extent:
Base flows
Floodplain inundation
Fresh
Wetland inundation
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Summary of watering option:

Contribute to river flows delivered to the Murrumbidgee River channel, Yanco-ColomboBillabong Creek system, Old Man Creek system, and/or other creeks to restore natural flow
events that are affected by river regulation and/or extraction.

Water may be delivered year round to restore flows such as:
o
small to moderate freshes (natural freshes following rainfall events)
o
high flow season base flows (winter-spring)
o
natural recession of larger events.

Expected outcomes include maintaining natural condition of native fish and
macroinvertebrates (by maintaining cues for native fish and other biota, scouring of biofilms, improved entrainment and movement of leaf litter into and along the channel, and
improved zooplankton productivity).

Target events will be selected taking into account factors including period since last similar
event, seasonality, species likely to benefit, potential risks (including cold water pollution
from dam releases), secondary benefits (particularly where water provided in the
Murrumbidgee could contribute to flow requirements in downstream systems) and volume
of water required.
Timing
July 2014 to June 2015
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
The water made available is scalable dependent on water availability
and requirements. Up to 100 GL of water could be provided from all
sources. Of this, nominally 50 GL would be Commonwealth
environmental water.
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:

Target flow rates will be dependent on the prevailing flow conditions, target outcome and
operational considerations.

Environmental releases would be kept in channel and are not intended to inundate
floodplain or wetland habitat. Natural flows may be altered by capture in headwater
storages (in which case a release from storages may be called for) or reduced by
extraction (in which case Tombullen storage or in channel weirs may be used to help
replace some of the flow). For an event that occurs below the headwater storages and
28
which would otherwise be captured in weirpools and Tombullen water storage, the event
could be allowed to pass through naturally with environmental water allocations used to
‘make-up’ for the foregone storage.

The use of weir pools is limited by requirements to keep within acceptable rates of rise and
fall at these structures.

In the case of freshes, the timing and scale of release would be triggered by a natural
event in the Goodradigbee River. Environmental flows will be scaled based on inflows from
major tributaries to ensure flows do not exceed target thresholds.

Flows through Old Man Creek would only be considered once further considerations of the
flow requirements of the system have been undertaken.
Stakeholder feedback: Stakeholder feedback has suggested that environmental flows be
provided into Morley’s Creek, an anabranch of the Murrumbidgee River, to improve water
quality and support water dependent animals, including native fish.
29
Option 6 – Lowbidgee – wetlands in Yanga, North Redbank, Nimmie-Caira and
Fiddlers-Uara Creek system
Catchment: Murrumbidgee
Complex: Lowbidgee
Site: Yanga, Nimmie-Caira, North Redbank and Fiddlers-Uara Creek system
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Low to Very High
Relevant flow component:
Expected inundation extent:
Base flows
Floodplain inundation
Fresh
Wetland inundation
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Summary of watering option:

Using regulators, inundate wetlands in the North Redbank system, South Redbank (Yanga),
Nimmie-Caira and Fiddlers-Uara Creek systems to maintain, improve and in some cases
promote the recovery of wetland vegetation diversity and condition (lignum, black box
and river red gums and associated understory communities such as reeds, sedges and
rushes), and provide habitat to support survival and maintain condition of native fish,
waterbirds and other aquatic vertebrates (frogs).

Many of these systems/sites received environmental water on a number of occasions over
the past three to four years and may not require water in 2014–15.

Consideration will be given to using escapes in the North Redbank system and the Yanga
Creek regulator at South Redbank to allow water to return to the river channel to improve
hydrological connectivity and provide for transport of biota, nutrients, sediment and
carbon.
Timing
Winter/spring 2014
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 180 GL from all sources, with nominally 120 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water.
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:

Wetlands in the North Redbank system would be watered off the North Redbank Channel.
Wynburn and Baupie Escapes may be used to allow flows to return to the river.

Wetlands in Yanga National Park would be watered through the Yanga (1AS) and
Waugorah (1ES) regulators and, possibly through the Nimme-Caira channel system. Yanga
Creek Regulator may be used to return water from Yanga Lake to the river.

Wetlands in the Nimmie-Caira system and Fiddlers-Uara Creek system could be watered
through the Nimmie-Caira channel systems, which distribute water from Maude Weirpool.

Channel access in North Redbank and through the Nimmie-Caira system is dependent on
agreement with landholders. Inundation of wetlands located on private land will require
agreement with private landholders.

Delivery in Yanga will need to consider how the southern and middle areas of the park may
30
best be watered without overwatering the northern areas through which water passes onroute.

The requirement for water will be regularly assessed. Many sites in the Lowbidgee have
received sufficient watering over the previous three to four years. The requirement for water
will depend on:
o
previous watering (some areas may have previously received little or no water, while
others may have been inundated frequently over successive years)
o
degree of drying over autumn–winter 2014
o
vegetation types supported in each wetland (e.g. whether it is black box, which
requires watering less frequently, or an area dominated by sedge/rush wetland,
which requires more frequent watering)
o
condition of the vegetation (e.g. if it is still recovering from decline during the
drought and needs follow-up watering to continue recovery or whether a drying
phase is required).

Return flows from the North Redbank system and/or Yanga Lake would be contingent on
water quality and the volume of water in the receiving river channel. Additional flows may
be provided to dilute low quality water returning to the river channel, if required.

It may be possible for this option to be undertaken in conjunction with other upstream
options. For example, flows from the mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands reconnection flow
(Option 1) could provide water for this option as well. There are also potential ecosystem
benefits at a landscape scale from linking the timing of the inundation of upstream and
downstream wetlands. However, channel usage by existing users in the Lowbidgee may
reduce the capacity to do this.
Stakeholder feedback: Stakeholder feedback has recommended that Commonwealth
environmental water be used to inundate wetlands during spring 2014, with water levels
maintained for at least four to five months, to promote successful tadpole development and
recruitment of the southern bell frog.
Stakeholder feedback has also been provided in relation to inundating known rookery sites in
Redbank in spring to potentially trigger a waterbird breeding event.
31
Option 7 – Wetlands west of the North Redbank Channel
Catchment: Murrumbidgee
Complex: Lower Murrumbidgee Floodplain
Site: Wetlands and Lakes at the western edge of the Lowbidgee Floodplain (‘Western Lakes’)
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Low to Very 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 inundate wetlands and lakes located at the western edge of
the Lowbidgee Floodplain, northwest of Balranald and west of the North Redbank Channel.

Expected outcomes for the ‘western lakes’ (i.e. Paika Lake, Hobblers Lake, Cherax Swamp,
Penarie Creek, and the Black Box and Reed Bed wetlands) focus on recovery of riparian
vegetation and provision of waterbird habitat, while expected outcomes for the river red
gum wetlands between Ivanhoe Road and connecting waterways (Narwie West wetlands
and connecting waterways) focus on the recovery of wetland vegetation and providing
habitat for waterbirds, fish and other aquatic vertebrates (turtles, frogs).

Inundation of these lakes and wetlands would have the added benefit of replenishing
groundwater reserves, thus improving ecosystem resilience ahead of possibly drier
conditions in the near future.

Many sites received environmental water on a number of occasions over the past three
years and may not require water in 2014–15. Consideration will be given to the condition of
individual sites as well as antecedent conditions and the historical flow regime. Any followup environmental watering of sites would aim to consolidate benefits from watering in
previous years.
Timing
Spring 2014
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 9 GL from all sources, with nominally 6 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water.
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:

Environmental water would be delivered from North Redbank Channel, through the Narwie
West regulator into Narwie West wetlands, along Yarrawol Creek, then Paika Creek and to
Paika Lake, Cherax Swamp, Hobblers Lake, Penarie Creek and Black Box and Reed Bed
wetlands.

Flow will be accounted for by NSW SWC from North Redbank Channel, using flow data from
the Athen gauging station located on North Redbank Channel approximately 2 km
upstream of the Narwie West regulator.

Delivery rates through the Narwie West regulator are limited to a maximum of 500 ML/day
32
and will be adjusted down as required during the option in response to local conditions in
the target lakes, wetlands and connecting waterways as well as to keep within the desired
level of spread on the Narwie West wetlands.

Access to irrigation delivery channels may be constrained at periods during the irrigation
season.

The historical inundation frequency of the Western Lakes (prior to isolation) is currently being
investigated by Charles Sturt University, NSW OEH and the Office. Long-term watering
planning for the western lakes and wetlands will incorporate these results as they become
available.
Stakeholder feedback: No stakeholder feedback received.
33
Option 8 – Contingency to support significant bird or other native aquatic
vertebrate breeding events in wetlands
Catchment: Murrumbidgee
Complex: Lower Murrumbidgee Floodplain, Mid-Murrumbidgee River Wetlands and Other
Murrumbidgee Catchment Sites
Site: North Redbank wetlands, Yanga National Park, Nimmie-Caira system, regulated MidMurrumbidgee Wetlands and Wanganella Swamp (on Forest Creek in Yanco-BillabongColombo Creek System)
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: Low to Very High
Relevant flow component:
Expected inundation extent:
Base flows
Floodplain inundation
Fresh
Wetland inundation
Bank-full flows
Over-bank flows
Summary of watering option:

Maintain wetland water levels and acceptable levels of water quality to support the
completion of a significant breeding event of waterbirds or other native aquatic
vertebrates in a wetland.

This contingency is not to trigger a breeding event for waterbirds or other native animals but
for use when a breeding event is already underway and considered in danger of failure
due to receding water levels.

The option is to support waterbirds, including colonial nesting birds, and other aquatic
native vertebrates such as frogs (particularly the southern bell frog) and turtles.
Timing
Late spring 2014 to early autumn 2015
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Water required will depend on the size of the site, location of the site
(and therefore how much transition losses may be expected) and the
duration the event needs to be supported for.
Up to 20 GL of environmental water from all sources may be required,
with nominally up to 15 GL of Commonwealth environmental water.
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:

Environmental water would be delivered through North Redbank Channel for wetlands in
the North Redbank system, and through the 1AS (Yanga) and 1ES (Wagorah) regulators for
wetlands in Yanga National Park. For the Nimmie-Caira system the channel system could be
utilised however access to these channels would be subject to agreement from the
landholder, NSW Office of Water.

A small number of mid-Murrumbidgee Wetlands may be watered using channels and
regulators, including through the Murrumbidgee Irrigation system, off Yanco Creek,
Bundidgerry Creek and Gogelderie Weir. In some cases channel use will have to be
negotiated with the relevant infrastructure/land owner.

For Wanganella Swamp in the Yanco-Colombo-Billabong system a weir on Billabong Creek
can divert a portion of flows down Forest Creek. Due to large attenuation along Yanco
34
Creek delivery through Finlay Escape from the Murray River using Murray Irrigation Limited
infrastructure would be more efficient and will be considered should a breeding event
occur.

If the breeding event occurs some distance from channels or regulators, significant volumes
of water may be used in transit to the target wetland.

Risks to be considered and managed include that falling water levels may trigger birds to
abandon nesting sites before top-up flows can be delivered, with water delivery times to
these wetlands often lengthy.
Stakeholder feedback: No stakeholder feedback received.
35
Option 9 – Murrumbidgee River water quality and habitat
Catchment: Murrumbidgee
Complex: Murrumbidgee Catchment river flows
Site: Murrumbidgee River Channel
Applicable level(s) of resource availability: High to Very High (for water quality impacts caused
by natural flooding); Low (for impacts caused by drying down & managed return flow events).
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 contribute to managing water quality issues within in-stream
environments in the Murrumbidgee catchment. This option will contribute to the
maintenance or improvement of water quality, to support the condition and reproduction
of native fish, other vertebrates and macroinvertebrates. This option will also contribute to
growth and survival of native fish. Where water quality issues are wide-spread, this option
may include providing environmental water to create localised refuge habitat.

Examples of scenarios where this option may apply include:

o
a flooding event that results in low dissolved oxygen within the in-stream
environment
o
extended low flow conditions which contributes to a reduction in water quality and
the availability and condition of in-stream habitat
o
a return flow event where there is a risk of poor water quality arising in the river
channel from water returned from wetlands and/or lakes.
This option is contingent on conditions throughout the year, but is more likely to be required
during warmer months. The volume and duration of environmental water required for this
option will vary significantly depending on water quality and flow conditions at the time.
Timing
The timing is dependent on the occurrence of an adverse water quality
event, and the capacity to deliver environmental flows. Most likely to
occur from December onwards, as water temperatures increase.
Volume of
Commonwealth
environmental water
Up to 80 GL from all sources with nominally 60 GL of Commonwealth
environmental water.
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:

Target flows will be dependent on the prevailing flow conditions, the nature of the water
quality issue, and operational considerations. This option could target flows of 4 500 ML/day
downstream of Maude Weir for approximately one month (noting that 4 500 ML/day at
Maude Weir represents approximately half channel capacity).

Environmental water will be delivered from Blowering and Burrinjuck dams as well as
36
Tombullen Storage and River Channel weirs.

Delivery constraints such as high flow, the scale of the water quality issue and channel
capacity may play a significant role in the feasibility of this option.

Environmental releases should remain in-channel and not promote floodplain inundation.
The critical threshold is the channel capacity in the Lowbidgee of between 8 000 and
10 000 ML/day. Flows will be maintained below this level.

The use of weir pools is limited by requirements to keep within acceptable rates of rise and
fall at these structures.

This option would be implemented in conjunction with local delivery partners, who will play
a key role in engaging with relevant landholders and other third parties to manage
potential inconveniences from environmental water delivery.
Stakeholder feedback: No stakeholder feedback received.
37
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 MidMurrumbidgee River Valley and the watering options that could contribute to achieving the
identified outcomes.
Table 6: 2014–15 Basin annual environmental watering priorities for the Murrumbidgee River
Valley.
2014–15 Basin annual environmental watering
priorities relevant to the Murrumbidgee River
Valley
Watering options that may contribute to the
achievement of priority outcomes
Theme: Connect rivers and floodplains
Mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands: Improve the
condition of wetland vegetation communities
in the mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands through a
winter or spring fresh
Option 1 – Mid Murrumbidgee River Wetlands
Option 2 – Mid Murrumbidgee River Wetlands
(infrastructure assisted delivery)
Theme: Support in-stream functions
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 – Mid Murrumbidgee River Wetlands
Option 3 – Murrumbidgee River native fish
fresh
Option 4 – Mid Yanco Creek Anabranches
and Wetlands
Option 5 – Restoring natural flow variability
Option 6 – Lowbidgee wetlands in Yanga,
North Redbank, Nimmie-Caira and FiddlersUara Creek system
Option 7 – Wetlands west of the North
Redbank channel
Option 8 – Contingency to support significant
bird or other native aquatic vertebrate
breeding event in wetlands
Option 9 – Murrumbidgee water quality and
habitat
Winter flows for fish in the southern Basin:
Improve survival, recruitment, and condition
Option 1 – Mid Murrumbidgee River Wetlands
38
of native fish populations by providing winter
flows to tributaries and creeks of the River
Murray and through the barrages to the
Coorong
Option 2 – Mid Murrumbidgee River Wetlands
(infrastructure assisted delivery)
Option 3 – Murrumbidgee River native fish
fresh
Option 4 – Mid Yanco Creek Anabranches
and Wetlands
Option 5 – Restoring natural flow variability
Option 6 – Lowbidgee wetlands in Yanga,
North Redbank, Nimmie-Caira and FiddlersUara Creek system
Theme: Enhance and protect refuge habitat
Waterbird Refuge: Maintain waterbird habitat,
including refuge sites, and food sources, to
support waterbird populations across the
Murray-Darling Basin. Support waterbird
breeding, where feasible
Option 1 – Mid Murrumbidgee River Wetlands
Option 2 – Mid Murrumbidgee River Wetlands
(infrastructure assisted delivery)
Option 4 – Mid Yanco Creek Anabranches
and Wetlands
Option 5 – Restoring natural flow variability
Option 6 – Lowbidgee wetlands in Yanga,
North Redbank, Nimmie-Caira and FiddlersUara Creek system
Option 7 – Wetlands west of the North
redbank channel
Option 8 – Contingency to support significant
bird or other native aquatic vertebrate
breeding event in wetlands
39
6. Accounting for the use of Commonwealth
environmental water
6.1.
Water use accounting
Across NSW, Commonwealth environmental water is generally transferred to NSW OEH’s
environmental accounts. NSW OEH is then responsible for making arrangements to deliver the
environmental water with river operators such as NSW SWC. In some instances, waterm ay 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.
6.2.
Monitoring
6.2.1. Operational monitoring
Operational monitoring is monitoring that helps assess whether water has been delivered as
planned (e.g. the volumes, timing (frequency and duration), 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
Murrumbidgee River Valley, this includes NSW SWC and NSW OEH.
Delivery partners provide regular operational monitoring updates to the Office. 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
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
40
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.
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.
A Monitoring and Evaluation Plan that captures the long-term arrangements between
scientific organisations and delivery partners has been developed for the Murrumbidgee River
system Selected Area.
Results from the LTIM Project will be published on the Office’s website and the data will be
publicly available.
41
7. Next steps – from planning to water
delivery
Local knowledge and experience is critical to effectively manage and deliver Commonwealth
environmental water. Stakeholders have an important role and provide critical information that
informs each stage of the process for managing Commonwealth environmental water (Figure
3).
The planning phase is the first stage in the cycle of environmental water management. The
planning process occurs on an annual basis between January and the end of June, and each
planning document represents the culmination of months of work and consultation.
Throughout the planning process the Office consults closely with state environmental water
managers, river operators and local environmental water advisory groups. The information
gathered as part of the planning process feeds into the development of the options for the
following water year.
Towards the beginning of the new water year the focus shifts from planning to implementation.
Greater consideration is given to current and forecast catchment conditions and water
availability to determine which of the options identified during the planning process can
feasibly be implemented. Local on-ground knowledge is important for detailing a specific
watering action including the flow magnitude, timing, triggers for commencement, rates of rise
and fall and the area to be inundated. Once an action has been scoped in more detail an
assessment 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.
42
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.
43
8. Partnerships
The Office has consulted with a range of stakeholders to develop the Commonwealth
environmental water use options for the Murrumbidgee River Valley for 2014–15, including our
delivery partners as follows:

Murray-Darling Basin Authority

New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage

New South Wales Office of Water

New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries)

Murrumbidgee Local Land Services.
The Office will continue to work with stakeholders and other interested community members in
the planning, delivery, management and monitoring of Commonwealth environmental water.
44
9. Bibliography
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most significant heatwaves. [online] available:
www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs48.pdf, accessed March 2014.
Bureau of Meteorology (2014b). Three-monthly rainfall deciles for Murray Darling Basin. [online]
available:
www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/rain/index.jsp?colour=colour&time=latest&step=0&map=decile&
period=3month&area=md, accessed May 2014.
Bureau of Meteorology (2014c). Southeastern Australian rainfall outlook for June to August.
[online] available: www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/rain.seaus.shtml, accessed June 2014.
Bureau of Meteorology (2014d). Warming tropical Pacific increases chance of El Niño from
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Murrumbidgee. A report to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Murray-Darling Basin.
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Davies, P.E., Stewardson, M., Hillman, T., Roberts, J., and Thoms, M. (2012). Sustainable Rivers
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Drought (2008-2010). Prepared by the Independent Sustainable Rivers Audit Group for the
Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council. [online] available: www.mdba.gov.au/what-wedo/mon-eval-reporting/sustainable-rivers-audit, accessed March 2014.
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Water Delivery in the Murray–Darling Basin. [online] available: www.mdba.gov.au/mediapubs/publications/constraints-overview, accessed March 2014.
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available: www.mdba.gov.au/what-we-do/water-planning/managing-constraints, accessed
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NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (2013). Murrumbidgee Valley Annual environmental
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accessed March 2014.
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46