RESTORING and PROTECTING the BORDER RIVERS 2016–17

significant wetland with the Boobera Lagoon Lagoon Boobera the with wetland significant

significant to local Aboriginal people. Aboriginal local to significant Environmental water A fresh event describes an increase in levels Commonwealth

Pungbougal Lagoon complex is a nationally nationally a is complex Lagoon Pungbougal

across the Basin and are culturally culturally are and Basin the across of the river beyond the base flow, but does

The Morella Watercourse/Boobera Lagoon/ Watercourse/Boobera Morella The

food and habitat for many native animals animals native many for habitat and food use in the Border Rivers not fill the river channel or go over the bank. environmental water

communities are essential for providing providing for essential are communities black-necked storks and magpie geese. geese. magpie and storks black-necked

likelihood of young tree survival. These These survival. tree young of likelihood

great egret, brolgas, Australian painted snipe, snipe, painted Australian brolgas, egret, great to date This year, Commonwealth environmental water supply

improvements to condition and greater greater and condition to improvements population features a range of ages. of range a features population internationally significant waterbirds including the the including waterbirds significant internationally may be used to improve in-stream habitat to

and blackbox communities, along with with along communities, blackbox and means that over the long-term a species’ species’ a long-term the over that means

when flooded, support nationally and and nationally support flooded, when Environmental demand and water support threatened fish species in the Dumaresq The water acquired by the

Maintain current extent of river red gum gum red river of extent current Maintain stages. Improved or supported recruitment recruitment supported or Improved stages.

The Border Rivers’ many billabongs and wetlands, wetlands, and billabongs many Rivers’ Border The availability influence Commonwealth and Macintyre Rivers. If there is sufficient Australian Government through

native fish or plants) survival through all life life all through survival plants) or fish native

gudgeon, olive perchlet and eel-tailed catfish. catfish. eel-tailed and perchlet olive gudgeon, additional rainfall, Commonwealth

Maintain base river flows. river base Maintain environmental water management. investment in more efficient irrigation Recruitment describes a species’ (like (like species’ a describes Recruitment the Murray cod, silver perch, purple-spotted purple-spotted perch, silver cod, Murray the environmental water could contribute to

Environmental water can be used infrastructure, and other measures, Watering Strategy Watering including a number of threatened species such as as such species threatened of number a including improving wetland connectivity and breeding

under the Basin-wide Environmental Environmental Basin-wide the under with the purpose of assisting to ‘avoid National Park. Park. National assists with providing some of the fish in particular, supporting at least 16 species species 16 least at supporting particular, in fish of threatened fish species in the lower

Summary of longer-term outcomes outcomes longer-term of Summary Queensland Severn River in Sundown Sundown in River Severn Queensland

The Border Rivers region is abundant with native native with abundant is region Rivers Border The damage’ to the environment through Macintyre River. If conditions become very river flows needed to restore and

Goondiwindi and Boomi, and the the and Boomi, and Goondiwindi to ‘improving’ ecological health dry again Commonwealth environmental protect river systems throughout the nationally significant wetlands. significant nationally

Murray-Darling Basin Plan). Plan). Basin Murray-Darling

floodplain lagoons between between lagoons floodplain depending on how much water is water may be used to contribute to waterways, creeks and wetlands including including wetlands and creeks waterways, Basin’s irrigation districts.

Strategy (part of the implementation of the the of implementation the of (part Strategy

junction of the Severn River in NSW, the the NSW, in River Severn the of junction drought refuges.

animals, plants, birds and fish that rely on healthy healthy on rely that fish and birds plants, animals, available and the environmental need

outlined in the Basin-wide Environmental Watering Watering Environmental Basin-wide the in outlined Macintyre River from Mungindi to the the to Mungindi from River Macintyre

to support the Border Rivers’ many unique native native unique many Rivers’ Border the support to of the system. Commonwealth environmental water is

the achievement of environmental outcomes as as outcomes environmental of achievement the

This is particularly important in the the in important particularly is This Nesting brolga, Photo: Brian Furby Collection

Environmental water is delivered to key locations locations key to delivered is water Environmental often used to supplement large rainfall national significance. We are also working toward toward working also are We significance. national

increased movement and distribution. distribution. and movement increased The last three years have seen low water flows to events and environmental water provided

legislation and wetlands of international or or international of wetlands and legislation medium and long-lived species) and and species) long-lived and medium

tourism and recreational activities. recreational and tourism the Border Rivers region. However, small local by the New South Wales Office of

, state-based state-based , 1999 Act Conservation Biodiversity supporting regular recruitment (for short, short, (for recruitment regular supporting

Aboriginal Traditional Owners as well as as well as Owners Traditional Aboriginal rainfall events provided a series of small freshes Environment and Heritage.

Environmental Protection and and Protection Environmental the under Prevent loss of native fish species by by species fish native of loss Prevent

cultural values and practices of local local of practices and values cultural throughout the system in 2014–15 and 2015–16. Depending on river operating rules, sites that support nationally threatened species species threatened nationally support that sites

to large scale breeding events. breeding scale large to

agriculture and irrigated production, production, irrigated and agriculture flow constraints and climatic conditions,

floodplains and wetlands, particularly, to those those to particularly, wetlands, and floodplains While the freshes experienced in the last few

but is unlikely to significantly contribute contribute significantly to unlikely is but

support domestic water use, extensive extensive use, water domestic support the Commonwealth Environmental Water

partners to improve connections between rivers, rivers, between connections improve to partners years were below the level needed to achieve foraging opportunities for waterbirds, waterbirds, for opportunities foraging

and rich natural environments that that environments natural rich and Holder can agree to: in partnership with state and local delivery delivery local and state with partnership in connectivity with wetlands and floodplains in

could be used to improve habitat and and habitat improve to used be could

Commonwealth environmental water is managed managed is water environmental Commonwealth The Border Rivers region contains diverse diverse contains region Rivers Border The the lower catchment, small amounts of water ■ use water to meet identified

Commonwealth environmental water water environmental Commonwealth have helped maintain an almost continuous environmental demands pools to these species in times of drought. drought. of times in species these to pools

However, in the Border Rivers Valley, Valley, Rivers Border the in However, flow to the end of the system throughout wetlands wetlands

large range of native fish and providing refuge refuge providing and fish native of range large

by supporting breeding opportunities. opportunities. breeding supporting by ■

2015–16. Murray cod and eel-tailed catfish bred hold on to the water and carry it over Wales are also significant areas, supporting a a supporting areas, significant also are Wales

and increase abundance of waterbirds waterbirds of abundance increase and in the Dumarseq River during spring 2015 and for use in the next water year floodplains and and floodplains Queensland and the Severn River in New South South New in River Severn the and Queensland

Maintain the current species diversity diversity species current the Maintain there were a good number of large-bodied fish (‘carryover’)

The lower reaches of the Severn River in in River Severn the of reaches lower The

lower Border Rivers. Border lower

the health of our rivers, rivers, our of health the observed in the Severn River (New South Wales), ■ trade (sell or buy water) for equal or

valuable habitat for wildlife during drought. during wildlife for habitat valuable

of lignum shrubland communities of the the of communities shrubland lignum of despite the prolonged drier than average greater environmental benefit.

waterbodies in the northern Basin, providing providing Basin, northern the in waterbodies floodplains and improve the condition condition the improve and floodplains

dedicated to improving improving to dedicated period.

Lagoon is also one of the few permanent permanent few the of one also is Lagoon wetlands, streams and on low-lying low-lying on and streams wetlands,

Aboriginal places in eastern Australia. Boobera Boobera Australia. eastern in places Aboriginal vegetation communities near or in in or near communities vegetation Environmental water is is water Environmental

considered to be one of the most important important most the of one be to considered Maintain the extent of non-woody non-woody of extent the Maintain

The Commonwealth Environmental Water The Commonwealth Environmental Our partners Office regularly attends community forums, Water Holder acknowledges events and committees within the catchments Australia’s traditional owners and The best approaches to environmental and we are continuing to forge local water management involve local partnerships that allow community groups, T: 1800 803 772 Commonwealth Environmental Water Office respects their continued connection including Aboriginal Traditional Owners, to E: [email protected] knowledge and the latest science. to water, land and community. help shape the regional planning and W: www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo We pay our respects to them and Commonwealth environmental water use is management of environmental water delivery planned, delivered and managed in partnership their cultures and to their elders both @theCEWH RESTORING AND PROTECTING THE over the long term. with a number of individuals and organisations in past and present. Please contact your local engagement officer Postal address: the Border Rivers region, including: BORDER RIVERS Rosemary Millward to learn more about our GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601 ■ Queensland Department of Natural work or offer suggestions for the use of 2016–17 Resources and Mines environmental water locally. ■ Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation Rosemary Millward ■ Queensland Department of Agriculture and Local engagement officer – Fisheries Goondiwindi, QLD M: 0418 210 289 ■ New South Wales Office of Environment and E: [email protected] Heritage ■ New South Wales Department of Primary Industries – Water ■ New South Wales Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries ■ Local Land Services – Northern Tablelands ■ Sunwater ■ Queensland Murray-Darling Committee Inc ■ WaterNSW ■ Eco Logical Australia ■ Border Rivers Environmental Water Network ■ Border Rivers Food and Fibre ■ Murray-Darling Basin Authority Above: Scar tree, Boobera Lagoon (on the south bank of the Macintyre River west of Goondiwindi) Cover: The Dumaresq River Back cover: Boobera Lagoon 2015 Booberanna Creek within the Border Rivers catchment 2014 Border Rivers catchment © Commonwealth of Australia, 2016 All images by Commonwealth Environmental Water Office WAT387.0516G unless noted otherwise.

significant wetland with the Boobera Lagoon Lagoon Boobera the with wetland significant

significant to local Aboriginal people. Aboriginal local to significant Environmental water A fresh event describes an increase in levels Commonwealth

Pungbougal Lagoon complex is a nationally nationally a is complex Lagoon Pungbougal

oss the Basin and ar and Basin the oss acr e culturally culturally e of the river beyond the base flow, but does

course/Boobera Lagoon/ course/Boobera aterellaW Mor The

food and habitat for many native animals animals native many for habitat and food use in the Border Rivers not fill the river channel or go over the bank. environmental water

oviding oviding pr for essential e ar communities black-necked storks and magpie geese. geese. magpie and storks black-necked

ee survival. These These survival. ee tr young of likelihood

et, br et, egrgr eat olgas, Australian painted snipe, snipe, painted Australian olgas, to date This year, Commonwealth environmental water supply

eater eater gr and condition to ovements impr es a range of ages. of range a es featur population nationally significant waterbir significant nationally inter ds including the the including ds may be used to improve in-stream habitat to

and blackbox communities, along with with along communities, blackbox and m a species’ species’ a m long-ter the over that means

when flooded, support nationally and and nationally support flooded, when Environmental demand and water support threatened fish species in the Dumaresq The water acquired by the

ed gum gum ed r river of extent ent curr Maintain

ecruitment r supported or oved Impr stages.

The Bor The

der Rivers’ many billabongs and wetlands, wetlands, and billabongs many Rivers’ der availability influence Commonwealth and Macintyre Rivers. If there is sufficient Australian Government through

ough all life life all ough thr survival plants) or fish native

chlet and eel-tailed catfish. catfish. eel-tailed and chlet per olive gudgeon, additional rainfall, Commonwealth

Maintain base river flows. river base Maintain environmental water management. investment in more efficient irrigation

Recruitment describes a species’ (like (like species’ a describes Recruitment the Murray cod, silver per silver cod, Murray the ch, purple-spotted purple-spotted ch, environmental water could contribute to

Environmental water can be used infrastructure, and other measures, atering Strategy atering W including a number of thr of number a including eatened species such as as such species eatened improving wetland connectivity and breeding

under the Basin-wide Envir Basin-wide the under onmental onmental with the purpose of assisting to ‘avoid National Park. Park. National assists with providing some of the fish in particular in fish , supporting at least 16 species species 16 least at supporting , of threatened fish species in the lower

m outcomes outcomes m -ter longer of Summary n River in Sundown Sundown in River n Sever Queensland der Rivers r Rivers der Bor The

egion is abundant with native native with abundant is egion damage’ to the environment through Macintyre River. If conditions become very river flows needed to restore and

Murray-Darling Basin Plan). Plan). Basin Murray-Darling

floodplain lagoons between between lagoons floodplain depending on how much water is water may be used to contribute to waterways, cr waterways, eeks and wetlands including including wetlands and eeks Basin’s irrigation districts.

Strategy (part of the implementation of the the of implementation the of (part Strategy n River in NSW in River n Sever the of junction

, the the , drought refuges.

ds and fish that r that fish and ds bir plants, animals,

ely on healthy healthy on ely available and the environmental need

atering atering W onmental Envir Basin-wide the in outlined om Mungindi to the the to Mungindi om fr River e Macintyr

to support the Bor the support to

der Rivers’ many unique native native unique many Rivers’ der of the system. Commonwealth environmental water is

onmental outcomes as as outcomes onmental envir of achievement the

This is particularly important in the the in important particularly is This Nesting brolga, Photo: Brian Furby Collection

onmental water is deliver is water onmental Envir

ed to key locations locations key to ed often used to supplement large rainfall

d d towar working also e ar We significance. national incr

eased movement and distribution. distribution. and movement eased The last three years have seen low water flows to events and environmental water provided

national or or national inter of wetlands and legislation medium and long-lived species) and and species) long-lived and medium

s.eitviitcalaonitaerce rdn amsiruot the Border Rivers region. However, small local by the New South Wales Office of

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, , noitcudordpetagirrd ine arultucirga flow constraints and climatic conditions,

floodplains and wetlands, particularly, to those those to particularly, wetlands, and floodplains While the freshes experienced in the last few

but is unlikely to significantly contribute contribute significantly to unlikely is but

evisentxe,es uerta wictsome dtorppus the Commonwealth Environmental Water partners to impr to partners

ove connections between rivers, rivers, between connections ove years were below the level needed to achieve

ds, ds, waterbir for opportunities foraging

tahtstmenonrvi enlaruat nhic rdna Holder can agree to: in partnership with state and local delivery delivery local and state with partnership in connectivity with wetlands and floodplains in

ove habitat and and habitat ove impr to used be could

onmental water is managed managed is water onmental envir Commonwealth

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onmental water water onmental have helped maintain an almost continuous environmental demands ought. ought. dr of times in species these to pools der Rivers V Rivers der Bor the in , However

alley, alley, flow to the end of the system throughout

wetlands wetlands

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eeding opportunities. opportunities. eeding ■

2015–16. Murray cod and eel-tailed catfish bred hold on to the water and carry it over

eas, supporting a a supporting eas, ar significant also e arW ales ease abundance of waterbir of abundance ease incr and

ds ds in the Dumarseq River during spring 2015 and for use in the next water year

floodplains and and floodplains n River in New South South New in River n Sever the and Queensland Maintain the curr the Maintain

ent species diversity diversity species ent there were a good number of large-bodied fish (‘carryover’)

n River in in River n Sever the of eaches r lower The

der Rivers. der Bor lower

the health of our rivers, rivers, our of health the observed in the Severn River (New South Wales), ■ trade (sell or buy water) for equal or

ought. dr during wildlife for habitat valuable

of lignum shrubland communities of the the of communities shrubland lignum of despite the prolonged drier than average greater environmental benefit.

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dedicated to impr to dedicated oving oving period.

manent manent per few the of one also is Lagoon eams and on low-lying low-lying on and eams str wetlands,

n Australia. Boobera Boobera Australia. n easter in places Aboriginal vegetation communities near or in in or near communities vegetation onmental water is is water onmental Envir

ed to be one of the most important important most the of one be to ed consider Maintain the extent of non-woody non-woody of extent the Maintain