Long-term watering plan Victorian Murray

Prepared for Basin Plan obligations

The Department of Environment Land, Water and Planning proudly acknowledges and pays its respects to Victoria’s Native Title holders and Traditional Owners and their rich culture and intrinsic connection to Country. The department also recognises and acknowledges the contribution and interests of other Aboriginal people and organisations in waterway management. Finally, the department acknowledges that the past injustices and continuing inequalities experienced by Aboriginal people have limited, and continue to limit, their proper participation in land, water and natural resource management.

© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning November 2015

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Contents

Contents 1

Executive Summary 5

Glossary 11

1. Introduction 18

1.1 Context 19 1.2 Purpose of the long-term watering plan 20 1.3 Scope and approach to developing the long-term watering plan 21 1.4 Timeframe 22 1.5 Victorian frameworks 22

2. Water resource plan area 26

2.1 Features of the area 26 2.2 Priority assets within the Victorian Murray WRPA 27 2.3 Significant features of priority assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA 40 2.4 Priority ecosystem functions in the Victorian Murray WRPA 43

3. Environmental watering requirements for priority assets and ecosystem functions 45

3.1 Approach to developing objectives, targets and watering requirements 45 3.2 Management goals for the Victorian Murray WRPA 46 3.3 Ecological objectives for the Victorian Murray WRPA 46 3.4 Ecological targets for environmental watering in the Victorian Murray WRPA 50 3.5 Watering requirements of the objectives 54

4. Provision of environmental water 65

4.1 Regulated surface water systems 65 4.2 Unregulated surface water systems 67 4.3 Groundwater systems 68

5. Cooperative arrangements 69

5.1 Context 69 5.2 Responsible organisations 69 5.3 Coordination processes 70

6. Operational constraints 73

6.1 Operational constraints affecting the Victorian Murray WRPA 73 6.2 Strategies to manage or overcome constraints 75

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 1

7. Complementary actions 77

7.1 Riparian land management 77 7.2 Provision of fish passage and in-channel habitats 77 7.3 Fish stocking 78 7.4 Management of storages and thermal profiles 78 7.5 Management of invasive species 78 7.6 Works and measures 78

8. Demonstrating outcomes 80

8.1 Existing monitoring programs 80 8.2 Monitoring of the long-term watering plan targets and objectives 81 8.3 Improving outcomes 83

9. Long-term risks 84

10. Consultation 87

10.1 Local engagement 87 10.2 Working Group for the long-term watering plan 87 10.3 Stakeholder review 88 10.4 Beyond the long-term watering plan 88

11. Next Steps 89

References 90

Appendix 1 – Basin Plan obligation compliance 93

Appendix 2 – Environmental Water Management Plans 96

Appendix 3 – Full list of assets and relevant planning documents 98

Appendix 4 – Determining objectives, targets and watering requirements 101

Appendix 5 – Roles and responsibilities 107

Appendix 6 – Detailed information on constraints 110

Appendix 7 – Qualitative Risk Analysis 124

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 2

List of Tables Table 1: Priority assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA by river system...... 29 Table 2: Significant native fish in the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 41 Table 3: Priority ecosystem functions in the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 44 Table 4: Management Goals from the Victorian Murray WRPA...... 46 Table 5: Objectives and assets for the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 48 Table 6: Targets for the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 51 Table 7: Flow components required to meet native fish and vegetation objectives related to river- based assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 59 Table 8: Flow components required to meet functions and ‘other’ objectives related to river-based assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 60 Table 9: Elements of the wetting/drying cycle required to meet native fish and waterbirds objectives for wetland-based assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 61 Table 10: Elements of the wetting/drying cycle required to meet vegetation objectives for wetland- based assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 62 Table 11: Elements of the wetting/drying cycle required to meet vegetation (continued) and functions objectives for wetland-based assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 63 Table 12: Elements of the wetting/drying cycle required to meet ‘other’ objectives for wetland-based assets in this WRPA ...... 64 Table 13: Regulated systems in the WRPA ...... 66 Table 14: Objectives, targets and monitoring in the Victorian Murray ...... 81 Table 15: Categories of management action ...... 86 Table 16: Actions to be progressed subsequent to this long-term watering plan ...... 89 Table 17: Priority assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 98 Table 18: Responsible minister and agencies ...... 107 Table 19: Summary of constraints identified in the literature and strategies to manage or overcome operational and management constraints ...... 111 Table 20: Risks that result in failure to achieve objectives ...... 125

List of Figures Figure 1: Victoria’s three surface water resource plan areas (WRPAs) – Victorian Murray, Northern Victoria, and Wimmera-Mallee and their location within the broader Murray Darling Basin (inset). The Victorian Catchment Management Authority (CMA) boundaries are outlined in black. Southern Victoria (not within the Basin) is shown in light green...... 18 Figure 2: The long-term and annual planning documents required under Basin Plan chapter 8 ‘Environmental Watering Plan’...... 20 Figure 3: The long-term and annual planning in the context of other planning and strategic documents...... 21 Figure 4 : Environmental water planning and delivery framework in Victoria – Basin, State and Regional scales ...... 25 Figure 5: Topography in the Victorian Murray WRPA indicated by relative variation (red represents areas of high elevation, green represents areas of low elevation) ...... 27 Figure 6: Priority assets within the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 39 Figure 7: Significant water-dependent ecological values in the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 43 Figure 8: Certainty of achievement has been used in setting objectives and targets in this LTWP. Longer-term aspirational objectives have not had targets set, due to uncertainty in future conditions and ability for associated targets to be met...... 46 Figure 9: Ecological objectives for the Victorian Murray WRPA ...... 47 Figure 10: Benefits of different environmental flow components in rivers (from VEWH, 2015b) ...... 55 Figure 11: Benefits of wetting and drying phases in wetlands (from VEWH, 2015b) ...... 58

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 3

Figure 12: Key engagement and responsibilities of partners in the Victorian environmental watering program ...... 70 Figure 13: Victoria’s annual environmental water planning process (VEWH 2011) ...... 71 Figure 14: Pre-feasibility assessment of operational and management constraints in the CMS (MDBA, 2013a) ...... 74 Figure 15: Risk types identified for this LTWP ...... 85 Figure 16: Overview of process for developing objectives and targets ...... 102 Figure 17: Objective language used to standardise objectives and categorise them ...... 103 Figure 18: Criteria for target setting ...... 105 Figure 19: Framework for developing targets ...... 105

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 4

Executive Summary

This long-term watering plan (LTWP) has been prepared by the Victorian Government in accordance with its obligations under the Basin Plan. It concerns the Victorian Murray water resource plan area (WRPA), which extends from Omeo in the far east of Victoria to Mildura in the north west of the state. The WRPA can be characterised by two distinct regions. The first of these regions comprises the Victorian tributaries of the Murray River, upstream of Albury. This includes the Kiewa and Mitta Mitta Rivers. The second region comprises the lower reaches of tributaries from the Northern Victoria WRPA and the anabranches and floodplain wetlands along the length of the Murray River. This is the first iteration of the LTWP for the Victorian Murray, and has been developed with the best possible information available at the time. This LTWP describes ecological objectives and targets for priority water-dependent assets (rivers and wetlands) in the region, and the corresponding environmental watering requirements for these objectives. This LTWP has been developed primarily using a bottom-up approach, and with regard to the Basin-wide environmental watering strategy. It builds on considerable environmental water planning work undertaken at the regional and asset scale by Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) in their Regional Catchment Strategies, Regional Waterway Strategies and Environmental Water Management Plans (EWMPs). The plan fits within Victoria’s existing water entitlement and policy framework and has been prepared using best available information at the time of writing. This plan is not intended to provide holistic management for catchments or waterways in the Victorian Murray WRPA. Key elements of this plan can be summarised as follow: Priority Assets There are five river systems, and wetlands associated with these or the River Murray, in the Victorian Murray WRPA that meet criteria for priority assets, in that they are able to receive environmental water, and meet criteria set out in Schedule 8 of the Basin Plan. These are the Kiewa, Mitta Mitta, and lower Loddon Rivers, and the Broken and Gunbower Creeks. Priority Ecosystem Functions Two main ecosystem functions have been identified for this LTWP in the Victorian Murray WRPA concerning hydrological connectivity and water quality. These are considered priority in that they may be managed with environmental water and meet criteria in Schedule 9 of the Basin Plan.

Water-dependent ecological values The Victorian Murray WRPA supports important water-dependent ecological values, including native fish (e.g. Murray hardyhead and Trout cod); vegetation (e.g. River red gum communities and Black box communities); waterbirds (e.g. Painted snipe and White-bellied sea eagle), as well as frogs, turtles and platypus. Ecosystem functions that support these ecological values include geomorphological condition and hydrological connectivity. Objectives The ecological objectives for this LTWP were developed from the community consulted EWMPs, ecological watering guides for Icon sites, and supply measure business cases prepared by CMAs for priority assets across the Victorian Murray. Objectives were extracted from individual studies and standardised into a consistent suite of language involving trajectory (e.g. improve), aspect (e.g. abundance) and value (e.g. large-bodied

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 5

native fish). Similar objectives across a number of assets were grouped, producing a set of objectives relevant across the WRPA. Fourteen ecological objectives for identified values and ecosystem functions were developed to support waterway health in the Victorian Murray WRPA. The ecological objectives for the Victorian Murray WRPA are: Fish Improve the abundance of large-bodied native fish and maintain the abundance small- bodied native fish Maintain distribution of threatened small-bodied native fish Improve habitat and movement and maintain species richness of native fish Waterbirds Improve breeding opportunities for colonial-nesting waterbirds Improve breeding opportunities, habitat and feeding areas for other waterbirds Vegetation Improve the extent and species richness of aquatic vegetation (including Moira Grass) Improve the condition of river red gum dominated EVCs Improve the condition and maintain the extent of black box dominated EVCs Improve the condition of Shrub and Lignum dominated EVCs Connectivity and functions Improve connectivity between floodplains, anabranches and wetlands (Maintain permanently flowing and ephemeral anabranches) Maintain water quality within an appropriate range to allow for ecosystem processes Other values Improve habitat and maintain species richness of frog communities Improve habitat of turtle and crayfish communities Improve abundance and number of functional groups of macroinvertebrates

Targets and Monitoring Targets to measure progress towards the objectives were developed for a selection of the objectives developed for this WRPA. Targets aim to be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timebound. A number of monitoring programs currently run across the state to assess rivers and wetlands that are suitable to assess the target, either as the programs presently stand, or if replicated at increased spatial or temporal scales. These programs have different purposes: to monitor the long-term condition of an asset (e.g. Index of Wetland Condition), to monitor compliance with flows or water quality (e.g. MDBA flow monitoring), and to monitor specific results of environmental flows in meeting ecological objectives (intervention monitoring such as the Victorian Environmental Flow Monitoring and Assessment Program – VEFMAP – or that undertaken for The Living Murray – TLM). A specific monitoring and evaluation plan will be developed subsequent to this LTWP.

Twelve targets were developed for a sub-set of objectives:

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 6

Objective Target Potential Monitoring Program Improve abundance of A positive trend in the catch per unit VEFMAP - annual assemblage large-bodied native effort (CPUE) of large bodied native sampling in major rivers fish. fish over the 10 year period to 2025 TLM annual fish surveys

Maintain abundance of No negative trend in the abundance TLM annual fish surveys small-bodied native fish of small-bodied wetland specialist in wetlands native fish in 2025

Maintain distribution of Maintain current distribution of To be developed threatened small- threatened small-bodied native fish bodied native fish in in 2025. wetlands Maintain species Maintain the number of native fish TLM annual fish surveys richness of native fish species recorded in SRA list, in 80% of years to 2025 Improve breeding Water required for successful Compliance monitoring for opportunities for colonial waterbird breeding environmentalwater delivery colonial-nesting delivered in at least 2 years in 10 by waterbirds 2025 Improve habitat for Appropriate water regime to Compliance monitoring for waterbirds support feeding and habitat areas environmental water delivery for guilds of waterbirds delivered at 50% of sites, 8 years in 10 Improve the condition A positive trend in the condition TLM monitoring at Icon sites of river red gum score of River red gums dominated VEFMAP (lower Loddon) dominated EVCs Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC) benchmarks at 80% of sites over the 10 year period to 2025 In Gunbower Icon site, at least 30% TLM monitoring of river red gum Water Regime Classes in healthy condition by 2025 Improve the condition A positive trend in the condition Ecological vegetation condition of Black Box dominated score of Black box dominated EVC (EVC) condition score EVCs benchmarks at 50% of sites over the 10 year period to 2025 Improve the condition A positive trend in the condition EVC condition score of Shrub and Lignum score of Shrub and Lignum TLM monitoring at Icon sites dominated EVCs dominated EVC benchmarks at 50% of sites over the 10 year period to 2025 Improve connectivity Meet required watering regime at Victorian and MDBA flow between floodplains, 80% of wetland sites that have monitoring anabranches and water delivered through anabranch wetlands. connections

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 7

Objective Target Potential Monitoring Program Maintain species Maintain the number of native frog To be developed richness of frog species recorded in 80% of years to communities 2025

Cooperative arrangements Victoria has strong co-operative arrangements between holders of held environmental water, managers of planned environmental water and owners and managers of environmental assets for the delivery of environmental water. The Victorian government has established these arrangements, in consultation with delivery partners and communities. The arrangements are underpinned by a range of policy, regulatory and governance frameworks. Four types of authorities collaborate to deliver environmental water in Victoria: waterway managers, storage managers (some water corporations), environmental water holders and public land managers. Coordination and cooperation between Victorian environmental watering program partners is critical in ensuring the success of environmental watering activities across the state. As the body responsible for oversight of the Victorian environmental watering program, VEWH leads the coordination process. An annual process takes place that involves CMA planning and consultation with communities and stakeholders to prepare Seasonal Watering Proposals; preparation of the Seasonal Watering Plan by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH); consideration and prioritisation of actions in the Seasonal Watering Plan, in consultation with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH), the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and the Southern Connected Basin Environmental Water Committee (SCBEWC); the release of seasonal watering statements by the VEWH; and delivery coordination and consultation with storage managers. A Murray Coordination Plan will also be developed subsequent to this LTWP. CMAs work with Traditional Owner groups with formal land use agreements in the management of waterways. In the Victorian Murray WRPA these groups are the Barapa Barapa, Barkindji, Dhudhuroa, Latji Latji, Maraura, Ngintait, Wadi Wadi, Wamba Wamba, Weki Weki, Yaithmathang, and Yorta Yorta. Constraints Operational and management constraints affecting Victorian Murray have been examined in considerable detail, most notably through the MDBA’s Constraints Management Strategy 2013 to 2024 and other associated studies. That work has identified a suite of constraints, which can be broadly grouped into six types, those associated with:

 Channel/ watercourse capacity – either a physical or operational constraint  Consumptive water entitlement framework – an operational constraint  Co-operative management – an operational constraint  Flooding – a physical constraint  Outlet release capacity – a physical constraint  Metering and debiting – an operational constraint Of these six types of constraints, those associated with the consumptive water entitlement framework and channel/watercourse capacity are most numerous. Strategies to overcome the

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 8

operational constraints have already been pursued, largely in response to the Constraints Management Strategy 2013 to 2024. Given the work to date, only two operational and management constraints remain unresolved in the Victorian Murray. These constraints relate to flow through the Barmah Choke and the accounting arrangements for environmental water deliveries in Gunbower Creek. Cooperative work is currently underway to develop and agree upon approaches to overcoming both these constraints. Risks Long-term risks associated with providing for the environmental water requirements under this plan fall into two broad categories:  risk of failure to achieve (or demonstrate achievement of) the intended ecological objective  risk of adverse impacts in the provision of environmental water. The risks associated with a failure to achieve the intended ecological objectives are grouped into four types of risk: failure to provide recommended watering regime, failure to provide complementary works, external factors (e.g. fire, climate change), and failure to demonstrate outcomes. The risks associated with adverse impacts arising from the provision of environmental water are grouped by their impact on environmental, social and economic values. Existing processes are in place for managing these risks at the regional and asset-specific scale. Consultation Consultation has occurred through a three-part devolved approach. It has aimed to:  involve local communities, who have worked directly with CMAs to ensure information and concerns were understood and considered.  collaborate with the VEWH and CMAs, who have provided material and guidance for the LTWP.  consult with the water corporations, land managers, MDBA, CEWH, upstream and downstream states, and the Murray and Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) who provided information where relevant and feedback on the content. Rapid development of the LTWP meant insufficient time to gain input from Aboriginal organisations, however their views were sought during the draft review and will continue to be incorporated into environmental water planning.  Next Steps This LTWP is one of several steps towards full implementation of the Basin Plan. Further work will be pursued in the years between now and the LTWP review and update (due 2018-19) that will establish:  A monitoring and evaluation plan for the objectives and targets in this LTWP  Landscape scale (top down) approaches that can be integrated with the asset scale (bottom up) approach taken in this LTWP iteration  Groundwater requirements for groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs)  Use of EWMPs to meet LTWP requirements  Further asset-based technical work (through EWMP reviews).

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 9

A Murray Coordination Plan will also be developed between SA, VIC, and NSW, with MDBA and CEWH input, that will assist coordinating processes and environmental outcomes across state borders.

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Glossary

Abbreviations

Abbreviation Definition ARI Arthur-Rylah Institute BE Bulk Entitlement CEWH Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder CMS Constraints Management Strategy 2013 to 2024 (MDBA, 2013a) CPUE Catch Per Unit Effort CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation DELWP Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning EE Environmental Entitlement EVC Ecological Vegetation Class EWAG Environmental Watering Advisory Group EWKR Environmental Water Knowledge and Research Project EWR Environmental Water Reserve FMU Floodplain Management Unit FOVTOC Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations GDE Groundwater dependent ecosystem GMID Goulburn – Murray Irrigation District GMW Goulburn-Murray Water HEW Held environmental water IPAPF Invasive Plants and Animals Policy Framework ISC Index of Stream Condition IWC Index of Wetland Condition LMW Lower Murray Water LTWP Long Term Watering Plan MDBA Murray-Darling Basin Authority MDFRI Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Institute MLDRIN Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations NR SWS Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy

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Abbreviation Definition NSW New South Wales PEW Planned environmental water PVC Permissible Consumptive Volume QLD Queensland RCS Regional Catchment Strategy RWS Regional Waterway Strategy SA South Australia SDL Sustainable Diversion Limit SRA Sustainable Rivers Audit SWP Seasonal Watering Proposal TLM The Living Murray TO Traditional Owner VEWH Victorian Environmental Water Holder VEFMAP Victorian Environmental Flows Monitoring and Assessment Program VMQMN Victorian Water Quality Monitoring Network WETMAP Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program WMU Water Management Unit WRP Water Resource Plan WRPA Water Resource Plan Area

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Terms

Term Basin Plan definition (Chapter, Part, Section) Victorian definition Example

Asset A water-dependant ecosystem that satisfies at A significant water-dependent ecosystem Hird Swamp (see also priority least one of the following criteria: (place). Lake Murphy asset)  is formally recognised in international May be a single wetland, wetland complex, or a Piambe WMU agreements or, with environmental watering, river. Hattah Lakes is capable of supporting species listed in those agreements Keiwa River  is natural or near-natural, rare or unique Broken Creek  provides vital habitat  supports Commonwealth, State or Territory listed threatened species or communities  supports, or with environmental watering is capable of supporting, significant biodiversity. For expanded definitions see Schedule 8, also C8, P5, S8.49.

Basin Plan The Basin Plan (MDBA, 2012a) was developed in accordance with the Commonwealth Water Act 2007. It sets out an overarching framework underpinned with specific obligations to enable sustainable use of water resources within the Murray Darling Basin. Basin States State and Territory jurisdictions within the Murray-Darling Basin (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria)

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 13

Term Basin Plan definition (Chapter, Part, Section) Victorian definition Example

Ecosystem function A process within or between assets which A physical process involving the interactions, Lateral connectivity supports physical or trophic dynamics that benefit movement, energy exchange, or condition of between floodplains, the asset and contribute to achieving ecological biota, soil, water, nutrients, or other physical anabranches and wetlands objectives. Under the Basin Plan an Ecosystem features, and will support an environmental Providing habitat function meets at least one of the following value. Water quality criteria:  “supports the creation and maintenance of Terrestrial litter production vital habitats and populations (for potential transport to wetlands and rivers)  supports the transportation and dilution of nutrients, organic matter and sediment Decomposition  provides connections along a watercourse Aquatic primary (longitudinal connections) production.  provides connections across floodplains, adjacent wetlands and billabongs (lateral connections)” (C8, P5, S8.50) (for details see Schedule 9) Priority asset or An ecological asset or ecosystem function An asset with significant environmental values ecosystem function (defined above) that can be managed with (as per Schedule 8 of the Basin Plan),that can be environmental water (C8, P5, S9.49) managed with some form of environmental water . Important ecosystem functions (as per Schedule 9 of the Basin Plan) that can be managed with some form of environmental water, and are likely to support environmental values at a priority asset .

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 14

Term Basin Plan definition (Chapter, Part, Section) Victorian definition Example

Ecological objective An objective for the protection, and if necessary The desired condition for specific environmental Improve abundance of restoration, of a priority environmental asset or value(s) that may be managed with large-bodied native fish priority ecosystem function. (C1, P3, S1.07) environmental water. An objective includes a Maintain species richness desired trajectory (e.g. ‘maintain’ or ‘improve’) of frog communities for a desired measurable outcome (e.g. ‘extent or ‘species richness’). Measured through the more specific ecological target (see below). Ecological target A target that must be met in order to achieve an A measurement of progress towards, or A positive trend in the ecological objective. (C1, P3, S1.07) achievement of, the ecological objective .Targets catch per unit effort should be specific, measurable, attributable, (CPUE) of large bodied realistic, and timebound. native fish over the 10 year Measured by environmental monitoring at the period to 2025. event-based, intervention, or condition scales. Maintain the number of Results of this measurement indicate whether native frog species adaptive management is required toaccomplish recorded in 8 out of the objective (for example management of the 10years to 2025. timing, frequency, duration or volume of environmental water).

Environmental The environmental watering requirements of a Hydrological objectives: the flow components Winter fresh of 1,000 – watering requirement priority environmental asset or priority ecosystem (river) or flooding regime (wetland/floodplain) 1,800 ML/day for 1-2 days, function, as the case may be, identified using the that will support an environmental value reliant once per year in Jul-Aug. methods set out in Part 5 of Chapter 8. on hydrology for all or part of its life cycle. May For details see C8, P5, S8.51. consist of one or more of cease-to-flows, minimum flows, freshes, bank-full flows, and over-bank flows in a river, or filling volumes and drying in a wetland, plus timing (which seasons during the year), durations (how long does it Maintain baseflows year- need to occur for), and recurrence interval round, winter freshes each

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Term Basin Plan definition (Chapter, Part, Section) Victorian definition Example (every year or less frequently). May vary for dry, year, and winter overbank average and wet conditions depending on the flows 1 in 3 years. hydrological tolerances of the environmental value. Environmental watering requirements / regime: an integration of the hydrological objectives at a specific asset that will support one or more of the ecological objectives, and be the means to achieve the ecological targets. Measured by compliance monitoring for environmental water deliveries.

Environmental see held environmental water An environmental entitlement is a right to water entitlement granted to the Victorian Environmental Water Holder for the purpose of maintaining the Environmental Water Reserve or improving environmental values and health of the water ecosystems and other users that depend on environmental condition. Issued by the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water under the Water Act 1989 (Vic) and relate to the Commonwealth definition for held environmental water Environmental value In this context, an environmental value is a Murray Cod, River red water-dependent species or community present gums, wetland Ecological in or supported by an asset or an ecosystem Vegetation Classes (EVCs), function. brolga.

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 16

Term Basin Plan definition (Chapter, Part, Section) Victorian definition Example

Passing flow The volume of water that water corporations or licensed diverters are obliged to provide out of storage or past a diversion point before water can be taken for consumptive use. Held environmental Water available under a water access right; or a Water that is set aside for the environment as an water water delivery right; or an irrigation right; for the environmental entitlement, as per the Water Act purposes of achieving environmental outcomes 1989 (Vic). (including water that is specified in a water access right to be for environmental use). Planned As per the Water Act 2007 (Cth), water that is No specific definition. May refer to passing flows environmental water committed or preserved for achieving or above cap water, but only where specifically environmental outcomes and cannot be taken or provided for environmental purposes. used for any other purpose.

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1. Introduction

The Basin Plan is being implemented between 2013 and 2019 to improve water security and establish a sustainable and long-term adaptive management framework for Murray Darling Basin water resources. The Basin Plan was released in November 2012 and set out an overarching framework underpinned with specific obligations to enable sustainable use of water resources within the Murray Darling Basin. The Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is working with Basin states to implement the Basin Plan. In Victoria, the responsibility for meeting state obligations for the Basin Plan is being met by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), with important contributions from all water resource and asset managers. A number of planning documents are required to be developed under the Basin Plan, including long-term watering plans (LTWPs) for environmental assets and ecosystem functions. Three LTWPs have been developed for Victorian (surface) water resource plan areas (WRPAs) of the Wimmera-Mallee, Northern Victoria, and Victorian Murray (Figure 1). These areas are based upon surface water management boundaries (not catchments) and include priority rivers and wetlands that may be managed with environmental water.

Figure 1: Victoria’s three surface water resource plan areas (WRPAs) – Victorian Murray, Northern Victoria, and Wimmera-Mallee and their location within the broader Murray Darling Basin (inset). The Victorian Catchment Management Authority (CMA) boundaries are outlined in black. Southern Victoria (not within the Basin) is shown in light green.

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This LTWP for the Victorian Murray WRPA incorporates information and planning that is both general to Victoria, and specific to the WRPA. 1.1 Context The construction and operation of water storages has altered the natural flow regime of rivers and inundation patterns of wetlands. These environments now operate in a way that is significantly modified from natural conditions. Without continuation environmental watering in Victoria, the future trajectory of river and wetland biota and condition is likely to continue to decline. While some improvements may be produced by complementary catchment activities (see Section 7), the provision of a suitable watering regime is essential to achieve the objectives and targets outlined in this plan. Using environmental water to improve environmental conditions does not require the provision of the entire natural water regime. Specific components of a watering regime can have specific impacts on biota, or vital parts of their life cycle. Water requirements to meet objectives and targets can be developed so that the volume, timing, duration, frequency and quality of environmental water that is provided is linked to the specific impacts of the flows. Environmental watering will not return rivers and wetlands to their pre-European condition. Many rivers and wetlands are so modified that this is not feasible. However, environmental watering can help to minimise some of the impacts of these modifications on rivers and wetlands, whilst still being a shared resource that meets economic, cultural and recreational needs Basin Plan The Basin Plan establishes long-term management objectives in relation to:  environmental outcomes  water quality and salinity  long-term average sustainable diversion limits  trading in the water market.

For the environmental outcomes of the Basin Plan, the MDBA and Basin states (QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC and SA) are working towards four overarching objectives:

 to protect and restore water-dependent ecosystems of the Murray-Darling Basin  to protect and restore the ecosystem functions of water-dependent ecosystems  to ensure that water-dependent ecosystems are resilient to climate change and other risks and threats  to ensure that environmental watering is co-ordinated between managers of planned environmental water, owners and managers of environmental assets, and holders of

held environmental water

While overall Basin Plan implementation provides for the attainment of these objectives, the most specific actions are set out in Chapter 8 ‘Environmental Watering Plan’, which outlines planning required from the MDBA and Basin states to achieve the objectives. This planning provides for both long-term and annual environmental water objectives, at both the Basin and a more localised scale, as shown in Figure 2.

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Figure 2: The long-term and annual planning documents required under Basin Plan chapter 8 ‘Environmental Watering Plan’. To date, the MDBA and Basin states have completed annual watering priorities for 2014-2015 and 2015- 2016. The MDBA also released its first Basin-wide Environmental Watering Strategy in late 2014 (MDBA, 2014a). This is the first LTWP for the Victorian Murray. 1.2 Purpose of the long-term watering plan LTWPs will assist planning for environmental water outcomes, in order to meet the Basin Plan objectives and targets, and the overall environmental objectives for water-dependent ecosystems outlined in Part 2 of chapter 8 of Basin Plan. The requirements for LTWPs are outlined in chapter 8 of the Basin Plan. A LTWP must have regard to the Basin-Wide Environmental Watering Strategy, (MDBA, 2014a), and be consistent with the principles the Basin Plan sets out for environmental watering. A table detailing each of the Basin Plan requirements and where they are met in the plan is provided in Appendix 1. This LTWP also recognises there are Basin-wide obligations to take account of cultural outcomes. The Victorian LTWPs have collated long-term environmental water planning information for priority rivers, wetlands, and ecosystem functions in the Victorian Murray WRPA and will inform:  Victoria’s Annual Watering Priorities (as per Figure 2)  the Basin-wide Watering Strategy and Basin Annual Watering Priorities (as per Figure 2)  Water resource plans, particularly the environmental watering requirements (see below)  Long-term outcomes and environmental water demands in the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder’s (CEWH) Portfolio Management Plans  decisions for environmental watering by the Southern Connected Basin Environmental Watering Committee (SCBEWC)  the Murray Coordination Plan, to be developed by SA, VIC, NSW, and MDBA in 2016. Water resource plans are state obligations under Basin Plan that must set out arrangements to share water for consumptive use, indigenous use, and establish rules to meet environmental and water quality objectives. They also need to take account of potential and emerging risks to water resources. Water resource plans will be a key driver in implementing the outcomes of the Basin Plan at both a local and Basin-wide level. It should be noted that risks to meeting the environmental watering requirements of this LTWP, and strategies to manage these risks, will be identified through the Water resource plan.

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 20

The process for developing LTWPs for Victoria’s Basin Plan implementation is outlined in Figure 4. There are a number of actions to be completed in 2016 that will support this first LTWP iteration, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: The long-term and annual planning in the context of other planning and strategic documents.

1.3 Scope and approach to developing the long-term watering plan This plan focuses on identifying the environmental watering objectives and requirements of priority river and wetland assets and ecosystem functions to achieve ecological outcomes in the Victorian Murray WRPA. It explains the priority assets and ecosystem functions for the WRPA, long-term ecological objectives and targets for these, watering requirements to meet the objectives and targets, cooperative arrangements between delivery partners, high level constraints for the WRPA, long-term risks of providing environmental water, and outlines potential ways to monitor and evaluate the targets in this plan. Due to the environmental watering focus, this plan is not intended to provide holistic management for catchments or waterways. However in recognition of co-dependencies between all waterway management issues, this LTWP also includes a section on complementary actions that must work alongside environmental watering, in order to meet waterway health outcomes. This plan has been prepared according to existing Victorian environmental water frameworks and processes, and using best available information at the time of writing. The information in this plan has come primarily from asset-based Environmental Water Management Plans (EWMPs) that have been developed by Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) to guide environmental water use over the long-term. EWMPs have been used as underlying documents to this plan as the content aligns well with Basin Plan requirements for LTWPs. EWMPs must be considered for asset- specific information when reading this plan. EWMPs can be provided upon request to the Manager Environmental Water, Water and Catchments Group, DELWP. EWMPs are prepared by CMAs with their local communities, and set out important ecological values at an asset, the condition of these values, the objectives for environmental watering, and the water regime required to meet the objectives. EWMPs also set out constraints to watering at an asset, and the risks associated with meeting the watering objectives. The purpose and content of EWMPs are explained in more detail in Appendix 2. Additionally, this Victorian Murray LTWP draws upon The Living Murray Icon Site Ecological Watering Guides, and Supply Measure Business Cases developed through Phase 2 of the Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) Adjustment process. A list of the relevant EWMPs, Ecological Watering Guides, and Supply Measure Business Cases can be found in Appendix 3. A common set of terms has been defined for this LTWP to enable the compilation and integration of existing plans. The common set of terms enables the application of a consistent language both within this document and across Victoria’s three LTWPs (Glossary). The definitions and terminology have been based on that adopted and used through Victoria in the development and implementation of EWMPs.

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1.4 Timeframe The lifespan of this plan is up to five years. In accordance with Basin Plan, it is to be reviewed and updated:  when the relevant water resource plan (2019 for the Victorian Murray) is accredited, or  by 2020 (five years after preparation of this plan). 1.5 Victorian frameworks Entitlement framework Environmental water in Victoria is defined and protected as the Environmental Water Reserve under the Water Act 1989 (Vic), and is provided in three ways:  Environmental water entitlements: a volume of water held by the environment in perpetuity. In general, the entitlements are a share of the available resource (inflows) in storages that can be released to meet specific environmental needs.  Obligations on consumptive entitlements: the volume of water that water corporations or licensed diverters are obliged to provide out of storage or past a diversion point before water can be taken for consumptive use.  ‘Above cap’ water: the water available above limits on consumptive volumes of surface water and groundwater. Most water available to the environment is ‘above cap’ water, which can be a very unreliable source of water. In regulated systems, environmental water is set aside mainly through environmental water entitlements. In unregulated rivers, environmental water is provided primarily through management of existing diversions via license conditions, rostering and restriction rules. Section 4 provides further details on the provision of environmental water in Victoria, including explanations of held and planned environmental water. Waterway management framework State Strategy The state policy for the environmental management of waterways is documented in the Victorian Waterway Management Strategy (the Strategy) (DEPI, 2013b). The Strategy outlines the overarching policy for environmental management of Victorian waterways, how existing programs of management support this policy, and establishes integrated devolved decision making. The Strategy aims to maintain or improve the environmental condition of waterways to support environmental, social, cultural and economic values. The Strategy documents policies and actions for major waterway management issues including environmental water management, riparian management, water quality, the river channel, wetlands, and invasive species management in waterways. The Strategy acknowledges that co-dependencies exist between all management areas in maintaining or improving outcomes for waterway health. Regional Strategies Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) are designated as waterway managers under Part 10 of the Victorian Water Act (1989). CMAs have established Regional Catchment Strategies that are the primary integrated planning framework for land, water and biodiversity management in each region in Victoria, providing an overarching strategic framework for actions. CMAs have also prepared Regional Waterway Strategies that identify, in consultation with local communities, the regional priorities for on-ground works and environmental water based on the values (environmental, social, cultural, economic), threats, and condition. In the Victorian Murray WRPA the relevant CMAs are:  Mallee

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 22

 North Central  Goulburn Broken  North East. Environmental water framework Of the waterway management issues outlined in the Strategy, environmental water plays a significant role to waterway health. River regulation across Victoria has affected hydrological regimes required to support environmental values. Licenced surface and groundwater use can also affect the amount of water available for environmental needs. In order to provide more appropriate regimes for the environment, the adaptive management cycle is applied and includes:  ensuring environmental water needs are understood and met  ensuring environmental water is protected – this includes having appropriate policy and legislation in place  ensuring the water regime is managed to meet environmental objectives (planning and delivering water for the environment)  overcoming physical or operational constraints to enable best use of the water and maximise outcomes for the environment  monitoring of environmental water management in order to demonstrate outcomes; and  reviewing the process in order to adapt and improve as required.

Necessary to support these are:  clear roles and responsibilities  management of risks relating to environmental water  adequate research to support environmental watering knowledge  appropriate investment at each stage. Environmental water planning, prioritisation and delivery Using the state and regional strategies as a basis, CMAs and the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) undertake detailed planning for environmental water at both the long-term and annual scales. Figure 3 presents the environmental water planning and delivery framework in Victoria, taking into consideration the Basin, State and Regional scales, as well as long-term and annual. This includes development of Environmental Water Management Plans (EWMPs) and Seasonal Watering Proposals by CMAs, and the state-wide Seasonal Watering Plan by VEWH. In use of its environmental water holdings, the VEWH then employs criteria to prioritise watering actions that includes extent of environmental benefit, certainty in achieving environmental benefit, water requirements of a site, feasibility of the watering action, and overall cost effectiveness. Delivery Partners

A number of key delivery partners are involved in environmental water outcomes in Victoria. These organisations and their roles are identified in the Cooperative Arrangements section of this plan (Section 5). Other considerations

In planning for environmental watering and making decisions about the use of environmental water, the primary purpose is to maximise environmental benefit. Where consistent with this objective, environmental water managers also consider whether shared benefits can be achieved. Shared benefits are

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 23 secondary opportunistic benefits which can be achieved from environmental watering, including social, cultural, recreational, and economic benefits. In many situations environmental water provides these benefits. However the use of environmental water to provide for specific social, cultural, recreational or economic benefits cannot be prioritised at the expense of achieving environmental objectives. Waterway managers work with communities to identify the environmental, social, Indigenous cultural and economic values of waterways through Regional Waterway Strategies, EWMPs, and seasonal watering proposals. Environmental water managers will continue to work with stakeholders to achieve shared benefits from environmental watering, , as per the engagement principles outlined in chapter 6 of the Victorian Waterway Management Strategy

The Basin Plan also requires environmental water planning to maximise benefits and effectiveness by having regard to Indigenous values and uses. To this end the MDBA and MLDRIN are working together to improve the process of recognition of Indigenous values and uses and cultural outcomes in the Basin-Wide Environmental Watering Strategy and Annual Priorities.

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BASIN STATE REGIONAL

Victorian Waterway Management Strategy (VWMS) • Sits within an integrated catchment management context and facilitates regional decision making • Provides a vision, guiding principles and Set policy/guide management approach development of Regional Waterway Strategy (RWS) • Establishes targets that summarise key • Identifies priority river reaches/ regional management activities over the next wetland and values in each region 8 years to maintain and improve condition of waterways

Basin-wide Environmental Watering Strategy (BWS) Long-term Watering Plan (LTWP) Inform • Sets out expected environmental outcomes, • Required for each surface water resource plan development Environmental Water Management objectives and targets at the basin scale area under the Basin Plan of Plan (EWMP) • Provides water management strategies for • Identifies environmental watering • Outlines long-term ecological maximising environmental outcomes requirements for priority assets and objectives, desired flow regimes and • Focuses on four components: river flows and ecosystem functions management arrangements connectivity, native vegetation, waterbirds and • Identifies co-operative arrangements, long- native fish terms risks and operational constraints

Environmental flow studies • Scientific analysis of flow Guides development components required to support key of environmental values and objectives

Seasonal Watering Plan / Annual Watering Priorities Seasonal Watering Proposals • Developed by Victorian Environmental Water • Developed by Catchment Basin Annual Environmental Watering Priorities Holder (VEWH) Management Authorities (CMAs) • Developed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority • Describes statewide potential environmental • Describes regional priorities for • Guides the annual planning and prioritisation of watering in the coming year under a range of Used to inform environmental water use in the environmental watering across the Basin planning scenarios coming year under a range of • Consolidates the seasonal watering proposals planning scenarios accepted by the VEWH

Environmental Watering

Figure 4 : Environmental water planning and delivery framework in Victoria – Basin, State and Regional scales

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2. Water resource plan area

The Victorian Murray WRPA covers a broad range of aquatic environments from the highlands in the far east, to the drier mid-Murray in the far west. There are several full river systems in the WRPA, such as the Kiewa and Mitta Mitta Rivers. Other rivers that begin in different WRPA converge with the River Murray here. There also a significant number of wetlands in the WRPA, including those on the Victorian side of the River Murray. Waterways in the WRPA are managed by four CMAs, the North East, Goulburn Broken, North Central, and Mallee CMAs. 2.1 Features of the area The extent of the Victorian Murray WRPA is shown in Figure 6. The WRPA area extends from Omeo in the far east of Victoria to the South Australian border in the north west of the state. The WRPA can be characterised by two distinct regions. The first of these regions comprises the Victorian tributaries of the Murray River, upstream of Albury, including the Kiewa and Mitta Mitta Rivers. The second region comprises the lower reaches of tributaries from the Northern Victoria WRPA and the anabranches and floodplain wetlands along the length of the Murray River. Topography / elevation ranges The topography of the region varies between the highly undulating valleys in the north east, down to the floodplains of the Murray River. The highest point in the water resource plan area is Mt Bogong, Victoria’s highest peak at 1986 metres above sea level, and the lowest point on the floodplains near Mildura at or below 50m above sea level (Figure 5). The eastern part of the region has elevations ranging from 150 to 2000m AHD, while the Murray floodplain area gradually drops from 150 to 30m AHD (ABS, 2012). Figure 5 presents the (relative) topography in the Victorian Murray WRPA. Geology, soils, and landuse The Victorian Murray region comprises two connected regions: the Murray River floodplain between Barmah and Mildura, and the Kiewa and Mitta Mitta River catchments. The upper Murray area landscape is dominated by the key industries of dairy, beef, wool, cropping and horticulture. Over 55% of the North East (the area defined by the North East CMA) is public land. This includes over 200 parks and reserves, used for a variety of biodiversity, eco-tourism and recreational fishing activities. The Murray floodplain area also has some areas of public conservation land, coupled with large areas of irrigation agriculture. The Murray River floodplain area is largely comprised of alluvium and incised alluvium geology units. The Upper Murray area is comprised of a mixture of sandstone and granite areas (Adaminaby Group, Omeo metamorphic Complex, Early Devonian Granite, and Silurian Granite). Rainfall distribution The climate for the Victorian Murray is quite varied as it extends over a large area. In the ranges the average annual rainfall up to 2000 millimetres in some areas, and drops to below 300 millimetres near Mildura. The rainfall occurs throughout the year, with the highest monthly averages in winter (BoM, 2015). Working rivers The rivers of the Victorian Murray WRPA provide for environmental, economic, and social benefits. As such the rivers have been modified to varying extent from their natural state. The modifications

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 26

have impacted on the hydrologic regime, physical form, riparian vegetation, water quality and instream ecology. It is not intended that these streams be restored to a pre development state, but be managed as ‘working rivers’ with agreed sustainable levels of modification and use, which may include improvements in ecological values and functions.

Figure 5: Topography in the Victorian Murray WRPA indicated by relative variation (red represents areas of high elevation, green represents areas of low elevation) 2.2 Priority assets within the Victorian Murray WRPA In LTWPs, priority assets are water-dependent ecosystems (places) that can be managed with environmental watering. An asset may be a single wetland or waterbody (e.g. Barmah), a wetland complex (e.g. Central Murray wetlands), or a river at a geographic location (Gunbower Creek). Priority waterways and creeks within the Victorian Murray WRPA are set out in Table 1. It is important to note that the majority of the priority rivers in Table 1 are regulated. These are the rivers that have held environmental water (HEW) and this plan seeks to guide use of HEW to meet objectives and targets. It is recognised that there are unregulated rivers (Tullah Creek) that are also important assets within the WPRA for environmental outcomes. However, in unregulated systems, there is no HEW to manage for specific environmental outcomes, so the aim for unregulated rivers is to maintain existing arrangements (e.g. conditions regulating the take of water through Bulk Entitlements and licences).

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Table 1 Locations of priority assets are provided in Figure 6. Note wetlands have been included in the list below that may cross the WRPA boundary with either Northern Victoria or Wimmera-Mallee, but receive water from the Murray. It is important to note that the majority of the priority rivers in Table 1 are regulated. These are the rivers that have held environmental water (HEW) and this plan seeks to guide use of HEW to meet objectives and targets. It is recognised that there are unregulated rivers (Tullah Creek) that are also important assets within the WPRA for environmental outcomes. However, in unregulated systems, there is no HEW to manage for specific environmental outcomes, so the aim for unregulated rivers is to maintain existing arrangements (e.g. conditions regulating the take of water through Bulk Entitlements and licences).

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Table 1: Priority assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA by river system.

Asset Name Catchment Asset Manager Schedule 8 Asset Characteristics Criteria Broken River catchment Broken and Nine Mile Creeks Broken Goulburn Broken CMA 3 Pathway for migration, movement of native water- 4 dependent biota 5 Endangered & vulnerable EVCs EPBC, FFG, vulnerable & endangered Victorian advisory listing Black Swamp Broken Goulburn Broken CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, BONN 2 292 Red Gum Swamp - Vulnerable 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed Kinnairds Swamp Broken Goulburn Broken CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA Some deep freshwater marsh remains. 3 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed 4 Supports significant levels of native biodiversity and 5 supports 125 Plains Grassy Wetland - endangered community within the basin. River Murray catchment Barmah Forest, including Tullah Murray Goulburn Broken CMA 1 Ramsar, JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, Bonn Convention Creek 3 important breeding, nursery & feeding habitat – 4 waterbirds & native fish 5 EPBC Act, FFG Act Supports significant numbers of native water-dependent species

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Asset Name Catchment Asset Manager Schedule 8 Asset Characteristics Criteria

Sandilong Creek Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, BONN EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed 4 High level of ecological communities which would support 5 high level of biodiversity as a result of environmental watering. Belsar and Yungera Islands Murray Mallee CMA 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed 2 EVC 103 Riverine Chenopod Woodland - Endangered Belsar and Yungera floodplain Murray Mallee CMA 2 River red gum communities. 3 includes a number of deep, frequently inundated 4 wetlands including Yungera Creek. 5 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed highly diverse ecotone where the riverine and lower Murray floodplain environments integrate. Site has 22 EVCs. Bottle Bend Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, BONN 2 292 Red Gum Swamp - Vulnerable FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed 4 Bumbang Island Murray Mallee CMA 1 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed 5 Providing appropriate water requirements to support the vegetation communities will support habitat for birds that have adapted to the required flooding and drying cycle Burra Creek floodplain Murray Mallee CMA 1 CAMBA, JAMBA 4 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed High level of ecological communities which would support 5

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Asset Name Catchment Asset Manager Schedule 8 Asset Characteristics Criteria high level of biodiversity as a result of environmental watering. Cardross Lakes Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA 3 Significant water depth, 4 good water quality and diversity of aquatic habitat at 5 Cardross Lakes made it the most significant wetland in the region, particularly for native fish. Provides connectivity. EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed High fauna diversity. Good water quality and diversity of aquatic habitat. Carina Bend Murray Mallee CMA 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed 5 Diverse range of water dependent flora and fauna species Chaffey and Johnstons Murray Mallee CMA 4 FFG Act, DSE Listed 5 High level of ecological communities which would support high level of biodiversity as a result of environmental watering. Hattah Lakes (TLM Icon site) Murray Mallee CMA 1 Linkage enables movement and dispersal of biota 3 between floodplain and terrestrial bioregions. 4 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed . High value drought refuge for wet-land for wet-land dependent waterbirds. High level of biodiversity Hattah Lakes North (supply Murray Mallee CMA 3 Provides connectivity. measure site) 4 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed Karadoc Swamp Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, BONN High habitat diversity

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Asset Name Catchment Asset Manager Schedule 8 Asset Characteristics Criteria 3 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed 4 Has previously supported significant biodiversity 5 Kings Billabong Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed Supports significant biodiversity 5 Lake Koorlong Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA 3 Significant water depth, good water quality and diversity of aquatic habitat at 4 Cardross Lakes made it the most 5 significant wetland in the region, particularly for native fish. Provides connectivity. EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed High fauna diversity. Good water quality and diversity of aquatic habitat. Lakes Hawthorn and Ranfurly Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA,KAMBA, ROKAMBA 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed High level of biodiversity 5 Lindsay, Wallpolla, Mulcra Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, BONN Islands (TLM Icon site) 3 Providing longitudinal connection to the River Murray and its floodplains, as well as lateral connection into the semi- 4 arid Mallee environment 5 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed Important as habitat for both nomadic and migratory waterbirds. 17 water dependent EVCs are present. Lindsay-Walpolla Islands Murray Mallee CMA 2 Large deep pools - drought refuge, triggers breeding.

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Asset Name Catchment Asset Manager Schedule 8 Asset Characteristics Criteria (supply measure site) 3 Supports significant numbers of water dependent species. 4 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed 5 EVC 103 – Riverine Chenopod Woodland - Endangered. Margooya Lagoon Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed Merbein Common Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA 3 Waterbird breeding habitat FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed 4 Water-dependent and migratory species 5 Murray River – Lock 6-10 Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA Fast-flowing habitat in Mullaroo Creek and Chowilla Creek 3 support the only two self-sustaining populations of 4 Murray Cod in the lower Murray River EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed Murray River – Lock15 Murray Mallee CMA 14 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBAEPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed 5 The flora of the system is diverse, with over 630 native plant species known to occur. Murrumbidgee Junction Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA

3 Water dependent species which will benefit from the wetlands in the target area receiving water FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed 5 EVC 103 Riverine Chenopod Woodland - endangered, 809 Floodplain Grassy Wetland - endangered Nyah and Vinifera FMU (Nyah Murray Mallee CMA 2 Regent Parrot and Carpet Python are indirectly Forest, Vinifera Forest) 4 dependent on water, ie they require riparian trees, (supply measure sites) vigorous ground cover and fallen timber

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Asset Name Catchment Asset Manager Schedule 8 Asset Characteristics Criteria FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed Piambie WMU (Bridge creek, Murray Mallee CMA 1 CAMBA Heywood Lake) 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed 5 Flows into the creek and wetlands of the floodplain are less frequent. 103 Riverine Chenopod Woodland - Endangered Pound Bend Murray Mallee CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA 3 The movement of species of fish, invertebrates and amphibians is driven by floodplain and wetland connectivity. The site is important for specific dispersal 4 and connectivity functions. 5 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed High fauna biodiversity Psyche and Woorlong Murray Mallee CMA 4 EPBC act, FFG Act, DSE Listed 5 Recognised as a significant conservation area Spences Bend (Bullock Swamp) Murray Mallee CMA 1 CAMBA 3 Dominated by Lignum, (Muehlenbeckia florulenta), which becomes an extensive aquatic habitat for fish, reptiles and macroinvertebrates when inundated.

4 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed 5 Six bird species are considered water-dependent because they forage or nest in or over water, or require flooding to trigger breeding and fledging (Eastern Regent Parrot). Twelve ecological vegetation classes (EVCs) occur. Tata / Boundary bend Murray Mallee CMA 1 CAMBA 3 Include species that forage or nest in or on water or require flooding to trigger breeding and fledging

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Asset Name Catchment Asset Manager Schedule 8 Asset Characteristics Criteria 4 EPBC act, FFG Act, DSE Listed 5 Eastern Regent Parrot, which is indirectly dependent on water as they require healthy River Red Gum and Black Box for nesting habitat Walshes Bend Murray Mallee CMA 4 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE List 5 Thirteen Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC’s) occur at Walshes Bend. Four of these are listed as vulnerable within the Robinvale Plains bioregion. Wemen-Liparoo Murray Mallee CMA 3 Contains a floodplain wetland complex of four wetlands which are categorised as deep freshwater marsh, shallow freshwater marsh and permanent open freshwater.

4 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed 5 A high level of ecological communities exist within the site (9 EVCs). Gunbower Creek Murray North Central CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA 3 Important waterbird & native fish feeding & breeding 4 habitat 5 EPBC Act, FFG Act, threatened species Capable of supporting significant water dependent species 19 EVCs Gunbower Forest (TLM Icon Murray North Central CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, BONN site) 2 EVC 103 – Riverine Chenopod Woodland - Endangered. Large deep pools - drought refuge, triggers breeding. 3 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed 4 Supports significant numbers of water dependent species. 5 Gunbower National Park Murray North Central CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, BONN

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Asset Name Catchment Asset Manager Schedule 8 Asset Characteristics Criteria (supply measure site) 3 Large deep pools - drought refuge, triggers breeding. 4 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed 5 Supports significant numbers of water dependent species. EVC 103 – Riverine Chenopod Woodland - Endangered. Guttrum and Benwell Forests Murray North Central CMA 1 (supply measure sites) 3 semi-permanent wetlands, or swamps, are characterised by open water, marshland, reed bed and herbland vegetation, fringed with River Red Gum. EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed 4 Supports significant numbers of water dependent species.

Pig Swamp Murray North Central CMA 2 EVC 103 Riverine Chenopod Woodland - endangered 4 EPBC, FFG, DSE Richardsons Lagoon Murray North Central CMA 1 CAMBA 3 803 Plains Woodland, 103 Riverine Chenopod Woodland - Endangered 4 FFG Act, DSE Listed Murray floodplain between Murray North East CMA 4 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE Listed Lake Hume and Lake Mulwala Loddon River catchment Loddon River (lower) Loddon North Central CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, Bonn Convention High instream woody habitat values - critical habitat 2 component for River Blackfish 3 Deep pools – critical drought refuge 4 Provides connectivity to facilitate migration, movement and dispersal 5 EPBC Act, FFG Act, DSE list Supports significant levels of native biodiversity

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Asset Name Catchment Asset Manager Schedule 8 Asset Characteristics Criteria Endangered EVCs Lake Cullen Loddon North Central CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, BONN 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed 5 Lake Elizabeth Loddon North Central CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA,BONN 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed Golf Course Lake Loddon North Central CMA 1 CAMBA, BONN, 2 Golf Course is likely to provide many of the ecosystem functions 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed 5 Golf Course Lake was a very high value wetland, in particular as a valuable resting and feeding habitat for large numbers of waterbirds. Hird Swamp Loddon North Central CMA 1 RCW, JAMBA, CAMBA, 3 Deep freshwater marsh - critical drought refuge FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed 4 Range of habitats through Hird Swamp, including open 5 water, reed dominated areas and lignum habitats - highly valued and important wetland. Johnson Swamp Loddon North Central CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, BONN, 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed Lake Murphy Loddon North Central CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, Bonn Convention 3 Significant waterbird breeding & feeding habitat 4 EPBC Act, FFG Act, Vic advisory list 5 9 EVCs

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Asset Name Catchment Asset Manager Schedule 8 Asset Characteristics Criteria Lake Wandella Loddon North Central CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed McDonalds Swamp Loddon North Central CMA 1 JAMBA, CAMBA, ROKAMBA, BONN 4 FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed Wirra-Lo Wetlands Loddon North Central CMA 1 JAMBA,CAMBA, ROKAMBA, 2 Supports a diversity of threatened flora 4 and fauna species as well as vulnerable and depleted 5 vegetation communities. FFG Act, EPBC act, DSE Listed The Wirra-Lo Wetland Complex is ecologically significant due to the high diversity of water dependent flora and fauna it supports. Mitta Mitta River catchment Mitta Mitta River Mitta Mitta North East CMA 3 Vital habitat for dispersal, migration & movements of 4 native water-dependent biota 5 EPBC, Victorian advisory listing Endangered EVCs Supports significant numbers of native water-dependent species Kiewa River catchment Kiewa River Kiewa North East CMA 3 Vital habitat for dispersal, migration & movements of 4 native water-dependent biota 5 EPBC, Victorian advisory listing Endangered EVCs Supports significant numbers of native water-dependent species

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Figure 6: Priority assets within the Victorian Murray WRPA

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 39

2.3 Significant features of priority assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA 1 The Victorian Murray WRPA contains a myriad of significant riverine, floodplain and wetland systems connected to the Murray River. The system includes four of the MDBA Icon sites (Lindsay-Walpolla, Hattah Lakes, Gunbower Forest and Barmah Forest) and associated wetlands, other wetlands along the river and the lower reaches of some rivers (Broken Creek and the Loddon River). Many of these sites are recognised as internationally or nationally significant. The below focuses on the priority assets that receive HEW and where specific management for environmental outcomes may be employed. Icon sites The Barmah Forest (along with the Millewa Forest across the river in NSW) is the largest river red gum forest in Australia and the most intact freshwater floodplain system along the River Murray. The forest is a significant feeding and breeding site for waterbirds including egrets, spoonbills, ibis, bitterns and night herons, as well as for significant frog and turtle populations. A large diversity of significant fish species inhabit the forest wetlands and creeks including Murray-Darling rainbowfish, Freshwater catfish, Golden perch, Flat-headed galaxias, Macquarie perch, Murray cod and Silver perch. The forest also supports a broad range of floodplain vegetation communities including River red gum forest and woodland and the threatened Moira grass plains. Gunbower Forest contains a range of important environmental values including diverse and rare wetland habitats, vulnerable and endangered plant and animal species and large areas of remnant vegetation communities (such as river red gum forest). The forest provides a diversity of habitats for birds and is known to support several internationally recognised migratory waterbirds. Gunbower Creek is an integral part of the Gunbower system, providing important habitat for native fish (such as Murray cod, Trout cod and Freshwater catfish). Due to the high diversity of fish in the creek, it is considered to be a valuable refuge and source of fish for the recolonisation of surrounding waterways. The most recent Index of Stream Condition results indicate Gunbower Creek to be in moderate environmental condition (DEPI, 2013c). Hattah Lakes comprises more than 20 perennial and intermittent freshwater lakes. It is recognised for its waterbird breeding habitat and is a high-value drought refuge for wetland dependent waterbirds including the spoonbill, egret, night heron, bittern, and for migratory bird species. Nine fish species have been reported present in the lakes; five of these have conservation significance in Victoria (Golden perch, Silver perch, Murray cod, Freshwater catfish and Unspecked hardyhead). Flood-dependent vegetation at Hattah Lakes ranges from wetland communities that require frequent flooding to those that require only periodic inundation (such as Lignum and Black box- dominated communities). The Lindsay, Wallpolla, Mulcra islands system includes semipermanent and ephemeral waterways and wetlands which support a range of vegetation types including River red gum and Black box woodlands and Lignum shrublands. The floodplain supports diverse habitat for native fish, frogs, turtles and waterbirds.The surrounding creeks and streams are important in maintaining flowing water habitat for fish species such as Murray cod, Freshwater catfish, Silver perch, Murray Darling rainbowfish and Unspecked hardyhead (Table 2).). When flooded, waterways and wetlands within this system provide important habitat for a range of wetland-dependent species including many waterbirds (e.g. Great egret and Red-necked stint).

1 Much of this information has been derived from the Seasonal Watering Plan 2015-2016 (Northern Region) produced by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder.

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Table 2: Significant native fish in the Victorian Murray WRPA Common name Scientific name Conservation significance2 Murray cod Maccullochello peeli Vulnerable (EPBC Act) peeli FFG list Vulnerable (Victoria) Macquarie perch Macquaria australasica Endangered (EPBC Act) FFG list Endangered (Victoria) Silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus FFG list Vulnerable (Victoria) Trout cod Maccullochella macquariensis Endangered (EPBC Act) FFG list Critically Endangered (Victoria) Golden perch Macquaria ambigua Near Threatened (Victoria) Freshwater catfish Tandanus tandanus FFG list Endangered (Victoria) Murray-Darling Melanotaenia fluviatilis FFG list rainbowfish Vulnerable (Victoria) Unspecked hardyhead Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum FFG list fulvus Flat‑headed galaxias Galaxias rostratus Vulnerable (Victoria) Murray Hardyhead Craterocephalus fluviatilis Endangered (EPBC Act) FFG list Critically Endangered (Victoria)

Central Murray wetlands The Central Murray wetlands are located in the vicinity of Barmah and Gunbower Forests (Figure 6, lower left). There are several internationally recognised, Ramsar listed wetlands within the system including Lake Cullen, Hird Swamp and Johnson Swamp, while many of the others are of regional significance. The wetlands are considered highly significant, supporting several vulnerable or endangered species including the Murray hardyhead, the Australian painted snipe and the growling grass frog. The wetlands provide habitat for many threatened bird species listed under legislation and international agreements, including the great egret and white-bellied sea eagle. Lower Murray wetlands The lower Murray wetlands are located in the linear floodplain along the River Murray from the Murrumbidgee River Junction to the South Australian border (Figure 6, top left). There is a wide variety of wetland types, depending on their location in the landscape, the interaction with groundwater and their management history, so wetlands may be permanent, temporary, fresh or saline. These differences in water regime and water quality provide a diverse range of habitats for different plants and animals. The dominant tree species found at most wetland sites are River red gum and Black box. These trees form significant forests on the floodplain which provide habitat, particularly for birds, reptiles and mammals.

2 DSE (2013) Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria. Department of Conservation and Environment, Melbourne.

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Broken Creek catchment The Broken Creek diverges from the Broken River downstream of Benalla and flows to the River Murray near Barmah Forest. The Broken Creek system is largely characterised by box dominated riparian vegetation and plains grassy woodlands, which support numerous threatened species of state and national conservation significance including brolga. The most recent Index of Stream Condition results indicate Broken Creek to be in moderate to poor environmental condition (DEPI, 2013c).

North East Victoria (upstream of Lake Hume) The two priority assets in the north-east of Victoria are the Mitta Mitta and Kiewa Rivers. The Mitta Mitta River is highly regulated by the operation of Dartmouth Dam. Dartmouth Dam is operated as a storage and regulating structure to deliver water to the Murray River and Lake Hume via the Mitta Mitta River. In contrast the Kiewa River is subject to more limited regulation, with a number of smaller storages constructed and operated for power generation. Neither river has water allocated for environmental purposes, so are not discussed further. Significant water-dependent ecological values in the Victorian Murray WRPA are presented in Figure 7, in alignment with themes set out in the Basin-wide environmental watering strategy (MDBA, 2014a).

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Themes

Native Fish Vegetation Waterbirds Other

Significant water-dependent ecological values

Murray cod River red gum Painted snipe Turtles communities

Growling Grass Macquarie perch Aquatic vegetation Brolga Frog

Silver perch Moira grass Royal spoonbill

Trout cod Black box Great egret communities

Golden perch Lignum White-bellied sea communities eagle Freshwater catfish

Murray-Darling rainbowfish

Unspeckled hardyhead

Flat-headed galaxias

Murray Hardyhead

Figure 7: Significant water-dependent ecological values in the Victorian Murray WRPA

2.4 Priority ecosystem functions in the Victorian Murray WRPA Two ecosystem functions are prioritised for the Victorian Murray WRPA, derived from those identified at the asset scale through EWMP objective setting for environmental watering. This is not a comprehensive list of all possible functions that may exist, either at the asset or the WRPA scale. Note that future iterations of LTWPs will integrate the environmental values and outcomes at the asset scale with those at the landscape scale (single or multiple WRPA), providing a broader picture of priority ecosystem functions. The priority ecosystem functions for the WRPA are listed in Table 4 below. They are considered priority under Basin Plan definitions in that they are able to be managed with environmental water, and meet criteria in Basin Plan schedule 9. The individual assets associated with these functions are listed in Table 1Table 5 of Section 3.

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Table 3: Priority ecosystem functions in the Victorian Murray WRPA Ecosystem Function Schedule 9 criteria Function characteristics Lateral hydrological 2 supports the transportation and dilution connectivity (between of nutrients, organic matter and floodplains, anabranches and sediment wetlands) 4 provides connections across floodplains, adjacent wetlands and billabongs (lateral connections) water quality (that allows for 1 Supports the creation and maintenance ecosystem processes) of vital habitats and populations 2 Supports the dilution of carbon and nutrients from the floodplain to the river system

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3. Environmental watering requirements for priority assets and ecosystem functions

This section outlines the ecological objectives and targets with watering requirements for priority assets and functions in the Victorian Murray WRPA. In addition, this section provides a description of the approach adopted to set these objectives and targets. 3.1 Approach to developing objectives, targets and watering requirements The objectives adopted for this LTWP have been developed from the stakeholder community consulted EWMPs, environmental flow studies and watering guides prepared for priority assets and regions across the Victorian Murray. Objectives need to be met to fulfil the management goals developed for the basin (see Section 1.1) and for the Victorian Murray (see Table 4). Objectives may be couched in terms of ecological outcomes (e.g. specific biota or ecological functions) or the hydrological requirements (e.g. flow, depth, timing) of specific biota or functions. Only when objectives have been set can an appropriate watering regime be developed. The detailed approach to developing objectives, targets and watering requirements is outlined in Appendix 4. The approach builds on the work of individual asset-based EWMPs, which already have ecological objectives and watering requirements specified at the asset scale. These asset-based objectives were categorised, analysed and regrouped to get a set of objectives suitable for the WRPA scale. Targets were not developed in the EWMP process as the Victorian focus has historically been on improving condition over time rather than setting specific targets. Hence, targets have been developed directly at a regional scale for this LTWP. Targets are designed to be ‘SMART’: Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. Criteria were used to select objectives for which it is appropriate to set targets, that is, the objective is sensitive to environmental water, has an available indicator and is significant to the WRPA. From there, targets were developed using a standard framework. Watering requirements for the objectives and targets are provided in Section 3.5. At the regional scale, this is done by linking the objectives and targets to the relevant flow components. The EWMPs, and Seasonal Watering Plans (developed each year), provide further detail on the watering requirements at an asset scale (see VEWH, 2015). This LTWP has been developed with objectives and targets aimed at a 10 year planning horizon. While aspirational statements can provide some indication of the long-term outcome for assets and resources, they do not provide a good basis for target setting in the short-term. Longer-term aspirational outcomes have been balanced with the more certain shorter-term in setting the objectives and targets in this LTWP, as illustrated in Figure 9.

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Time, investment, removal of constraints, water recovered….

Objectives and Objectives only Targets 1 – can meet now 2 – can meet under 3 – can meet under 4 – hope to meet one BP implementation BP implementation day / beyond BP (ie by 2019) if constraints implementation removed / decreased timeline 1-5 years 5-10 years TBC TBC

Figure 8: Certainty of achievement has been used in setting objectives and targets in this LTWP. Longer-term aspirational objectives have not had targets set, due to uncertainty in future conditions and ability for associated targets to be met.

3.2 Management goals for the Victorian Murray WRPA Environmental water management goals have been developed with communities at a site (asset) scale in the EWMP development process. Table 4 summarises some of the main management goals from the Victorian Murray WRPA. These goals have been developed based on the compilation and amalgamation of goals described in asset scale EWMPs developed by Goulburn Broken, Mallee, North Central, and North East CMAs. Table 4: Management Goals from the Victorian Murray WRPA

Management goals Maintain or improve populations of threatened species and communities that are dependent upon waterways and wetlands in the region. Improve lateral connectivity and enhance floodplain productivity Restore and maintain a mosaic of healthy floodplain communities across the region which will ensure that indigenous plant and animal species and communities survive and flourish throughout the site Create and maintain a range of wetland types, with water regimes that vary from permanently inundated through to occasionally inundated. These outcomes also help to support a range of valuable co-benefits such as improved health of culturally significant species and sites

3.3 Ecological objectives for the Victorian Murray WRPA Fourteen ecological objectiveshave been developed for the Victorian Murray WRPA, in consultation with environmental water managers, scientists and regional communities (through EWMPs). The objectives are grouped into themes that correspond to those used in the Basin wide environmental watering strategy, and include an additional theme that encompasses frogs, turtles, crayfish, and macroinvertebrates.

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The ecological objectives for the Victorian Murray WRPA are set out in Figure 8 below. These objectives align with those of the Basin Plan Environmental Water Plan (chapter 8) in that they will support:  Protection and restoration of water-dependent ecosystems of the Murray-Darling Basin  Protect and restore the ecosystem functions of water-dependent ecosystems  Ensure that water-dependent ecosystems are resilient to climate change and other risks and threats in the Victorian Murray WRPA.

Fish Improve the abundance of large-bodied native fish and maintain the abundance small-bodied native fish Maintain distribution of threatened small-bodied native fish Improve habitat and movement and maintain species richness of native fish Waterbirds Improve breeding opportunities for colonial-nesting waterbirds Improve breeding opportunities, habitat and feeding areas for other waterbirds Vegetation Improve the extent and species richness of aquatic vegetation (including Moira Grass) Improve the condition of river red gum dominated EVCs Improve the condition and maintain the extent of black box dominated EVCs Improve the condition of Shrub and Lignum dominated EVCs Connectivity and functions Improve connectivity between floodplains, anabranches and wetlands (Maintain permanently flowing and ephemeral anabranches) Maintain water quality within an appropriate range to allow for ecosystem processes Other values Improve habitat and maintain species richness of frog communities Improve habitat of turtle and crayfish communities Improve abundance and number of functional groups of macroinvertebrates

Figure 9: Ecological objectives for the Victorian Murray WRPA These objectives relate to specific assets across the WRPA. The objectives and related assets are set out in Table 5. The assets listed are those that have the objective specified in the relevant EWMP. The location of the assets is shown in Figure 6 and references to the EWMPs from which the objectives have been sourced can be found in Appendix 3.

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Table 5: Objectives and assets for the Victorian Murray WRPA Theme Objective Assets Improve abundance of large- Loddon River (lower), Bumbang Island; Broken River and Nine bodied native fish Mile Creek (Reaches 1-4); Lock 6 to 10 (wetlands/floodplain); Lindsay-Walpolla Islands

Maintain abundance of Bumbang Island; Lock 15 (wetlands/floodplain); Lock 6 to 10 small-bodied native fish in (wetlands/floodplain); Walshes Bend; Gunbower forest; Lindsay- wetlands Wallpolla Islands; Hattah Lakes; Margooya Lagoon [Bottle bend; Karadoc; Lakes Hawthorn and Ranfurly; Spences

bend; Barmah-Millewa] Fish Maintain distribution of Gunbower forest; Lake Elizabeth; Bottle Bend; Karadoc; Lakes threatened small-bodied Hawthorn and Ranfurly; Bambung Island; Spences bend; Walshes native fish in wetlands bend; Margooya Lagoon; Hattah Lakes Improve habitat for native Bottle Bend; Karadoc; Lakes Hawthorn and Ranfurly; Spences fish bend; Hattah Lakes; Lock 6 to 10 (wetlands/floodplain); Broken River and Nine Mile Creek (Reaches 1-4) Maintain species richness of Lindsay-Walpolla; Loddon River (lower); Gunbower Forest; native fish Bambung Island; Lock 15; Lock 6 to 10; Walshes Bend Improve breeding Gunbower Forest; Hattah Lakes; Barmah-Millewa; Lock 15 opportunities for colonial- (wetlands/floodplain); Lock 6 to 10 (wetlands/floodplain) nesting waterbirds Improve breeding Kinnairds Swamp; Lake Wandella; Bottle bend; Bumbang Island; opportunities for waterbirds Karadoc; Lakes Hawthorn and Ranfurly; McDonalds Swamp; Wirra-Lo; Black Swamp; Lindsay-Wallpolla Islands; Johnson

Swamp; Lake Elizabeth; Lake Murphy; Lock 15 (wetlands/floodplain); Lock 6 to 10 (wetlands/floodplain); Hattah Lakes; Barmah-Millewa

Improve habitat for Hird Swamp; Golf Course Lake; Lake Wandella; Bottle bend; Waterbirds waterbirds Bumbang Island; Karadoc; Lakes Hawthorn and Ranfurly; Johnson Swamp; Pig Swamp; Lake Elizabeth; Lake Murphy; Gunbower Forest Improve feeding areas for Kinnairds Swamp; Lake Wandella; Bottle bend; Karadoc; Lakes waterbirds Hawthorn and Ranfurly; Lock 15 (wetlands/floodplain); Lock 6 to 10 (wetlands/floodplain); Hattah Lakes; Johnson Swamp; Lake Elizabeth; Lake Murphy Improve the species richness Hird Swamp; Golf Course Lake; Merbein Common; Lake of aquatic vegetation in Wandella; Bumbang Island; Piambe; Psche and Woorlong;

wetlands Spences Bend; Tata; Walshes bend; McDonalds Swamp; Pig

Swamp; Lake Elizabeth Improve the species richness Loddon River (lower) of in-channel aquatic Vegetation vegetation Improve the extent of Hird Swamp; Lake Wandella; Lake Cullen; Richards lagoon; Loddon River (lower); Bumbang Island; Burra Creek floodplain;

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aquatic vegetation Psche and Woorlong; Spences Bend; Walshes bend; McDonalds Swamp; Wirra-Lo; Johnson Swamp; Pig Swamp; Lake Murphy; Broken and Nine Mile Creek; Gunbower Forest; Hattah Lakes Improve the condition of Belsar and Yungera Islands; Margooya Lagoon; Nyah Vinifera; river red gum dominated Kings Billabong; Carina bend; Merbein Common; Murrumbidgee EVCs Junction; Wemen-Liparoo; Loddon River (lower); Burra Creek floodplain; Karadoc; Piambe; Pound bend; Spences Bend; Tata; Wirra-Lo; Gunbower Forest; Pig swamp; Kinnairds Swamp; McDonalds Swamp; Barmah-Millewa Improve the condition of Belsar and Yungera Islands; Carina bend; Merbein Common; black box dominated EVCs Wemen-Liparoo; Burra creek floodplain; Karadoc; Lakes Hawthorn and Ranfurly; Piambe; Spences Bend; Tata; Wirra-Lo; Gunbower Forest; Johnson Swamp; Hattah lakes Maintain the extent of Black Lake Cullen; Richards Lagoon; Lake Murphy Box dominated EVCs Improve the condition of Carina bend; Merbein Common; Wemen-Liparoo; Burra Creek Shrub and Lignum floodplain; Bottle bend; Karadoc; Lakes Hawthorn and Ranfurly; dominated EVCs Piambe; Psche and Woorlong; Spences Bend; Tata; Wirra-Lo; Johnson Swamp; Pig Swamp; Lake Murphy; Lindsay Wallpolla Islands; Pound Bend; Hird Swamp Successful growth and Barmah-Millewa flowering of Moira Grass plants

Improve connectivity Murrumbidgee Junction; Wemen-Liparoo; Lock 15 between floodplains, (wetlands/floodplain); Lock 6 to 10 (wetlands/floodplain); Lake anabranches and wetlands. Wandella; Loddon River (lower); Bottle bend; Spences bend; Tata; Lindsay-Wallpolla; Broken and Nine mile Creek; Johnson Swamp; Pig Swamp; Hird Swamp Maintain water quality Merbein Common; Lake Wandella; Loddon River (lower); within an appropriate range Bumbang Island; Lock 15 (wetlands/floodplain); Lock 6 to 10 to allow for ecosystem (wetlands/floodplain); Psyche and Woorlong; Spences Bend;

Connectivity and functions and Connectivity processes Walshes Bend; Broken and Nine Mile Creek; Lake Elizabeth Improve habitat of frog Bottle bend; Karadoc; Barmah-Millewa; Pig Swamp; Lake communities Murphy; Wirra-Lo Maintain species richness of Kinnairds Swamp; Lock 15 (wetlands/floodplain); Lock 6 to 10 frog communities (wetlands/floodplain); McDonalds Swamp; Gunbower Forest Johnson Swamp, Black Swamp Improve habitat of turtle Barmah-Millewa and crayfish communities

Other values Other Improve abundance of Loddon River (lower); Lake Elizabeth; Johnson Swamp; Pig macroinvertebrates Swamp; Mitta Mitta River Improve number of Lake Wandella; Loddon River (lower); Lake Elizabeth; Johnson macroinvertebrate Swamp functional groups present

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3.4 Ecological targets for environmental watering in the Victorian Murray WRPA Targets have been developed for a subset of the objectives developed for this WRPA (Table 6). The process for this selection of objectives for which targets have been set and the process for the development of the targets is set out in Appendix 4. The targets have been developed to measure progress towards the objectives. They are designed to enable reporting at a Basin Plan level and as a consequence, while targets have been developed for only a selection of objectives it is expected that water will be provided to meet all objectives set out in this LTWP. Similar to the development of ecological objectives, the targets have been developed based on a set of commons terms and definitions. For the purpose of this LTWP:  Sites; (or a percentage of sites) refers to a sub-set of sites that will be included in the monitoring program  Maintain; means to prevent further decline (this does not discount an improvement as an acceptable outcome)  Improve; is a general term adopted based on the objectives in the EWMPs. The term refers to an increase in the nominated attributes of the target  Habitat; refers to water-based / instream habitat  Waterbird guilds; are based on feeding and habitat requirements. The main guilds in the Victorian Murray WRPA are Piscivores (e.g. Pelicans and Cormorants), Water fowl (e.g. ducks and coots), Rallids (e.g. Rails and crakes) and Waders and Shorebirds (e.g. spoonbills and ibis).  EVC benchmarks; have a list of "typical" species and lifeforms (e.g. shrub, herb) found in each EVC in a particular bioregion. EVCs with trees (usually terrestrial or riparian EVCs) have standards for tree size and density, organic litter, recruitment and presence of large logs. The condition score for an EVC Benchmark is the sum of the ratings for each component of the benchmark (large trees, tree canopy cover, understorey composition, weeds, recruitment, organic litter and large logs), as outlined in the Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual (DSE, 2004) for terrestrial vegetation. For wetland vegetation, the biota sub-index is used, as outlined in the Index of Wetland Condition assessment procedure (DEPI, 2013a).

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Table 6: Targets for the Victorian Murray WRPA

Theme Objective Target Assets3 Improve abundance of large- A positive trend in the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of Loddon River (lower); Bumbang Island; Broken bodied native fish. large bodied native fish over the 10 year period to River and Nine Mile Creek (Reaches 1-4); Lock 6 2025 to 10 (wetlands/floodplain)

Maintain abundance of small- No negative trend in the abundance of small-bodied Bumbang Island; Lock 15 (wetlands/floodplain); bodied native fish in wetlands wetland specialist native fish in 2025 Lock 6 to 10 (wetlands/floodplain); Walshes Bend; Gunbower forest; Lindsay-Wallpolla Islands;

Hattah Lakes; Margooya Lagoon

Bottle bend; Karadoc; Lakes Hawthorn and Fish Ranfurly; Spences bend; Barmah-Millewa Maintain distribution of Maintain current distribution of threatened small- Gunbower forest; Lake Elizabeth; Bottle Bend; threatened small-bodied native bodied native fish in 2025. Karadoc; Lakes Hawthorn and Ranfurly; Bambung fish in wetlands Island; Spences bend; Walshes bend; Margooya Lagoon; Hattah Lakes Maintain species richness of Maintain the number of native fish species recorded Lindsay-Walpolla; Loddon River (lower); native fish in Sustainable Rivers Audit (SRA) list, in 80% of years Gunbower Forest; Bambung Island; Lock 15; Lock to 2025 6 to 10; Walshes Bend Improve breeding opportunities Water required for successful colonial waterbird Gunbower Forest; Hattah Lakes; Barmah-Millewa;

for colonial-nesting waterbirds breeding delivered in at least 2 years in 10 by 2025 Lindsay-Wallpolla Islands; Lock 15 s (wetlands/floodplain); Lock 6 to 10

Waterbird (wetlands/floodplain)

3 It is likely that only a subset of these assets will be monitored.

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Theme Objective Target Assets3 Improve habitat for waterbirds Appropriate water regime to support feeding and Hird Swamp; Golf Course Lake; Lake Wandella; habitat areas for guilds of waterbirds delivered at Bottle bend; Bumbang Island; Karadoc; Lakes 50% of sites, 8 years in 10 Hawthorn and Ranfurly; Johnson Swamp; Pig Swamp; Lake Elizabeth; Lake Murphy

Improve the condition of river red A positive trend in the condition score of River red Belsar and Yungera Islands; Margooya Lagoon; gum dominated EVCs gums dominated Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) Nyah Vinifera; Kings Billabong; Carina bend; benchmarks at 80% of sites over the 10 year period Merbein Common; Murrumbidgee Junction; to 2025 Wemen-Liparoo; Loddon River (lower); Karadoc; Piambie; Pound bend; Spences Bend; Tata; Wirra- Lo; Gunbower Forest; Pig swamp; Kinnairds Swamp; McDonalds Swamp; Barmah-Millewa In Gunbower Icon site, at least 30% of river red gum Water Regime Classes in healthy condition by 2025

Improve the condition of Black A positive trend in the condition score of Black box Belsar and Yungera Islands; Carina bend; Merbein Box dominated EVCs dominated EVC benchmarks at 50% of sites over the Common; Wemen-Liparoo; Karadoc; Lakes 10 year period to 2025 Hawthorn and Ranfurly; Piambie; Spences Bend;

getation Tata; Wirra-Lo; Gunbower Forest; Johnson e V Swamp; Hattah lakes Improve the condition of Shrub A positive trend in the condition score of Shrub and Carina bend; Merbein Common; Wemen-Liparoo; and Lignum dominated EVCs Lignum dominated EVC benchmarks at 50% of sites Bottle bend; Karadoc; Lakes Hawthorn and over the 10 year period to 2025 Ranfurly; Piambe; Psche and Woorlong; Spences Bend; Tata; Wirra-Lo; Johnson Swamp; Pig Swamp; Lake Murphy; Lindsay Wallpolla Islands; Pound Bend; Hird Swamp

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Theme Objective Target Assets3 Improve connectivity between Meet required watering regime at 80% of wetland Murrumbidgee Junction; Wemen-Liparoo; Lock 15 floodplains, anabranches and sites that have water delivered through anabranch (wetlands/floodplain); Lock 6 to 10

wetlands. connections (wetlands/floodplain); Lake Wandella; Loddon River (lower); Bottle bend; Spences bend; Tata; Murray floodplain between lake Hume and Lake Mulwala; Lindsay-Wallpolla; Broken and Nine mile

Connectivity Creek; Johnson Swamp; Pig Swamp; Hird Swamp

Maintain species richness of frog Maintain the number of native frog species recorded Kinnairds Swamp; Lock 15 (wetlands/floodplain);

communities in 80% of years to 2025 Lock 6 to 10 (wetlands/floodplain); McDonalds Swamp; Gunbower Forest Johnson Swamp, Black Swamp; Bottle bend;

Other values Other Karadoc; Barmah-Millewa; Pig Swamp; Lake Murphy; Wirra-Lo

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3.5 Watering requirements of the objectives This section describes the key components of the flow regime needed to meet objectives. Asset specific watering requirements are documented in EWMPs, seasonal watering proposals, and the seasonal watering plan. Each of these uses the seasonally adaptive approach (DSE, 2009), where priorities for environmental watering, works and complementary measures in any given year according to climatic conditions and water availability. Watering requirements for rivers are specified in terms of different flow components–cease to flow, low flow, freshes, high flow and overbank flow (Figure 10). In regulated rivers, most of the flow components that are needed can be provided through held environmental water (see Section 4). It is relatively straightforward to deliver baseflows and to return some of the small and medium-sized freshes that are critical in the life cycles of various native plants and animals. Baseflows provide the basic habitat for in-stream biota, while freshes can trigger fish migration and spawning, move sediment and nutrients through river systems, connect habitats and improve water quality. However, delivering very high flows (including bankfull and overbank flows) is generally not feasible, due either to volume of water required or to infrastructure constraints, although natural flows can be “topped up” to meet critical depth or duration requirements. Figure 10 graphically depicts the benefits of different environmental flow components in rivers. Table 7 and Table 8 show what flow components are required for ecological objectives that apply to river assets. While the flow components apply across all assets, the detail (flow rate, timing, duration) will be asset specific.

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Figure 10: Benefits of different environmental flow components in rivers (from VEWH, 2015b)

Many wetlands have been disconnected from the rivers that once naturally filled them (through overbank flooding or connection via flood runners). These wetlands now receive insufficient water to support aquatic and riparian vegetation, fish populations or waterbird breeding. Environmental water can be used to reconnect these wetlands and introduce a more natural watering regime, including a wetting and drying cycle where appropriate. Environmental water delivery may sometimes require the use of infrastructure such as pumps, channels and regulators. In wetlands, phases of the wetting and drying watering regime include (Figure 11):  Drying – decline in water volume due to outflows or evaporation.  Dry – No water in wetland  Filling – the inflow of water as trigger for events  Full – the wetland full to the natural outflow or “sill” level and only evaporation and recharge to groundwater will subsequently reduce volume. May be topped up to increase the duration of inundation. Flooded – higher than the sill level during floods or regulated which inundates the managed floodplain of the wetland.

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Table 9 to Table 12 describe what phases of the wetting and drying cycle contribute to ecological objectives that apply to wetland assets. While the cycle components apply across all assets, the detail (frequency, timing, duration) will be asset specific. An additional consideration when deciding which wetlands in any year is maintaining a mosaic of wetland habitat types across the region. This will increase habitat availability over time for waterbirds and allow other water dependent plants and animals to disperse across the landscape (Morris, 2012) increasing the sustainability of environmental assets.

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Figure 11: Benefits of wetting and drying phases in wetlands (from VEWH, 2015b)

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Table 7: Flow components required to meet native fish and vegetation objectives related to river-based assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA Native fish Vegetation Objectives Improve abundance of Improve Improve habitat Improve Maintain species Improve the species Improve the condition large-bodied native abundance of for native fish movement of richness of richness of in-channel of shrubland / lignum fish. small-bodied native fish native fish aquatic vegetation Flow component native fish communities Cease to flow Low flow       Freshes       High Flow   Overbank flow    Explanation (based on Low flows all year for Low flows all Low flow to Winter low flow Low flows for Low flows for habitat; Overbank flows for conceptual models) habitat; year for habitat; submerge snags for widespread habitat: Summer fresh for dispersal watering managed Winter fresh for Summer fresh and provide movement: Freshes and high of propagules floodplain breeding trigger; for habitat slackwater; Summer fresh flows for channel Overbank flow to quality; Freshes and high for local maintenance, access off-channel sites Overbank flow flows for movement; habitat quality, to access off- channel Winter fresh for movement and channel sites maintenance movement breeding and habitat trigger quality

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Table 8: Flow components required to meet functions and ‘other’ objectives related to river-based assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA Functions Other Objectives Maintain water quality Improve abundance of Improve number of within an appropriate range macroinvertebrate macroinvertebrate to allow for ecosystem communities functional groups present processes Flow component Cease to flow Low flow    Fresh    High Flow Overbank flow Explanation (based on Low flows to prevent water Low flow for habitat; Low flow for habitat; conceptual models) quality decline; Freshes for habitat quality Freshes for habitat quality Freshes to flush pools

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Table 9: Elements of the wetting/drying cycle required to meet native fish and waterbirds objectives for wetland-based assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA Native fish Waterbirds Objectives Maintain Maintain Improve Maintain species Improve breeding Improve breeding Improve habitat Improve feeding abundance of distribution of movement for richness of native opportunities for opportunities for for waterbirds areas for small-bodied threatened small- native fish. fish waterbirds colonial-nesting waterbirds native fish in bodied native fish waterbirds Cycle component wetlands in wetlands Regional mosaic    Dry Filling     Full        Flooded Drying  Explanation (based on Full level Mosaic provides Filling provides Mosaic and full Timing of filling Timing of filling Mosaic provides Full level conceptual models) provides habitat different habitats opportunities for level provides important; important; different habitats determines area across region; movement habitat; Full level Full level across region; of habitats and Full level provides between river (or Filling allows determines determines Full level duration; habitat source) and dispersal duration duration determines area Drying phase wetland of habitats and provides for duration Waders

Note - timing, duration and frequency for each of these elements are asset specific.

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Table 10: Elements of the wetting/drying cycle required to meet vegetation objectives for wetland-based assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA Vegetation Objectives Improve the condition Improve the species Improve extent of Improve the condition Maintain the extent of Improve the condition of River Red Gum richness of aquatic aquatic vegetation of Black Box dominated Black Box dominated of shrubland / lignum dominated EVCs vegetation in wetlands EVCs EVC communities communities Cycle component Regional mosaic  Dry  Filling Full       Flooded     Drying      Explanation (based on Flooding to managed Filling and natural Full level represents the Flooding to managed Flooding to managed Flooding to managed conceptual models) wetland extent then drying promotes maximum extent of wetland extent then wetland extent then wetland extent then reducing to full level or germination of different wetted area. reducing to full level or reducing to full level or reducing to full level or lower will water adult functional groups and Regional mosaic will lower will water adult lower will water adult lower will water adult trees, but prevent diversity of habitats increase potential trees, but prevent trees and assist trees and assist waterlogging extent waterlogging regeneration regeneration

Note - timing, duration and frequency for each of these elements are asset specific.

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Table 11: Elements of the wetting/drying cycle required to meet vegetation (continued) and functions objectives for wetland-based assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA Vegetation Functions Objectives Improve the extent of Maintain extent of Wetland Improve the condition of Successful growth and Improve connectivity shrubland / lignum and Riparian EVCs Wetland and Riparian EVCs flowering of Moira Grass between floodplains, communities plants anabranches and wetlands Cycle component Regional mosaic  Dry   Filling   Full   Flooded    Drying  Managed floodplain level Managed floodplain level Different EVCs will have Full level determines Filling component represents the maximum represents the maximum different watering potential extent: determines connectivity extent of communities extent of communities requirements at a local level Requires an annual dry period of 2–3 months from late summer to early autumn

Note - timing, duration and frequency for each of these elements are asset specific.

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Table 12: Elements of the wetting/drying cycle required to meet ‘other’ objectives for wetland-based assets in this WRPA Other Objectives Improve habitat of frog Maintain species richness of Improve habitat of turtle Improve abundance of Improve number of communities frog communities and crayfish communities macroinvertebrates macroinvertebrate functional groups present Cycle component Regional mosaic    Dry Filling   Full      Flooded Drying Explanation (based on Mosaic provides different Mosaic provides different Full level provides maximum Full level provides maximum Mosaic provides different conceptual models) habitats across region; habitats across region; available habitat available habitat (combined habitats across region; Frog breeding triggered by Frog breeding triggered by with vegetation extent and Full level provides maximum filling; filling; condition) available habitat (combined Full level to allow time for Full level to allow time for with vegetation extent and metamorphosis metamorphosis condition)

Note - timing, duration and frequency for each of these elements are asset specific.

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4. Provision of environmental water

In Victoria, all water that is available for the preservation of the environmental values and health of water ecosystems is defined and protected as the Environmental Water Reserve (EWR) under the Water Act 1989 (Vic). The EWR spans both regulated and unregulated water systems, and can consist of water access entitlements in a range of forms, together with water that is available to the environment as a result of rules or conditions. This section describes the provision of the EWR in Victoria’s regulated and unregulated water systems. 4.1 Regulated surface water systems Definition A regulated water system is one where the flow of the river is regulated through the operation of major storages or weirs to secure water supplies. In Victoria, the infrastructure provided for the regulation of rivers to secure water supplies is publicly owned and controlled by Water Corporations. Environmental water in regulated systems There are two forms in which water can be provided for environmental watering purposes in regulated systems. The first is via held environmental water, which consists of a range of water access entitlements that are held in perpetuity and used for the benefit of the environment. A significant portion of Victoria’s EWR is held in this way. In general, these held entitlements are a share of the available resource in storages that can be released to meet specific environmental needs. The distinguishing feature of held environmental water is that, as the name implies, it is a water access entitlement and the water may be called out for delivery by the relevant environmental water manager at a time and in a manner that will best meet the needs of the environment. The delivery of held environmental water is subject to the physical constraints of the water delivery system, the operating rules in place, and any charges for storage and delivery services that are applicable. However within these limits the environmental manager can exercise quite a high degree of discretion in how and where the water is used. Held environmental water in regulated systems is provided in the following forms:  Bulk Entitlements (BEs) or Environmental Entitlements (EEs) allocated for environmental purposes and held and managed by VEWH;  Water Shares, which is an ongoing entitlement to a share of the water available in the water system. Individuals and agencies may hold water shares, and all of the environmental water entitlements held by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder in Victoria are in the form of water shares. Water Shares can be high reliability or low reliability in this WRPA. The second form of water for the environment is planned environmental water. The Commonwealth Water Act (2007) specifies planned environmental water as another mechanism for providing environmental outcomes. Historically, Victoria has considered planned environmental water to take the following forms in the state: • Minimum flows that are required to be provided to achieve environmental outcomes under bulk entitlements allocated for consumptive purposes; • Water that is available (and therefore preserved for environmental purposes) above limits on consumptive volumes of surface water and groundwater including permissive consumptive volumes and other caps, licence conditions, rostering and restriction rules.

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Recent advice (August 2015) from the MDBA indicates that much of Victoria’s planned environmental water does not strictly meet the Water Act( Cth) definition. However these forms are still available to contribute to environmental outcomes. In some cases, the rules preserving minimum flows for environmental purposes allow environmental water managers flexibility and discretion in the management of those flows to provide environmental benefits – for example, by allowing the environmental manger to reduce or suspend passing flows when conditions are suitable and “bank” the reduced release volumes. This banked water can be used at a later time, and in larger parcel if desired, to generate greater environmental benefits than would have been possible with fixed minimum flow rules. Regulated systems in Victorian Murray There are two main regulated systems in the Victorian Murray WRPA, and these are listed in Table 13. Table 13: Regulated systems in the WRPA

System Description Comments Victorian Flows are regulated by Lake Dartmouth Lake Dartmouth and Lake Hume are Murray on the Mitta Mitta River and Lake Hume managed by the MDBA under the terms on the River Murray. Releases from Lake of the MDB Agreement to supply water Dartmouth flow down the Mitta Mitta to NSW, SA and Victoria. They are River, meeting local irrigation demands operated in conjunction with a number along the Mitta Mitta River and then of locks and weirs on the River Murray enter the Lake Hume storage. Releases system to meet the water requirements from Lake Hume supply urban, rural and of these jurisdictions. Further water environmental demands from Lake resources are also available from MDBA Hume to the SA border. managed storages on the Darling River in NSW (Menindee Lakes) and on the River Murray near the SA border (Lake Victoria). Additional supplements can also be provided from Victorian regulated tributaries. The Victorian Murray regulated system also supplies water into a number of irrigation systems. These include the Murray Valley and Torrumbarry Irrigation Areas, and the Tresco, Nyah, Robinvale, Red Cliffs, Mildura and Merbein Irrigation Districts. Lower Broken Flows are primarily regulated by In addition to the primary Goulburn Creek transfers of water into to the Broken resource inputs, there is limited capacity Creek from the Goulburn regulated river to take Murray water through the system via the East Goulburn Main Murray Valley irrigation supply network channel. The regulated reach of the and outfall it into the Lower Broken Lower Broken Creek extends form Creek. The Murray BE provides for a Katandra Weir on the Broken Creek maximum of 40 GL to be available for downstream to its confluence with the input to the Broken Creek to cover River Murray resource shortfalls in years when the seasonal determination for Murray system (which includes Lower Broken Creek) is higher than the Goulburn seasonal determination.

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4.2 Unregulated surface water systems Definition An unregulated river system is one where no major publicly owned dams or weir structures have been built to regulate the supply, or extraction, of water for consumptive use. In unregulated systems, the holder of a water entitlement cannot order the release or delivery of water. This does not mean that there are no storages in these systems. There are often large numbers of both on and off stream storages in unregulated systems. The key issue is that these storages are privately owned and controlled, and generally sized to store and manage the water entitlements for a single property or hydro-electricity. Environmental water in unregulated systems The absence of publicly owned storages means that there is no capacity to have held environmental water entitlements in unregulated systems. In unregulated systems, the overarching objectives of the Basin Plan are progressed by strengthening existing processes relating to trade and allocation of water entitlements and conditions on water entitlements, to ensure the availability of environmental water is maintained. These systems therefore rely on planned environmental water. Planned environmental water is made available through the operation of rules or conditions in water management plans or local management rules for unregulated streams. Given that the only operational water management rule generally available in an unregulated system is to permit or prohibit extraction of water, planned environmental water typically relies on establishment of trigger flows that initiate the rostering, restriction or suspension of pumping in an unregulated stream. The Victorian Waterway Management Strategy sets out policy positions on the management of environmental water in unregulated systems (DEPI, 2013). Policy 8.15 states that the management of these systems will focus on maintaining and managing environmental water by strengthening existing processes relating to trade and allocation of water entitlements and conditions on water entitlements, to ensure the availability of environmental water is maintained. The Victorian Waterway Management Strategy also commits to the development of formal management arrangements for flow stressed systems: In priority unregulated systems that are flow-stressed in summer, formal management arrangements may be implemented. These arrangements provide for sustainably managing available water resources in an unregulated system to balance the needs of all users, including the environment. Types of existing management plans include: • Streamflow Management Plans – statutory plans for managing water resources of priority unregulated waterways that are under stress, or where there is a demand for more development. • Integrated water management plans – recognise the connections between groundwater and surface water in systems where these water resources are highly-connected. • Local management rules – capture and formalise existing rules in unregulated systems where there is no statutory management plan. Unregulated systems of Victorian Murray In the Victorian Murray WRPA, a range of water management arrangements has been developed for unregulated streams. Local management rules have been developed and published for virtually all significant unregulated streams in the WRPA.

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4.3 Groundwater systems Groundwater in Victoria is also considered ‘unregulated’ and is managed through caps (or ‘permissible consumptive volumes’ (PCVs)) on a groundwater management area, and through licences that share water amongst users and ensure protection of environmental needs. Statutory Groundwater Management Plans and non-statutory local management plans are used to sustainably manage groundwater resources. Groundwater is important to the environment in that it supports groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) – i.e. those that rely on groundwater for all or part of their water needs such as river reaches that gain or lose groundwater, wetlands that rely on shallow aquifers, or terrestrial vegetation that relies on shallow or deeper aquifers. In addition to these planning processes for managing unregulated surface water entitlements, the Ministerial Guidelines for Groundwater Licensing and the Protection of Groundwater Dependant Ecosystems (DELWP, 2015) oblige water corporations to undertake a structured assessment of the risks to groundwater dependant ecosystems (GDEs) associated with the issue or transfer of a groundwater licence. For medium or high risk proposals, suitable risk mitigation treatments must be developed and incorporated in licence conditions, or alternative the application may be refused if suitable mitigations are not available. These guidelines support and complement the objectives of the surface water management processes in unregulated catchments to protect and enhance environmental conditions. Effective and sustainable management of GDEs in Victoria requires continued improvement in the knowledge of the distribution, condition and environmental values of GDEs, including information about groundwater and surface water interactions. Actions in the Victorian Waterway Management Strategy (DEPI, 2013) are working towards such knowledge for high-priority, high risk GDEs.

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5. Cooperative arrangements

Environmental water management involves a range of people and organisations. This section describes these partnerships, and identifies the processes by which collaboration occurs between agencies and across regions. 5.1 Context Victoria has strong co-operative arrangements between holders of held environmental water (VEWH, CEWH, MDBA), managers of planned environmental water (water corporations), and managers of environmental assets for the delivery of environmental water (water corporations, CMAs).

The Victorian government has established these arrangements in consultation with delivery partners and communities. The arrangements are underpinned by a range of policy, regulatory and governance frameworks. 5.2 Responsible organisations Four types of public authorities collaborate to deliver environmental water in Victoria (Figure 12). These authorities, referred to as program partners, are listed in Appendix 5 along with their respective roles and responsibilities, which are summarised as follows:  Waterway managers (CMAs) are responsible for management of the priority assets. They consult with local communities, develop proposals for environmental watering in rivers and wetlands in their region, order environmental water from storage managers, and monitor the outcomes. In the Victorian Murray WRPA, the responsible CMAs are Mallee, North Central, Goulburn Broken, and North East CMAs.  Storage managers (water corporations) deliver water for all water users, including for waterway managers / environmental water holders. In the Victorian Murray, Goulburn- Murray Water and Lower Murray Water are the responsible water corporations.  Environmental water holderscommit environmental water to different rivers and wetlands. They work together to ensure the coordinated delivery of water available under different environmental entitlements, and often have to prioritise across large regions or WRPAs. In the Victorian Murray, the environmental water holders are VEWH and CEWH.  Public land managers are closely involved in environmental water planning and delivery for public land such as state forests or national parks. They may have a variety of responsibilities including operating infrastructure (such as pumps, outlets, gates and channels) and ensuring appropriate public signage during an event. In the Victorian Murray the public land managers are Parks Victoria, DELWP, and Traditional Owner land management boards.  MLDRIN and the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations also play important roles in advising on diverse matters related to water management. In the Victorian Murray WRPA, the Traditional Owner groups are the Barapa Barapa, Barkindji, Dhudhuroa, Latji Latji, Maraura, Ngintait, Tati Tati, Wadi Wadi, Wamba Wamba, Weki Weki, Yaithmathang, and Yorta Yorta.

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Figure 12: Key engagement and responsibilities of partners in the Victorian environmental watering program 5.3 Coordination processes Coordination and cooperation between Victorian environmental watering program partners is critical in ensuring the success of environmental watering activities across the state. As the body responsible for oversight of the Victorian environmental watering program, the VEWH leads the coordination process between environmental water entitlement holders, waterway managers, storage managers and land managers. The VEWH’s seasonal watering plan prioritises the watering activities of the entire State in an integrated way through coordination with these bodies. The process for development of the seasonal watering plan is shown in Figure 13. This process works year round as follows:

 Dec-Mar: CMA planning and consultation to begin preparation of Seasonal Watering Proposals: Waterway managers prepare seasonal watering proposals before the preceding season. These are informed by their regional river health strategies, environmental flow studies, and environmental water management plans. The proposals are developed in consultation with the community and other partners.

 Apr-May: Consideration & prioritisation of actions in VEWH Seasonal Watering Plan; consultation with CEWO, MDBA, jurisdictions. The VEWH prepares a seasonal watering plan based on seasonal watering proposals. This involves consultation with CEWO, MDBA and the jurisdictions (e.g. through SCBEWC – see below) prior to the preceding season.

 Jun : Release of Seasonal Watering Plan.

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 Jul-Jun (year round): Deliver coordination and consultation with storage managers: Throughout the season, the VEWH works with partners to clarify delivery arrangements for watering events and releases seasonal watering statements to communicate decisions on environmental watering activities that are actually to be undertaken. The statements are a record of the implementation of the seasonal watering plan, and can be made at any time throughout the year.

Figure 13: Victoria’s annual environmental water planning process (VEWH 2011) This ongoing and regular communication between storage managers and environmental water managers provides an opportunity to integrate environmental watering into system operations to optimise outcomes, such as through the delivery of consumptive water en route. Environmental water holders regularly coordinate to discuss priorities, negotiate watering commitments, review watering actions and report on outcomes, in collaboration with environmental water managers. This occurs through consultation between the VEWH and the CEWO and TLM at a

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state scale, and with environmental water holders/managers from neighbouring jurisdictions and Commonwealth agencies, including river operators, through the Southern Connected Basin Environmental Watering Committee (SCBEWC). SCBEWC was established in 2014 to coordinate and integrate the delivery of environmental water in the southern-connected basin, and manage the planning and delivery of TLM environmental water. SCBEWC has a particular focus on the River Murray System, including the allocation and management of the TLM portfolio, consistent with Basin Plan Environmental Water Plan and its objectives , in order to meet the overall Basin Plan targets (outlined in Section 1.1). Members include the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, including River Murray Operations; Department of Environment; Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder; NSW Office of Environment and Heritage; NSW Office of Water; SADepartment for Environment, Water and Natural Resources; Victorian Environmental Water Holder; and Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries. SCBEWC meets at least four times each year to coordinate environmental water planning, approximately:  Feb-Mar: start of environmental water holders planning for the following water year  Apr-May: towards the end of water year once Basin and Catchment annual environmental water proposals and priorities have been drafted – to evaluate watering actions undertaken to date and develop an operational strategy for the following water year that seeks to coordinate environmental water delivery for system outcomes.  Jun: at the end of the water year to consider water actions for the following water year that contribute to these priorities and system wide benefits  Aug: to re-evaluate proposed watering actions based on actual flow conditions; and consider actions for the remainder of the water year. SCBEWC also hold teleconferences or out of session meetings monthly to provide ongoing coordination of watering activities in the southern connected system and/or make decisions on TLM portfolio.

The effectiveness of the coordination between environmental water holders was highlighted in the 2014-15 Hattah Lakes watering (in Victorian Murray WRPA region), which relied on contributions from VEWH, CEWH and TLM. The water contributions from each water holder were flexibly managed to maximise the efficient use of available environmental water. The watering utilised TLM and VEWH return flows from the Goulburn system and TLM unregulated Murray entitlement, with TLM and CEWH Murray entitlements used to supplement this supply.

Two key opportunities for improving the provision of environmental water through better co- operative arrangements are:  Ensuring that monitoring is taking place at the right places and  Optimising watering opportunities through multi-site watering. These will be progressed in 2016 through SCBEWC, and the development of a Murray Coordination Plan that will clarify coordinating processes for states, MDBA, and environmental water holders.

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6. Operational constraints

Environmental water delivery is subject to constraints. These constraints may be either physical constraints or operational (and management) constraints. This section identifies the operational constraints in the Victorian Murray WRPA and strategies to manage or overcome these. Operational constraints are only one of the three types of constraints considered in the Basin Plan and MDBA’s Constraints Management Strategy 2013 to 2024 (MDBA, 2013a) (referred herein as the CMS). In particular, the Basin Plan makes the distinction between physical constraints, and operational and management constraints (i.e. c7.08 (1a)), a distinction that is reaffirmed in the CMS. There is no clear distinction between operational and management constraints, and the two words are used interchangeably. Definitions of these are given below

Physical constraints are a natural formation or a physical structure, for example a pipe or channel, that limit the volume of water that can pass a given location (MDBA Basin Plan, p8). Operational (and management) constraints arise from the operating practices employed to manage water resources across the basin. Unlike physical constraints, these constraints cannot simply be resolved through infrastructure works but require policy and procedural changes. An example of an operational constraint is where water accounting frameworks would not allow for crediting of return flows from environmental water use, constraining the ability to achieve multi-site watering from a single water release.

Given the spatial scale of the LTWP, this section intentionally focuses on constraints that affect more than one asset across the WRPA. While there are numerous other constraints which influence the ability to water specific sites, these are better captured and addressed through the site-based Environmental Water Management Plans and related documents. A large body of work has already been undertaken to identify constraints and identify their influence on achieving the environmental watering objectives in the Victorian Murray WRPA. These constraints are listed in Table 19 of Appendix 6, along with the relevant reports. 6.1 Operational constraints affecting the Victorian Murray WRPA The major review of operational and management constraints undertaken for the CMS identified and prioritised operational and management constraints across the MDB. The CMS process to date is described further in Figure 14 and relevant constraints arising from the CMS have been incorporated into the full list of constraints in Table 19 of Appendix 6. The operational and management constraints affecting the Victorian Murray WRPA (refer Table 19 of Appendix 6) can be broadly grouped into six types, those associated with:  Channel/ watercourse capacity i.e. the constraints due to insufficient flow capacity to meet both environmental and consumptive demands at key watering times.

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 Consumptive water entitlement framework i.e. the constraints imposed by the procedures and policies of the water supply system (which was designed to supply water for consumptive use).  Co-operative management i.e. the constraints due to existing governance arrangements that have often been developed independently of environmental watering arrangements.  Flooding i.e. the constraints arising from inundation of private land or public infrastructure  Outlet release capacity i.e. constraints due to insufficient flow capacity through reservoir release valves  Metering and debiting i.e. the constraints from limited metering of flow rates which affects the total water debited from environmental accounts.

Of these six types of constraints, those associated with the consumptive water entitlement framework and channel/watercourse capacity are most numerous (Table 19 of Appendix 6).

In 2014, the MDBA, working with Basin states and communities, completed the first phase of the CMS — the pre-feasibility phase. This identified and prioritised important operational and management constraints, including their relationship to physical constraints, and set-out to define and agree between the MDBA and each of the Basin governments the respective roles and responsibilities to progress priority operational and management constraints. The CMS identified nine types of operational and management constraints for further consideration, and identified four that were considered to make the most significant difference to achieving environmental outcomes. These nine constraints are listed below, with the four priority constraints shown in bold: 1. delivery of environmental water on top of other instream flows 2. channel capacity sharing 3. timing of water availability 4. planned environmental water 5. environmental water can be used throughout the length of a river 6. protection of environmental flows from extraction and re-regulation 7. substitution of held environmental water with other water 8. coordinated planning and delivery of water delivery 9. current river management practices.

Figure 14: Pre-feasibility assessment of operational and management constraints in the CMS current(MDBA, river 2013a)management practices.

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6.2 Strategies to manage or overcome constraints Strategies of the CMS According to the CMS, the most notable operational constraints affecting the southern connected Basin are the unimplemented policy measures outlined in the Basin Plan (MDBA, 2012, c7.15(2)) to:  credit environmental return flows for downstream environmental use  allow the call of held environmental water from storage during unregulated flow events. The MDBA considers that implementation of these two policy measures will resolve a number of operational and management constraints, and is required to achieve the desired objectives of the Basin Plan and this LTWP. The CMS notes that the Basin States agreed to develop implementation plans by 30 June 2015, to address these constraints by 30 June 2019. The Victorian Government is finalising its draft implementation plan for the unimplemented policy measures, for submission to MDBA in late 2015. The Victorian Government believes that the unimplemented policy measures outlined in the Basin Plan have already been achieved. Given this, Victoria's implementation plan will describe the framework in which these measures are being implemented and identify opportunities to improve operability and transparency consistent with MDBA's guidelines. Strategies beyond the CMS Through this work, the strategy to manage or overcome all but two of the operational and management constraints has already been identified and pursued, as detailed in Table 19 of Appendix 6. Table 19 confirms that only two operational or management constraints remain unresolved in this WRPA. These constraints and the approach to resolve them are:  Channel/ watercourse capacity at Barmah Choke: The CMS (MDBA, 2013a) identified priority actions to ‘develop formal supply sharing arrangements to provide a mechanism for managing the delivery of water when demands exceed channel sharing capacity’. At the time of writing informal arrangements have been developed (i.e. arrangements were agreed and are in place for 2015-16) but formal arrangements have not been drafted as yet (pers. comm., VEWH, October 2015).  Metering and debiting in Gunbower Creek: GMW, VEWH and NCCMA are currently cooperating in the development of a revised accounting method that will apply a realistic but conservative initial loss rate (e.g. 20%), accompanied by monitoring of actual losses through monthly water balances. This is expected to resolve the uncertainties in the initial assumed loss rate. At the time of writing GMW were finalising the first draft of the accounting method, for review by the Gunbower Operational Advisory Group before the end of November 2015 (pers. comm., VEWH, October 2015).

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7. Complementary actions

Environmental water is only one component of the activities and works required to achieve the ecological objectives and targets, and overall waterway health. Complementary actions are vital to support the priority assets and functions, and to meet ecological targets of this plan. The essential complementary actions to accompany the provision of a suitable watering regime in this WRPA can be categorised under the following themes:  Riparian land management  Provision of fish passage and appropriate in-channel habitats  Fish stocking  Management of storages and associated thermal profiles  Management of invasive species 7.1 Riparian land management The success of environmental watering programs is reliant on appropriate riparian land management. In particular watering programs aimed at maintaining or improving riparian vegetation condition will require programs to protect riparian vegetation from uncontrolled stock grazing and other damage. Where vegetation has been destroyed or removed, revegetation with appropriate species may also be required. The Victorian Waterway Management Strategy (DEPI, 2013b) establishes a framework to maintain and improve priority public and private riparian land. The main approach for achieving this is for government to provide incentives, principally through voluntary agreements with catchment management authorities, to assist landholders to undertake riparian management activities including fencing, revegetation and vegetation enhancement, weed management and the provision of off stream stock watering infrastructure. Regional priorities for riparian activities are detailed in CMA Regional Catchment Strategies (RCS) and Regional Waterway Strategies (RWS) which were developed in close consultation with their catchment communities. For example, the North Central CMA RWS has set a target of providing 120 km of riparian fencing along the Gunbower Creek system and the North East CMA RWS has a target of 180 km of fencing in the Kiewa River system. The Victorian Waterway Management Strategy (the Strategy) also contains a range of other actions relating to the management of riparian land, including a number of actions regarding the administration and management of Crown frontages, fire behaviour and riparian land, development of guidelines for controlled grazing and floodplain fencing. 7.2 Provision of fish passage and in-channel habitats The success of fish outcomes is reliant on provision of suitable fish passage. The Strategy outlines the management approach and issues associated with the river channel. This includes policies and actions related to the provision of fish passage in the river channel. The intent is that passage for native fish will be maintained or improved by minimising further loss of connectivity and improving fish passage at priority sites. Priority sites in the Victorian Murray WRPA include Gunbower Creek and the Lower Loddon River.

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The Strategy emphasises that high quality instream habitat is essential to support healthy populations of fish. While many aspects of instream habitat (e.g. channel form, instream vegetation) can be addressed with environmental water, the availability of large wood in rivers cannot. Large wood provides shelter, food sources and breeding sites for a variety of instream animals and is especially important for fish. Under the Strategy, large wood in streams will not be removed unless it is demonstrated to pose a serious risk to public safety or public infrastructure. In some cases, large wood may be reinstated into rivers to improve habitat conditions. 7.3 Fish stocking Stocking of appropriate species can assist in rejuvenating existing endemic species, or translocation of a species to a new but viable location. Fisheries Victoria manage the stocking of waterways with recreational fishing species such as Golden perch and Murray cod, which can assist in meeting the objectives and targets outlined in this plan. 7.4 Management of storages and thermal profiles The discharge of unseasonably warm or cold water from reservoirs is known as ‘thermal water pollution’. Thermal water pollution affects downstream water quality by interfering with natural temperature cues that, for example, trigger spawning in many native fish species, and by changing growth rates. The release of bottom water from reservoirs can have additional water quality problems such as excessively low levels of dissolved oxygen, and metal pollution. Complementary actions to resolve this issue are to change off-take infrastructure to provide flexibility in whereabouts water is released from. Changes to infrastructures are proposed only where there is an existing opportunity to modify the structure, or the benefits clearly outweigh the costs. While there are benefits to native fish from addressing these issues, the Strategy also notes that are other issues that need to be considered. In particular, any improvement in environmental values (such as enhancing native threatened species habitat) needs to be weighed against social values such as the value of the downstream reach for recreational fishing of species that favour cold water (for example, trout). 7.5 Management of invasive species The management of invasive species (plants or fish) is a common environmental watering objective recognised by CMAs in EWMPs. Appropriate hydrological regimes can be used to dry out, flush or flood a species from a wetland or river, admittedly with varying degrees of success. However some exotic species thrive under environmental flows and require other specific management actions. An example of this is Common Carp. The key actions in the Strategy that are closely linked to the long term watering plan are to develop an information system for planning, delivering and recording invasive species management activities, results and outcomes that provides consistent data for performance and investment reporting, and identify high risk pathways for the spread of invasive species in waterways. The management of existing and potential invasive species in Victoria is addressed under the Invasive Plants and Animals Policy Framework (IPAPF) under the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. 7.6 Works and measures The Victorian Environmental works and measures program aims to improve or overcome watering limitations, in order to gain better outcomes for environmental values and assets. Works may be in the form of pumps to supply water to isolated wetlands (when cut off from the floodplain),

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regulators to facilitate water movement and holding for required inundation periods, or other infrastructure as needed to improve or provide flows, inundation, or drying of a waterway. Measures may be in the form of buying easements to allow for overbank flows, or altering river operation or delivery in order to provide for better environmental outcomes. This program ties closely in with constraints indicated in Section 6, along with the CMS, and supply measure projects to gain environmental outcomes using less water.

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8. Demonstrating outcomes

This section outlines how the targets set in Section 3 will be measured. Wherever possible, monitoring will draw upon existing programs in order to report on the objectives and targets for this WRPA. 8.1 Existing monitoring programs The Australian and Victorian Governments currently run a number of monitoring programs across the state that target rivers and wetlands, and include some of the priority assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA. These programs have different purposes, the principal ones being to monitor the long-term condition of an asset, to monitor compliance with flows or water quality, and to monitor specific results of environmental flows in meeting ecological objectives (intervention monitoring), leading to improving the conceptual basis by revising it in light of new knowledge (adaptive monitoring). Condition monitoring Currently there is no federal program for monitoring waterway condition: the Sustainable Rivers Audit made two condition assessments at a Basin-scale but that program is now ceased. In Victoria, assessment of resource condition of Victorian rivers and wetlands is undertaken using two specifically developed Indices of condition: the Index of Stream Condition (ISC) and the Index of Wetland Condition (IWC). The ISC is applied statewide, at approximately 8 year intervals. It evaluates the condition of stream reaches (10 – 30 km in length) using five sub-indices: hydrology, physical form, streamside zone, water quality, and aquatic life. While many of the metrics measured are not appropriate for monitoring environmental water outcomes, there are opportunities for suitable metrics to be developed and monitored during ISC assessments. The IWC is a field-based method that is applied as needed to individual wetlands. It is made up of six sub-indices: wetland catchment, physical form, hydrology, water properties, soils, and biota. The biota sub-index records the diversity, health and weediness of the native wetland vegetation, and could be built into a standard method for measuring a number of watering outcomes related to vegetation. Compliance monitoring Compliance monitoring is undertaken by CMAs, water corporations and VEWH. Where targets involve monitoring hydrological outcomes (flow or water quality), data collected through the state Regional Water Monitoring Partnerships’ program, the MDBA flow monitoring or the Victorian Water Quality Monitoring Network (VWQMN) can be used. Under these programs, surface water data is collected from approximately 780 monitoring sites across the state. Statewide monitoring of resource condition in Victorian rivers and wetlands is undertaken using two specifically developed Indices of condition: the Index of Stream Condition (ISC) and the Index of Wetland Condition (IWC). Intervention monitoring Event based ecological monitoring collects data on the hydrological, physical or ecological response to environmental water being delivered to a particular asset or system A key monitoring program in the Victorian Murray WRPA is run through the Living Murray (TLM) Monitoring Program. Various parameters are measured at icon sites of Hattah Lakes, Lindsay-Wallpolla Islands, Gunbower Forest, and Barmah-Millewa Forest. The TLM also contains a condition monitoring component).

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The Victorian Environmental Flow Monitoring and Assessment Program (VEFMAP) is currently investigating the effect of environmental watering (and more general environmental responses to flow variation) in selected rivers throughout the State. This program tests specific hypotheses about ecological responses to particular water regimes and the application of environmental water in wetlands. Annual monitoring at selected sites in the lower Loddon Rivers includes information about fish, vegetation, water quality and geomorphology. An equivalent approach for wetlands (WetMap) is currently under development. Community-based organisations conduct monitoring that could be used to evaluate environmental watering outcomes. These include Birdlife Australia monitoring, Waterwatch and Frogwatch. In addition to these programs, the Aboriginal Waterways Assessment tool is a methodology under development that can assess the cultural health of waterways and the outcomes of environmental watering. There are also broader programs run by the MDBA aimed at the Basin scale, and the Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Program funded through Joint Programs.

8.2 Monitoring of the long-term watering plan targets and objectives Monitoring must be used to show whether environmental water is supporting the targets and objectives set in section 3 of this plan. Monitoring will specify whether the targets have been met through measurable indicators (Table 14). Specific indicators of environmental outcomes and analysis methods will be set separately to this LTWP in 2016 through a monitoring and evaluation plan. Some of the targets signal specific indicators (e.g. catch per unit effort (CPUE) for large bodied native fish, benchmark condition indicators), others will need to be developed. In particular, indicators of distribution for native fish and indicators of water regimes to support breeding, feeding and habitat areas for waterbirds The development of environmental flow indicators can draw upon a number of research projects, designed to elucidate cause and effect relationships. These have been conducted by the Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI), Melbourne University and the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre (MDFRC). These projects include the responses of native fish to flows and water quality in Broken Creek, the Pyramid Creek-Loddon River movement study of Golden perch and the Murray hardyhead monitoring project. Outputs from these, and other, projects will provide valuable data to guide indicator development. Successful outcomes of environmental watering requires a commitment to long term monitoring. Conceptual models of responses to environmental water are still in the early stages of development and assessment. It is too early to definitively predict the responses of environmental values to particular watering regimes. Table 14: Objectives, targets and monitoring in the Victorian Murray

Theme Objective Target Potential Monitoring Programs Improve abundance A positive trend in the CPUE of VEFMAP - annual assemblage of large-bodied large bodied native fish over the sampling in major rivers

Fish native fish. 10 year period to 2025. TLM annual fish surveys

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Theme Objective Target Potential Monitoring Programs Maintain abundance No negative trend in the TLM annual fish surveys of small-bodied abundance of small-bodied native fish in wetland specialist native fish in wetlands 2025. Maintain distribution Maintain current distribution of No program identified of threatened small- threatened small-bodied native bodied native fish in fish in 2025. wetlands Maintain species Maintain the number of native TLM annual fish surveys richness of native fish species recorded in SRA list, fish in 80% of years to 2025. Improve breeding Water required for successful Compliance monitoring for opportunities for colonial waterbird breeding environmental water delivery

colonial-nesting delivered in at least 2 years in 10 waterbirds by 2025. Improve habitat for Appropriate water regime to Compliance monitoring for

waterbirds support feeding and habitat environmental water delivery Waterbirds areas for guilds of waterbirds delivered at 50% of sites, 8 years in 10. Improve the A positive trend in the condition TLM monitoring at Icon sites condition of river red score of River red gums Goulburn Broken and North- gum dominated EVCs dominated EVC benchmarks at East CMA monitoring 80% of sites over the 10 year VEFMAP (lower Loddon) period to 2025 In Gunbower Icon site, at least 30% of river red gum Water Regime Classes in healthy condition by 2025 Improve the A positive trend in the condition EVC condition score

Vegetation condition of Black score of Black box dominated Box dominated EVCs EVC benchmarks at 50% of sites over the 10 year period to 2025 Improve the A positive trend in the condition EVC condition score condition of Shrub score of Shrub and Lignum TLM monitoring at Icon sites and Lignum dominated EVC benchmarks at

dominated EVCs 50% of sites over the 10 year

period to 2025

Improve connectivity Meet required watering regime Victorian and MDBA flow between floodplains, at 80% of wetland sites that have monitoring anabranches and water delivered through

wetlands. anabranch connections Connectivity

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Theme Objective Target Potential Monitoring Programs

Maintain species Maintain the number of native WetMAP tadpole sampling

richness of frog frog species recorded in 80% of (tbc) Other Other values communities years to 2025.

8.3 Improving outcomes The adaptive management cycle has been adopted in Victoria and this LTWP to provide appropriate watering regimes for the environment and improve outcomes. This cycle includes:  ensuring environmental water needs are understood and met  ensuring environmental water is protected – this includes having appropriate policy and legislation in place  ensuring the water regime is managed to meet environmental objectives (planning and delivering water for the environment)  overcoming physical or operational constraints to enable best use of the water and maximise outcomes for the environment  monitoring of environmental flows and results in order to demonstrate outcomes; and  reviewing the process in order to adapt and improve as required. A number of specific programs and processes currently operate in Victoria that facilitate this process and environmental watering, such as connecting wetlands isolated from the floodplain through infrastructure; developing, reviewing and updating FLOWS studies for rivers; and research programs to better understand environmental flow outcomes. Underpinning environmental flow management are research and innovation programs aiming to better understand the environmental flow needs of a river, wetland or landscape. FLOWS studies are a key information source in Victorian environmental water management, developed by CMAs with assistance from VEWH, DELWP and expert scientists. Research programs underway at present include Environmental Water Knowledge and Research project (EWKR), and models resulting from VEFMAP and WetMAP.

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9. Long-term risks

This section describes the long-term risks associated with providing for the environmental watering requirements outlined in Section 3. These risks fall into two broad categories: risk of failure to achieve (or demonstrate achievement) of the intended ecological objectives; and, risk of adverse impacts in the provision of environmental water. 9.1 Processes for identifying risks Victoria has a number of existing annual and longer term processes in place for managing risks:  Annual: Specific risks related to environmental watering are identified and assessed in site- based seasonal watering proposals developed annually by CMAs and documented in the VEWH Seasonal Watering Plan. These proposals draw upon the risks outlined in individual EWMPs and identify specific actions to mitigate these risks. The categories of risk covered include reputation, compliance, environmental, human, costs, time, and non-achievement of objectives. These risks may be specific to that year or require ongoing management (i.e. long term).  Long-term: CMAs across Victoria, in collaboration with communities and agencies, identify key risks that may impact on the ability to achieve environmental watering objectives, or that may otherwise arise, in EWMPs. Management measures are also identified. Both these annual and long-term management documents have been drawn upon to identify risks to include in this LTWP, taking into account the spatial and temporal scale of the plan. 9.2 Types of risks The types of risks associated with providing for the environmental water requirements under this LTWP (see Section 3.5) are outlined in Figure 14. These risks fall into two broad categories:  risk of failure to achieve (or demonstrate achievement) the intended ecological objective  risk of adverse impacts in the provision of environmental water. The risks associated with a failure to achieve the intended objective are described in terms of the process by which they are generated and have been grouped into themes that reflect the consequence of the risk. The risks of adverse impacts arising from the provision of environmental water have been grouped by their impact on environmental, social and economic values. It should be noted that failure to provide sufficient water through the bulk entitlement process will be addressed in the Water Resource Plans (WRPs) (see Basin Plan clause 10.41).

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Risk of failure to achieve objective Risk of adverse impacts

Failure to demonstrate Environmental

Delayed Failure to provide Failure to provide Winter high fresh inundate External ecosystem recommended complementary platypus burrows factors response watering regime works Summer fresh mobilises Monitoring not build-up of leaf litter and Constraints that Poor quality in- provided or nutrients prevent delivery of channel habitat Fire inadequate Watering regime initiates water associated with past practice erosion Inadequate Loss of water during research to Presence of fish Climate Other native species (non- delivery support barriers variability target) disadvantaged conceptual Inadequate supply Inadequate models or Watering regime favours measures in place riparian habitat Change in monitoring non-native species land use design Operational failure Introduced species Social in delivery Climate Inappropriate fish Inundation of cultural Inadequate change stocking or heritage sites conceptual and excessive detailed modelling recreational Loss of Reduction in recreation of water fishing community opportunity requirements support Constraints in not Poor water quality Economic taking a ‘landscape scale view’ Saline groundwater Inundation and erosion of Failure to provide intrusion private land or watering continuing Inappropriate fire infrastructure availability of water regime in Inundation and erosion of quantity (see WRP) headwaters roads and other transport and communications infrastructure Figure 15: Risk types identified for this LTWP

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9.3 Strategies for management Proposed management actions to address the identified risks largely fall into a set of categories that are discussed elsewhere in this LTWP. Namely: the provision of environmental water (Section 4), constraints management (Section 6), complementary actions (Section 7) and demonstrating outcomes (Section 8). These categories of management action are described in Table 15. Table 15: Categories of management action

Management Relevant Comments Examples of risk action category section of management this LTWP Provision of Section 4 Risks can be addressed through the provision of an FLOWs studies to water appropriate flow regime that addresses the objective determine appropriate and does not provide an advantage to introduced environmental watering species regime Risk can also be addressed through the optimisation Provision of landscape scale of water use including landscape scale planning and planning and multisite multi-site watering watering Constraints Section 6 A number of identified risks can be avoided reduced Establishment of management or mitigated through efforts to address constraints agreements with on the delivery of water. These risks include the landholders potential for the inundation of private land and infrastructure Complementary Section 7 The attainment of the objectives set out in this LTWP Programs to remove fish actions is reliant on the implementation of complementary barriers works to address other processes that impact on Riparian revegetation desired ecological outcomes such as fish barriers. programs Demonstrating Section 8 Many of the risks cannot be avoided or reduced, but Wetland condition outcomes mitigated through the adoption of an adaptive assessments management framework in association with an Improved modelling effective programs of research, monitoring and evaluation.

A qualitative analysis of the risks described in this section is provided in Appendix 7. This includes a review of the process that generates the risk, the implications of that process and the options for management of the risk. It should be noted that this analysis is not intended to replace the site-specific risk assessments that are included in EWMPs or Seasonal Water Proposals.

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10. Consultation

Consultation during preparation of this long-term watering plan has involved holders of held environmental water, managers of planned environmental water, river operators, local communities, and those materially affected by the management of environmental water. Consultation has occurred through a three-part devolved approach. It has aimed to:  involve local communities, who have worked directly with CMAs to ensure information and concerns were understood and considered (10.1 below)  collaborate with the VEWH and CMAs, who have provided material and guidance for the LTWP (10.2 below)  consult with the water corporations, land managers, MDBA, CEWH, upstream and downstream states, and MLDRIN, who provided information where relevant and feedback on the content (10.3 below). 10.1 Local engagement During the development of EWMPs, Ecological Watering Guides and Business Cases for proposed supply measure projects , CMAs consulted with local communities and stakeholders in order to gain input and feedback on all or a selection of the following: identification of the asset’s ecological values; the long-term management goal for environmental watering of the asset; the ecological objectives for environmental watering; and the environmental watering requirements. CMAs have an established network of stakeholders from local communities and peak bodies that are engaged on a range of issues. These networks have been established for many years and have been an effective mechanism to engage with local communities. In more recent years, as the environmental water portfolio has expanded, some CMAs have established specific environmental watering advisory groups (EWAGs). Others have conducted consultation on as ‘as-needs’ basis. Examples of those consulted include: local landholders, Registered Aboriginal Parties, local landcare or environment groups, interest groups (e.g. Field and Game, Birds Australia), local shires, local land managers, local representatives of water corporations and government agencies that manage relevant assets/infrastructure (such as roads, culverts, pipelines, and weirs), waterways and the environment, and representatives of CEWH and VEWH. Lists of those consulted can be found in individual EWMPs. Examples of forums used in this tier: telephone interviews, site visits, workshops on water- dependent ecological values, presentations at community forums, and review of the draft EWMP 10.2 Working Group for the long-term watering plan DELWP convened a working group that enabled collaboration with key environmental water delivery partners in the development of this LTWP. Members of the working group include VEWH, Wimmera CMA, Mallee CMA, North Central CMA, Goulburn Broken CMA, North East CMA, and Victorian Living Murray. The working group members authored or coordinated the EWMPs, Ecological Watering Guides and Business Cases for proposed supply measure projects relevant to this LTWP, and gave priority asset management and technical input to the LTWP. Advice and input was particularly sought on development of the ecological objectives and targets in this plan. This group will continue to provide advice throughout future reviews and updates of LTWPs.

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Collaboration with the working group was through workshops, development of key information (i.e. EWMPs), one-on-one meetings, and review of drafts. 10.3 Stakeholder review The working group plus further key environmental water stakeholders have provided input to the plan’s development through review of the draft plan. The draft LTWP was released for comment on 1 September 2015 to representatives from VEWH, North East CMA, Goulburn Broken CMA, North Central CMA, Mallee CMA, CEWH, MDBA, NSW and SA Environmental Water Working Group members, Goulburn Murray Water, Lower Murray Water, MLDRIN, and Parks Victoria. While rapid development of the LTWP meant insufficient time to gain input from Aboriginal organisations, their views were sought during the draft review and will continue to be incorporated into environmental water planning. Presentations were held on 27 August (Canberra) and 10 September (Melbourne) that gave an overview of the LTWP. Individual conversations were also held with a MLDRIN representative. Submissions on the draft were received from 12 of the above organisations. These comments have been addressed in finalising this LTWP. 10.4 Beyond the long-term watering plan Further community engagement will occur for Victoria's Basin Plan implementation through the upcoming Water Resource Plans. This will help feed back to communities how information they have contributed to the LTWP is being used.

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11. Next Steps

This LTWP is one of several steps towards full implementation of Basin Plan. Additional facets are required in order to monitor and evaluate the ecological objectives and targets outlined. A monitoring and evaluation plan will be developed and put into practice in 2016 and beyond, in order to report every five years, beginning 2017. This work will include mapping of the objectives and targets in this LTWP to the expected outcomes in the Basin-wide environmental watering strategy (MDBA, 2014a), and to the objectives of the Environmental Water Plan (Basin Plan chapter 8).

It must be noted that the successful achievement of objectives and targets in the LTWP depends on continued secure and relevant monitoring programs, as well as research and innovation programs aiming to better understand the environmental flow needs of a river, wetland or landscape. Operational constraints (physical and management) will need to be addressed, and in some cases, complementary actions will be needed to enhance the influence of the environmental watering.

Further work will also be pursued in the years between now and the LTWP review and update (due 2018-19) that will establish greater knowledge for:  Landscape scale (top down) approaches that can be integrated with the asset scale (bottom up) approach taken in this LTWP iteration  Groundwater requirements for groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs)  Use of EWMPs to meet LTWP requirements  Further asset-based technical work (through EWMP reviews). A Murray Coordination Plan will also be developed between SA, VIC, and NSW, with MDBA and CEWH input, that will assist coordinating processes and environmental outcomes across state borders.

Table 16: Actions to be progressed subsequent to this long-term watering plan

2015 1st iteration LTWPs Landscape scale considerations in Constraints environmental watering Management 2016 LTWP monitoring and Strategy evaluation plan Groundwater / GDE knowledge

Murray Coordination Plan EWMP reviews 2017 1st reporting on LTWP objectives and targets

2018 1st review and update of LTWPs

2019

Through to 2024

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References

ABS, 2012. The Topography of Australia, Australian Bureau of Statistics. [Online] Available at: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/ [Accessed 28 August 2015].

Birdlife Australia, 2014. Birds of the Murray-Darling Basin. Edited by Richard Kingsford, Jenny Lau and James O'Conner.

BoM, 2015. Bureau of Meteorology Climate average rainfall maps. [Online] Available at: http://www.bom.gov.au/ [Accessed 28 August 2015].

CSIRO, 2007. Water Availability in the Wimmera.. Summary of a report to the Australian Government from the CSIRO Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project.

DEPI, 2013a. Index of Wetland Condition assessment procedure. Victorian Government Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Melbourne.

DEPI, 2013b. Victorian Waterway Management Strategy. Victorian Government Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Melbourne.

DEPI, 2013c. Index of Stream Condition. Victorian Government Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Melbourne.

DEPI, 2014. Draft Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy. Victorian Government Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Melbourne.

Di Stephano, J., 2002. River red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis): a review of ecosystem processes, seedling regeneration and silvicultural practice. Australian Forestry, Volume 65: 14-22.

DSE, 2004. Vegetation Quality Assessment Manual–Guidelines for applying the habitat hecatres scoring method. Version 1.3. Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.

DSE, 2009. Northern Region Sustainable Watering Strategy. Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.

DSE, 2013. Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria. Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.

GMW, 2015. The Region. [Online] Available at: http://www.g-mwater.com.au/connections/the-project/the_region [Accessed 28 August 2015].

MDBA, 2012a. Basin Plan. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra ACT.

MDBA, 2012b. Hydrologic modelling of the relaxation of operational constraints in the southern connected system: Methods and results. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra ACT.

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MDBA, 2013a. Constraints Management Strategy 2013 to 2024. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra ACT.

MDBA, 2013b. Preliminary Overview of Constraints to Environmental Water Delivery in the Murray Darling Basin: Technical Support Document. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra ACT.

MDBA, 2014a. Basin-wide environmental watering strategy. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra ACT.

MDBA, 2014b. Constraints Management Strategy annual progress report, 2013‒14. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra ACT.

MDBA, 2014c. Constraints Management Strategy: Goulbrun River reach report. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra ACT.

MDBA, 2014d. Constraints Management Strategy: River Murray from Hume Dam to Yarrawonga Weir reach report. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra ACT.

MDBA, 2014e. Constraints Management Strategy: River Murray from Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach report. MDBA.

MDBA, 2014e. Constraints Management Strategy: River Murray from Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach report. Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

MDBA, 2014e. Constraints Management Strategy: River Murray from Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach report. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra ACT.

MDFRC, 2013. Long-term Intervention Monitoring - Generic Cause and Effect Diagrams. Report prepared for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office by The Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, Volume MDFRC Publication 01.5/2013, May, p. 163.

Morris, K., 2012. Wetland connectivity: understanding the dispersal of organisms that occur in Victoria’s wetlands. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 225. Department of Sustainability and Environment.

NCCMA, 2013. North Central Regional Catchmnet Strategy 2013-19. North Central Catchment Management.

Papas, P. & Moloney, P., 2012. Victoria’s wetlands 2009–2011: statewide assessments and condition modelling. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 229. Department of Sustainability and Environment.

RMCG and Lloyd Environmental, 2014. Victorian Environmental Water Holder Risk Framework. Developed by RMCG and LLoyed Environmental for the Victorian Environmental Water Holder. SKM, 2006. Goulburn Campaspe Loddon Environmental Flow Delivery Constraints Study. Sinclair Knights Merz.

The Water Act, 1989. Victorian Water Act. Victorian Government Department of Environment and Primary Industries.

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The Water Act, 2007. Commonwealth Water Act. Australian Government Department of Environment, Canberra ACT.

VEWH, 2015a. Seasonal Watering Plan 2015-16. Victorian Environmental Water Holder, Melbourne.

VEWH, 2015b. Fact Sheets. Victorian Environmental Water Holder, Melbourne. [Online]. Available at: http://www.vewh.vic.gov.au/news-and-resources/resource-library/fact-sheets Accessed on 17 November 2015.

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Appendix 1 – Basin Plan obligation compliance

The table below presents the details of each of the Basin Plan obligations related to long-term watering plans and how each of these obligations has been addressed within this plan.

Topic Basin Plan obligations Clause Relevant Page sections of number LTWP 1. Identification of A long-term watering plan must identify Section 3 45 environmental 8.19 (1 – 3)) a. priority environmental assets in the watering water resource plan area; and requirements b. ecological objectives and ecological targets for those assets; and c. environmental watering requirements needed to meet those targets in order to achieve those objectives; using the method in section 8.49 A long-term watering plan must identify

a. priority ecosystem functions in the water resource plan area; and b. ecological objectives and ecological targets for those functions; and c. environmental watering requirements needed to meet those targets in order to achieve those objectives; using the method in section 8.50

If the Basin-wide environmental watering strategy has identified particular assets or functions, and their requirements under subparagraph 8.14(2)(a)(i), a long-term watering plan must be consistent with that part of the Basin-wide environmental watering strategy. 2. Identification of A long-term watering plan must identify: Section 5 69 possible co- possible co-operative arrangements (for 8.19 (4) operative example, possible co-operative watering regimes) between holders of held arrangements environmental water, managers of planned environmental water, and owners or managers of environmental assets for the delivery of environmental water: d. within the water resource plan area; and e. between that area and upstream and downstream water resource plan areas; that will ensure that environmental water

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Topic Basin Plan obligations Clause Relevant Page sections of number LTWP meets the environmental watering requirements identified above. 3. Identification of A long-term watering plan must identify: 8.19 (5) Section 9 84 long-term risks (a) long-term risks to providing for the environmental watering requirements of priority environmental assets and priority ecosystem functions; and (b) the strategies to manage those risks having regard to the strategies in Chapter 44. 4. Operational A long-term watering plan must: 8.19 (6) Section 6 73 constraints (a) identify any operational constraints in relation to environmental watering in the water resource plan area; and (b) include strategies to manage or overcome those constraints.

5. Supporting A long-term watering plan must include 8.19 (7) Throughout & 87 Information references to the information that informed References its preparation. Section 6. Consultation. A Basin State must prepare a long-term 8.20 (1) Section 10 87 watering plan in consultation with: (a) holders of held environmental water; and (b) managers of planned environmental water; and (c) river operators; and (d) local communities, including bodies established by a Basin State that express community views in relation to environmental watering; and (e) persons materially affected by the management of environmental water. Note: Under paragraphs (a) and (b), a Basin State may consult with any holder or manager whose environmental water could contribute to environmental watering in the water resource plan area, regardless of the location of the holder or manager, or of the location of the water.

4 Strategies listed in chapter 4 of Basin Plan: (1) the environmental watering plan; (2) water quality and salinity management plan; (3) water trading rules; (4) water resources planning

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Topic Basin Plan obligations Clause Relevant Page sections of number LTWP 7. Matters to When preparing a long-term watering plan, a 8.20 (2) Section 3 27-37; which Basin Basin State must have regard to the Basin- 42; 44-

State is to have wide environmental watering strategy 45 (Division 2). regard Throughout

A long-term watering plan must be developed consistently with the principles to be applied in environmental watering (Division 6). 8. Consistency with A long-term watering plan must not be 8.20 (5) Section 2 27-37 international inconsistent with relevant international agreements agreements.

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Appendix 2 – Environmental Water Management Plans

Environmental Water Management Plans (EWMPs) are developed to capture the long-term environmental watering requirements of priority Victorian wetlands and rivers that  have environmental values at risk from altered water regimes, and  are able to receive environmental water (DEPI, 2013 - VWMS). EWMPs have been completed within most CMAs across Victoria, and provide information to assist development of the Victorian Environmental Water Holder’s (VEWH) Seasonal Watering Plan, as well as the Annual Watering Priorities and long-term watering plans for Basin Plan. An EWMP is a scientifically-based management plan that documents:  the natural versus developed hydrology of the site, indicating what changes have occurred, leading to why environmental water is needed.  priority environmental values (those that rely on flows or inundation for all or part of their life cycle) associated with the wetland or river  the condition of the wetland or river and its environmental values, indicating why the wetland or river requires environmental watering action  an overarching environmental water management goal for the wetland or river, relating to the important ecological values, and that can be advanced through environmental watering.  long-term ecological objectives that help meet the management goal  the watering requirements for each objective  a watering regime that considers all watering requirements needed to meet the objectives  constraints to watering at the site  risks to meeting the objectives  monitoring required to demonstrate whether the objectives have been met  outcomes of community consultation that has occurred during development of the EWMP. The watering requirements to meet the ecological objectives are based on established technical information including FLOWS studies (for Victorian rivers). The expected ecological benefits of managed watering and drying are indicated in Figure X below and underpin the watering requirements of the EWMP. The use of expert advice in developing the hydrological regime is an important component to the development of EWMPs. Where known, the hydrological tolerances of the ecological objectives are included to help establish thresholds for watering/not watering. The EWMP process, as undertaken by CMAs with external expert advice, assists in creating a robust and scientifically defendable management plan, which effectively identifies a plan to best manage environmental watering at designated sites. Also important to the EWMP is community input regarding the ecological values present at a wetland or river reach (‘the asset’), the management goal for the asset, the objectives, and the hydrological regime of the asset. EWMPs from the Wimmera, Mallee, North Central, Goulburn Broken, and North East CMAs have been used as important input to the preparation of long-term watering plans for Victoria’s Basin Plan requirements. In particular, EWMPs have been used in the development of long-term watering plan ecological objectives and watering requirements.

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EWMPs also provide important asset-based information for other long-term watering plan requirements regarding constraints, risks, and community consultation.

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Appendix 3 – Full list of assets and relevant planning documents

Table 17 lists all priority assets included in this LTWP for the Wimmera Mallee WRPA. It also includes the EWMP or other supporting document where further details about significance of environmental values and watering requirements can be found. At this point EWMPs are not online, but may be sourced from the Manager Environmental Water, Water and Catchments Group, DELWP. Table 17: Priority assets in the Victorian Murray WRPA

Asset Name CMA EWMP (or other document) Barmah (TLM Icon Site) Goulburn Barmah–Millewa Forest Environmental Water broken Management Plan Belsar and Yungera Islands Mallee Belsar and Yungera Islands Floodplain Management Unit Environmental Water Management Plan Belsar-Yungera Floodplain Goulburn Phase 2 Supply Measure Business Case: Belsar- (SDL offset site) broken Yungera Floodplain Management Project Black Swamp Goulburn Black Swamp Environmental Water Management Plan Broken Bottle Bend Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives Broken and Nine Mile Creeks Goulburn Lower Broken Creek and Nine Mile Creek Broken Environmental Watering Plan Bumbang Island Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives Burra Creek floodplain Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives Phase 2 Assessment Supply Measure Business Case: Burra Creek Floodplain Management Project Cardross Lakes Mallee Carina Bend Mallee Carina Bend Waterway Management Unit Environmental Water Management Plan Chaffey and Johnstons Mallee Golf Course Lake North Central Golf Course Lake Environmental Water Management Plan Gunbower Forest (TLM Icon North Central Gunbower Forest Environmental Water Management Site) Plan Gunbower National Park North Central Gunbower National Park Environmental Works Project (SDL offset site) – SDL Adjustment – Phase 2 Assessment – Supply Measure Business Case Guttrum and Benwell Forests North Central Guttrum and Benwell Forests Environmental Works (SDL offset site) Project – SDL Adjustment – Phase 2 Assessment – Supply Measure Business Case

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Asset Name CMA EWMP (or other document) Hattah Lakes (TLM Icon Site) Mallee Hattah Lakes Environmental Water Management Plan Hattah lakes North (SDL Mallee Phase 2 Assessment Supply Measure Business Case: offset site) Hattah Lakes North Floodplain Management Project Hird Swamp North Central Hird Swamp Environmental Water Management Plan Johnson Swamp North Central Johnson Swamp EWP Karadoc Swamp Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives Kings Billabong Mallee Kings Billabong Floodplain Management Unit Environmental Water Management Plan" Kinnairds Swamp Goulburn Kinnaird’s Swamp Environmental Water Management Broken Plan Lake Cullen North Central Lake Cullen Environmental Water Management Plan Lake Elizabeth North Central Lake Elizabeth Environmental Water Management Plan Lake Koorlong Mallee Lake Murphy North Central Lake Murphy Environmental Water Management Plan Lake Wandella North Central Lakes Hawthorn and Ranfurly Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives Lindsay, Wallpolla Islands Mallee Phase 2 Assessment Supply Measure Business Case: (SDL offset site) Lindsay Island Floodplain Management Project Phase 2 Assessment Supply Measure Business Case: Wallpolla Island Floodplain Management Project Lindsay, Wallpolla, Mulcra Mallee Ecological Watering Guide Lindsay-Mulcra-Wallpolla Islands (TLM Icon Site) Icon Site Loddon River lower North Central Loddon River review of flow objectives and recommendations - Updated Environmental Flow objectives for the Lower Loddon River Margooya Lagoon Mallee Margooya Lagoon Floodplain Management Unit Environmental Water Management Plan McDonalds Swamp North Central McDonalds Swamp Draft Environmental Water Management Plan Merbein Common WMU Mallee Merbein Common Waterway Management Unit (Brickworks Billabong, Environmental Water Management Plan Cowanna Billabong) Mildura WMU (Sandilong Mallee Mildura Waterway Management Unit Environmental Creek) Water Management Plan Mitta Mitta River North East North East Regional Waterway Strategy Murray floodplain between North East Murray River floodplain EWMP

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Asset Name CMA EWMP (or other document) lake Hume and Lake Mulwala Murray River – Lock 6-10 Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives (floodplain) Murray River – Lock15 Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives (floodplain) Murrumbidgee Junction Mallee Murrumbidgee Junction Waterway Management Unit Environmental Water Management Plan Nyah Vinifera FMU (Nyah Mallee Nyah Vinifera Floodplain Management Unit Forrest, Vinifera Forrest) Environmental Water Management Plan Phase 2 Assessment Supply Measure Business Case: Nyah Floodplain Management Project Phase 2 Assessment Supply Measure Business Case: Vinifera Floodplain Management Project Piambie WMU (Bridge creek, Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives Heywood Lake) Pig Swamp North Central Pig Swamp EWP Pound Bend Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives Psyche and Woorlong Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives Richardsons Lagoon North Central Richardson’s Lagoon Environmental Water Management Plan Spences Bend (Bullock Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives Swamp Tata / Boundary bend Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives Walshes Bend Mallee Mallee EWMP Ecological Objectives Wemen-Liparoo Mallee Wemen/Liparoo Waterway Management Unit Environmental Water Management Plan Wirra-Lo North Central

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Appendix 4 – Determining objectives, targets and watering requirements

This appendix describes the approach used to develop ecological objectives and targets for the Victorian Murray WRPA and this LTWP. The overall process is shown in Figure 16 below and is described in the following section. The green processes and products relate to objectives while the blue relates to targets, and the orange relates to watering requirements.

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Step O-1 Extract objectives

Step O-2 Edit objectives into common language and categorise Step O-4 Top-down identification of environmental values Step O-3 Statistical analysis of significance

Step T-1 Product 1. Product 3. Application of Set of ecological and Subset of objectives for criteria for hydrologic objectives which targets will be set targets

Step O-5 Group up objectives Step T-2 according to values Develop targets using framework

Product 4. Product 2. Draft targets Combined set of Step T-3 ecological and hydrologic Check for available objectives monitoring

programs LTWP Watering Ecological objectives Targets

requirements Outputfor

Step W-1 Combine flow components

KEY Process – no decision Objectives Process – decision Targets Product Watering requirements

Figure 16: Overview of process for developing objectives and targets

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Step O-1 The first step in the process was to collate all available ecological objectives for environmental watering sites (assets) and ecological functions, as documented by Victoria’s CMAs in Regional Waterway Strategies, Environmental Water Management Plans (EWMPs), Basin Plan Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) Business Cases and Ecological Watering Guides for Living Murray Icon sites. In all, for the three Victorian water resource plan areas (WRPAs), 70 individual plans were identified that covered over 100 assets. Some 600 individual objectives were identified within the 70 plans. Step O-2 The list of extracted objectives contained a wide variety of terminology and level of detail. The next step in the process was to standardise each objective into a consistent suite of language and detail. Each objective was categorised according to Figure 17.

Objective language

Trajectory Measurement type Value e.g. Improve e.g. extent

Theme Group level Species level e.g. Native Fish e.g. small-bodied e.g. Smelt

Figure 17: Objective language used to standardise objectives and categorise them The trajectory represents the intended change (improve, maintain, and reduce). The measurement type identifies in which particular aspect of the value the change should occur. This could include extent, abundance, species richness, condition, breeding, etc. The value is the part of the ecosystem that is of interest, and split into 3 increasing levels of detail: Theme (Native Fish, Vegetation, Waterbirds, River flows and Connectivity, Other) Group-level (e.g. small-bodied fish, River Red Gum communities, Colonial-nesting waterbirds) Species-level (e.g. Brolga, Murray hardyhead, Charophytes) Some objectives included cross-theme components, or included many group level elements. These were split into separate themes or groups. For example, the following objective was split between the Vegetation and the Waterbird theme. “To provide a watering regime that supports a Cane-grass/Plains Grassy Wetland Complex and provides breeding opportunities for a diverse range of native wetland biota in particular Brolga” Examples of the final list of objectives included: Improve abundance of short lived/ small-bodied fish. Maintain condition of River Red Gum communities. Improve feeding areas for waterbirds. Step O-3 To achieve a set of objectives that are relevant at a regional scale (i.e. the WRPA scale), objectives were ranked within each WRPA based on the number of assets that had an objective related to each

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value (group level) measurement type and trajectory. This is the bottom-up approach to achieving a set of objectives that represent the region.

Note: The production of a set of objectives for each WRPA in no way diminishes the importance of objectives at an individual asset scale. Some objectives that occur at only a few assets are not included in the Regional Objectives, but still remain valid for watering of the assets with that objective. Similarly, where the Regional Objective trajectory is “Maintain”, and a particular asset trajectory is “Improve”, any watering plan at the asset level should still be designed to improve the value.

It is recognised that there are no formal criteria for selecting how many assets need to have a particular value, measurement type or trajectory for inclusion, so there is a degree of subjectivity in the development of regional set of objectives. Step O-4 The sets of objectives were then cross-checked for gaps based on subjective assessments of the values in each WRPA. This subjective process was informed by guidance from VEWH and DELWP, and expert ecologists (Alluvium team and Terry Hillman - LTWP reviewer). This is the top-down approach at a regional scale to complement the bottom-up approach drawn from the objectives at an asset scale. One identified objective that is not covered by individual asset objectives relates to the maintenance or improvement of the suite of wetland types (number and type based on water regime) across each WRPA. Based on steps O-3 and O-4, a set of objectives was developed (in the format described in step O-2). This feeds into the target setting process (from Step T-1). Step O-5 To give the objectives more meaning, and enhance readability, they were grouped according to the value (group level) they were focused on. For example, where the following three objectives were included in the set of objectives (Product 1), they could be grouped into one objective about River Red Gum Communities (the value). Improve condition of River Red Gum communities + Maintain extent of River Red Gum communities + Improve species richness of River Red Gum communities = Maintain extent and improve species richness and condition of River Red Gum Communities

Based on this grouping process a set of objectives was selected for each WRPA. This feeds directly into the LTWP.

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Step T-1 Not all of the objectives will lead to good targets that can be used for reporting outcomes. Therefore, targets will be set for a subset of the objectives. This subset of objectives needs to be based on criteria for target setting. The subset of objectives should lead to targets being set that meet these criteria and also be significant to the WRPA. Therefore the following criteria were adopted (Figure 18).

Criteria for good target setting Criteria for significance

Sensitivity of objective to Available Significance of environmental water indicator objective in WRPA

Figure 18: Criteria for target setting The sensitivity of the objective to environmental water includes whether water delivery is the critical component that would lead to achieving the objective, or how dependent the value or asset associated with the objective is on water delivery. For example, successful bird breeding events are highly sensitive to flow duration, and are therefore sensitive to the delivery of environmental water. Conversely, there is not a strong link established between flow and species richness of macroinvertebrates. In order to set a target against an objective and report on that target, there must be an available indicator that can be monitored. This indicator guides the target setting process and relates directly to the measurement type component of the objective. For example, for extent of vegetation an indicator could be area in hectares. Some objectives where it would be difficult to provide an indicator include: Maintain the quality of geomorphic habitat. Improve breeding opportunities for platypus and rakali communities Given that only a subset of the objectives for each WRPA will have targets set, this subset should represent the most significant objectives for that region. This significance has been informed by the number of assets in the WRPA that relate to each objective and also expert opinion. Note this is similar to the process used for the objectives in steps O-3 and O-4. Based on the described criteria, a subset of objectives was selected for the WRPA to be used in the remainder of the target setting process. Step T-2 In order to compose the targets, the following framework was used (Figure 19). This framework is based on the principles for target setting in the LTWP and an understanding of what components are required to set good targets that can be monitored and used for reporting.

Target framework

Indicator Quantum Timeframe Location

Figure 19: Framework for developing targets

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The indicator was identified in Step T-1 (criteria for targets) and is the metric, that is, the item that will be measured. It relates directly to the objective type and value. For example the area of Red Gum communities or catch per unit effort (CPUE) of fish. The quantum relates to the amount of the indicator that should be achieved. For example 3,000 ha or 10% increase. A target will include a timeframe within which the target should be achieved. Examples could include within 5 years or occurs in 90% of years. The location considers at which assets or type of assets the target should be achieved, for example, a priority river reaches. For the subset of objectives (Product 3 – refer Figure 16), draft targets were developed based on the framework for target setting. Any of these targets could be appropriate for inclusion in the LTWP. Step T-3 Based on the draft targets, an extensive monitoring program would be required to report on every target. Given that limited resources are available for monitoring, DELWP has indicated a preference to use existing monitoring programs where possible. Therefore the list of draft targets was filtered for targets where there is an existing monitoring program already in place and / or can be replicated at increased spatial or temporal scales. This also impacts on whether baseline data will be available. The output of step T-3 is a final list of targets that have been incorporated into the LTWP. Step W-1 The final step is to determine the watering requirements. At the regional scale, this is done by linking the objectives and targets to the relevant flow components. Note that as targets do not comprehensively cover all of the watering objectives in the WRPA, relevant hydrological need for both targets and objectives are captured in this step. The EWMPs, Seasonal Watering Proposals, and Seasonal Watering Plan, which is developed each year, provide more specific detail on the watering requirements at an asset scale.

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Appendix 5 – Roles and responsibilities

The Victorian Waterway Management Strategy (DEPI, 2013b), Chapter 8, outlines the range of agencies and authorities that are involved in managing and delivering environmental flows. The ministers and agencies responsible within this WRPA listed in Table 18. Table 18: Responsible minister and agencies

Minister / Agency Responsibilities Minister for Oversee Victoria’s environmental water management policy framework Environment, Climate Oversee the VEWH, including appointment and removal of commissioners and Change and Water creation of rules ensuring VEWH manages the water holdings in line with environmental water management policy. Administer the broader water allocation and entitlements framework and the Water Act (1989) Department of Manage the water allocation and entitlements framework Environment, Land, Develop state policy on water resource management and waterway Water and Planning management approved by the Minister for Water and Minister for Environment (DELWP) and Climate Change Develop state policy for the management of environmental water in regulated and unregulated systems Act on behalf of the Minister for Environment and Climate Change to maintain oversight of the VEWH and waterway managers (in their role as environmental water managers) Victorian Make decisions about the most effective use of the water holdings, including Environmental Water use, trade and carryover Holder (VEWH) Develop Seasonal Watering Plan Authorise waterway managers to implement watering decisions Liaise with other water holders to ensure co-ordinated use of all sources of environmental water Publicly communicate environmental watering decisions and outcomes Commission targeted projects to demonstrate ecological outcomes of environmental watering at key sites Report on management of the water holdings Catchment Waterway management authorities under Part 10 of the Water Act (1989). management Identify regional priorities for environmental waterway management in authorities regional waterway strategies, in consultation with the community (Goulburn Broken, Assess water regime requirements of priority rivers, estuaries and wetlands to Mallee, North identify environmental watering needs to meet agreed objectives Central, and North East CMAs for this Identify opportunities for, and implement, environmental works to use WRPA) environmental water more efficiently Propose annual environmental watering actions to the VEWH and implement the VEWH environmental watering decisions

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Minister / Agency Responsibilities Provide critical input to management of other types of environmental water (passing flows management, above cap water) Report on environmental water management activities undertaken Commonwealth Make decisions about the use of commonwealth water holdings, including Environmental Water delegating water to the VEWH for use in Victoria Holder (CEWH) Liaise with the VEWH to ensure co-ordinated use of environmental water in Victoria Report on management of commonwealth water holdings Water corporations Work with the VEWH and waterway managers in planning for the delivery of environmental water to maximise environmental outcomes (Goulburn-Murray Water [in relation to Operate water supply infrastructure such as dams and irrigation distribution its own assets and systems to deliver environmental water systems and also as Ensure the provision of passing flows and compliance with management of Constructing diversion limits in unregulated and groundwater systems Authority for MDBA], Murray-Darling Basin Authority, South Australian Water [as Constructing Authority for MDBA], and Lower Murray Water in this WRPA)

Murray and Lower MLDRIN has a formal role under Basin Plan to advise on development and Darling Rivers accreditation of water resource plans. Indigenous Nations FVTOC has a formal role in advising the State on diverse matters related to (MLDRIN) water management. Federation of Individual Traditional Owner groups may participate in the state’s management Victorian Traditional of natural resources, in recognition of the special relationship of Aboriginal Owner Corporations peoples with their land and waters. (FVTOC) Yorta Yorta Nations Hold Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) status over parts of the Victorian Murray Aboriginal WRPA. RAPs have responsibilities under the Act relating to the management of Corporation Aboriginal cultural heritage, including: - evaluating Cultural Heritage Management Plans - providing advice on applications for Cultural Heritage Permits - making decisions about Cultural Heritage Agreements - providing advice or application for interim or ongoing Protection Declarations.

The overall roles and responsibilities for managing environmental in the Victorian Murray WRPA generally mirror those in other Victorian WRPAs, however there is an added layer of co-ordination and collaboration required to align and optimise Victorian actions with those proposed by other environmental water managers in the sections of the River Murray system that are shared to supply water to Victoria, NSW and South Australia. Whilst the VEWH is responsible for taking final decisions about the most effective use of the Victorian water holdings, the VEWH also co-ordinates its actions with environmental water holders

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in NSW, SA and the CEWH to achieve environmental objectives identified at a Victorian and broader Murray-Darling Basin scale (VEWH, 2015). Part of the co-ordination responsibilities of the VEWH include developing proposals and agreeing with other relevant jurisdictions on the use of the water assets jointly held as part of The Living Murray initiative. Where water held by other environmental water holders is to be delivered to a Victorian site, the relevant volumes must first be transferred the agreed volumes VEWH’s allocation accounts and the specific authorisation and implementation of the delivery will occur in accordance with the standard arrangements that apply to deliveries to Victorian sites. Of the four water corporations identified above, Goulburn-Murray Water is the delegated agency responsible for management of unregulated surface and groundwater licensing in the Victorian Murray WRPA. In this role GMW is also responsible for leading the development of the water management arrangements. In situations where there are likely to be environmental concerns associated with the exercise of these licensing responsibilities, GMW is required to consult with the appropriate CMA. The consultation requirements are clearly defined in the Water Act (1989), or in the various Ministerial guidelines issued for the management of licensing functions. Both GMW and LMW are also responsible for managing water use by entitlement holders that divert directly from the regulated sections of the River Murray. GMW is responsible for management of regulated reaches of the River Murray upstream of and including Nyah pumps and any regulated tributaries included in the Victorian Murray WRPA. LMW is responsible for managing water users on the regulated River Murray and its tributaries/effluents downstream of the Nyah pumps to the SA border. While not explicitly involved or listed in the table above, the community have an important role in the development and implementation of environmental flow programs. Stakeholders contribute to the development of waterway management strategies, and the development and review of environmental water programs.

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Appendix 6 – Detailed information on constraints

This appendix documents the details of the constraints affecting the Victorian Murray WRPA as determined through a review of relevant literature: Basin Plan (specifically Chapter 7, Part 2, Division 4) Constraints Management Strategy 2013 to 2024 (MDBA 2013a) Preliminary Overview of Constraints to Environmental Water Delivery in the Murray–Darling Basin: Technical Support Document (MDBA, 2013b) Constraints Management Strategy: Goulburn River reach report (MDBA, 2014c) Constraints Management Strategy: River Murray from Hume Dam to Yarrawonga Weir reach report (MDBA, 2014d) Constraints Management Strategy: River Murray from Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach report (MDBA, 2014e) Constraints Management Strategy annual progress report, 2013‒14 (MDBA, 2014b) Hydrologic modelling of the relaxation of operational constraints in the southern connected system: Methods and results (MDBA, 2012b) Goulburn Campaspe Loddon Environmental Flow Delivery Constraints Study (SKM, 2006) all relevant Environmental Water Management Plans developed to date by Victoria’s CMAs.

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Table 19: Summary of constraints identified in the literature and strategies to manage or overcome operational and management constraints

River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution All All Consumptive water Operational and • Currently a water order is for a MDBA CMS (MDBA Resolved entitlement management volume. Orders are met by the 2013a) identified a (refer draft Victorian framework most efficient source to conserve priority action to implementation plan) water for consumptive use. This ‘develop formal includes using water from (standing) operational unregulated flows to meet the and management order. This limits managers’ practices to allow held ability to ‘top up’ events. environmental water to • Desired outcome: Able to build on natural flow deliver environmental water on cues including in-stream, top of other in-stream flows. or where safe, unregulated flows’. • Note, this constraint relates to the unimplemented policy measure to allow the call of held environmental water from storage during un-regulated flow events (c7.15 (2b)).

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River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution All All Consumptive water Operational and • Water orders associated with MDBA CMS (MDBA Resolved entitlement management entitlements are met by placing 2013a) identified a (refer draft Victorian framework a water order for volumetric priority action to implementation plan) extraction at one location on the ‘develop operational and river. Water cannot be ordered management practices to in a way that can ensure it enable held benefits multiple sites. environmental water to • Desired outcome: flow throughout the river Environmental water can be (via a release from used throughout the length of a headwater storage to the river. end of the system)’. • Note, this constraint relates to Policy position set out in the unimplemented policy the Northern Region measure to credit environmental Sustainable Water return flows for downstream Strategy to enable credit environmental use (c7.15 (2a)). of return flow from environmental features have been implemented, utilising return flow enabling provisions in Victorian BEs.

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River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution All All Consumptive water Operational and • There is no recognition of an MDBA CMS (MDBA Resolved entitlement management entitlement en route or beyond 2013a) identified priority (refer draft Victorian framework its order point and actions to ‘develop and implementation plan) environmental water use is implement policies to difficult to measure, particularly protect environmental during an event. water from consumptive • Desired outcome: extraction or re- Environmental water is regulation’ and ‘develop protected on an event basis from a methodology to consumptive extraction or re- estimate environmental regulation. use which is transparent and equitable’.

All All Channel/ watercourse Physical • The capacity of a river channel Out of scope (not an Out of scope capacity to carry water can limit the operational and volumes able to be delivered. management constraint). Channel capacity competition arises at times of both high consumptive and environmental demand. • Desired outcome: Transparent and equitable channel capacity sharing.

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River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution All All Consumptive water Operational and • The timing of the water year MDBA CMS (MDBA Largely resolved entitlement management and reaching peak allocations do 2013a) identified priority framework not align with natural action to ‘investigate seasonality. At times there may options to improve the be insufficient environmental availability of water to commence a water environmental water to event. enable it to respond to • Desired outcome: Held natural cues.’ environmental water is available TLM low reliability water in time to respond to natural entitlements include cues extended use provisions which allow allocations to be held and used over an 18 month period (to December) rather than the standard 12 month water year. Purchased water shares are entitled to carry over provisions which allow carryover of allocation up to the volume of the entitlement volume held.

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River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution All All Consumptive water Operational and • Some planned environmental MDBA CMS (MDBA Not required entitlement management water provisions do not reflect 2013a) identified priority (no significant issues framework natural cues and seasonal action to ‘review the for Victoria) variability. efficacy of planned • Desired outcome: Planned environmental water environmental water aligns to provisions across the natural cues. Basin to optimise environmental outcomes’.

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River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution All All Consumptive water Operational and • Releasing of held MDBA CMS(MDBA Largely addressed entitlement management environmental water from 2013a) identified priority framework storage and flow throughout the actions to ‘undertake river can result in substitution of analysis to identify the held water for planned water, extent to which pre-releases or spills. substitution is an issue’ • Desired outcome: Ensure and ‘develop transparent environmental water is not policies to ensure substituted for other water. treatment of held environmental water with planned environmental water or other releases from storage’. Limited planned water provisions in Victorian tributaries (largely minimum storage releases) limits risk of substitutions. Pre-releases apply at Lake Eildon in accordance with clear rules in BE order, and proposed changes to pre- release practices in the River Murray system (as Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray part of SDL adjustment 116 measures) will minimise potential for substitution

River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution All All Co-operative Operational and • Existing governance MDBA CMS (MDBA Resolved management management arrangements are generally 2013a) identified priority developed around individual action to ‘develop environmental water holder governance and policy objectives. arrangements for the • There are limited formal coordinated planning of arrangements for the environmental water, coordinated planning of all both annually and environmental water and inter- longer-term, for the valley watering events. southern connected • Desired outcome: system.’ Environmental water is VEWH planning coordinated with all water and processes in Victorian between valleys for maximum tributaries together with environmental benefit. recent establishment of the Southern Connected Basin Environmental Watering Committee ensures effective co- ordination of environmental water planning.

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River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution All All Co-operative Operational and • Current river management MDBA CMS (MDBA Resolved management management practices were developed 2013a) identified priority (refer line above) primarily for security of water action to ‘support the supply and not environmental integration of outcomes. environmental water • Desired outcome: planning into river Environmental planning is operations’. included in river operations.

River Hume Dam Outlet release Physical • The valve capacity of Hume Out of scope (not an Out of scope Murray capacity Dam when full is greater than operational and 50,000 ML/d, and is therefore management constraint) not expected to constrain environmental water releases to any great degree • However, in dry years when the storage level is lower the valve capacity is reduced, which has the potential constrain deliveries in these dry years

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River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution River Doctor’s Flooding Physical • Downstream of Hume Dam, Out of scope (not an Out of scope Murray Point the Kiewa River joins the River operational and Murray just upstream of Doctor’s management constraint) Point. The Kiewa River can provide substantial inflow events during wet periods. • Under regulated conditions the flow at Doctor’s Point is limited to a maximum of 25,000 ML/d, with Hume releases reduced in parallel with any increase in inflows from the Kiewa River. • This constraint is based on the nominal channel capacity of the River Murray in this reach, for which easements have been obtained, and is designed to minimise the inundation of privately owned agricultural land associated with the delivery of regulated flows. • This flow limitation at Doctor’s Point forms a key constraint in the Upper Murray region.

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River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution River Corowa Flooding Physical • The minor flood level at Out of scope (not an Out of scope Murray Corowa is 19,000 ML/d. operational and Anecdotal evidence provided to management constraint) MDBA indicates that flows at this rate can lead to some nuisance flooding or affect access within some properties however the effects are not substantial • In practice, environmental watering will combine release from Hume Dam with unregulated inflows from the Ovens River, which joins the River Murray downstream of Corowa. Hence, only a portion of the environmental flow event will pass through Corowa. • While the 19,000 ML/d threshold is an important flow level considered as part of river operations, the Doctor’s Point limit of 25,000 ML/d forms the main constraint in this region i.e. the 19,000 ML/d threshold is not a major constraint to releases from Hume Dam.

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River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution River Below Channel/ watercourse Operational and • The operation of Yarrawonga MDBA CMS (MDBA Resolution in progress Murray Yarrawonga capacity management Weir is directly related to the 2013a) identified priority At the time of writing Weir and flow constraint caused by the actions to ‘develop informal Barmah Barmah Choke. formal supply sharing arrangements have Choke • During summer regulated arrangements to provide been developed (i.e. periods, releases from a mechanism for arrangements were Yarrawonga Weir are limited to managing the delivery of agreed and are in 10,600 ML/d to minimise losses water when demands place for 2015-16) but (flows above this threshold will exceed channel sharing formal arrangements exceed the downstream channel capacity’. have not been drafted capacity due to the Barmah as yet (pers. comm., Choke) and to minimise summer VEWH, October 2015). inundation of Barmah–Millewa Forest, which can have a negative impact on the conditions required for the forest to remain healthy. • These operational considerations form the main constraint in this region. • Note, flooding of private land- holdings does not occur until flow greater than 18,000 ML/d, meaning that his is classed as a 'Channel/ watercourse capacity' rather than 'flooding' constraint.

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River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution River Torrumbarry Channel/ watercourse Physical • Torrumbarry Weir allows water Out of scope (not an Out of scope Murray Weir capacity to be diverted for consumptive operational and use via the National Channel. management constraint) The National Channel diverts water to Gunbower Creek, Gunbower Forest and several Victorian Mid-Murray off-river storages including Kow Swamp, Lake Boga and Kangaroo Lake • Diversions into the National Channel are limited to 4,000 ML/d, but this is not expected to inhibit environmental flow delivery

Gunbower Gunbower- Channel/ watercourse Physical • Capacity constraints in the Out of scope (not an Out of scope Creek Koondrook- capacity Gunbower Creek do not limit the operational and Perricoota delivery of large volumes (i.e. management constraint) Forest 16,000 ML/d) of water into the forest during winter, whereas capacity is constrained throughout the late spring and early summer months • Little scope to provide large floods longer or later in the year

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River Location Constraint category 1 Constraint category 2 Constraint description Strategy to overcome Status of constraint constraint resolution Gunbower Gunbower Metering and debiting Operational and • Initial accounting The TLM Gunbower Resolution in progress Creek Creek management arrangements used a flat loss Interim Operating Plan At the time of writing rate of 30% is applied to all 2013 provides for loss GMW were finalising environmental water deliveries rates of 15% for flows > the first draft of the in Gunbower Creek. 450 ML/d and 0% loss for accounting method, • There are concerns that the flows < 450 ML/d. This for review by the loss rate is too conservative and method is currently being Gunbower incurs an excessive cost to used, however there are Operational Advisory environmental water delivery. still some concerns about Group before the end There are also concerns that a both the accuracy and of November 2015 flat rate does not provide practicality of application (pers. comm., VEWH, opportunities to target watering of this method. October 2015). events to conditions where GMW, VEWH and losses are lowest and delivery is NCCMA are currently most efficient cooperating in the development of a revised accounting method that will apply a realistic but conservative initial loss rate (e.g. 20%), accompanied by monitoring of actual losses through monthly water balances. Where actual losses are lower than the initial assumed loss rate, environmental Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray usage will be adjusted 123 accordingly.

Appendix 7 – Qualitative Risk Analysis

This appendix documents a qualitative analysis of long-term risks identified for this LTWP. The analysis includes a review of the process that generates the risk, the implications of that process and the options for management of the risk.

Table 20 relates to risks that result in failure to achieve objectives or risks that arise from the provision of environmental water.

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Table 20: Risks that result in failure to achieve objectives or arising from the provision of environmental water

Risk category Threat Implication Themes and related objectives at Management options risk Failure to Operational failure in delivery Failure to provide appropriate Has potential to impact on all The identified risks can be addressed provide e.g. Water released from dam duration, timing, frequency, ecological objectives for the WRPA through the provision of an appropriate recommended at incorrect time depth , extent, and velocity of flow regime that addresses the watering regime watering objective The provision of water can be Loss of water during delivery Failure to provide appropriate Has potential to impact on all complemented with: duration, timing, frequency, ecological objectives for the WRPA  Monitoring watering regime depth , extent, and velocity of and ecological response. watering  Liaison with water authorities, Constraints that prevent Failure to provide appropriate Has potential to impact on all land holders, other delivery of water duration, timing, frequency, ecological objectives for the WRPA stakeholders and the broader community e.g. isolation of wetlands from depth , extent, and velocity of floodplain or river watering  Prioritisation of watering Reduced lateral connectivity. requirements (in SWP)  Determine environmental water requirements based on seasonal conditions and within constraints.  Develop and implement programs to alleviate physical constraints. Inadequate conceptual and Failure to provide appropriate Has potential to impact on all Monitoring watering regime and detailed modelling of water duration, timing, frequency, ecological objectives for the WRPA ecological response. requirements depth , extent, and velocity of Update conceptual model with latest watering research.

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Risk category Threat Implication Themes and related objectives at Management options risk Undertake research to fill knowledge gaps Failure to Poor quality or lack of in- Limited habitat and refuge for Native fish, macroinvetebrates, Provision of in-channel habitat through undertake channel habitat associated target species platypus large woody debris installation. complementary with past practice e.g. Management of accelerated rates of works necessary desnagging and channel erosion and sedimentation within and to achieve modifications in adjoining reaches of waterway objective Presence of fish barriers Reduced longitudinal Native fish, aquatic vegetation, Provision of fish passage over / around connectivity platypus structures and or removal of obsolete structures Inadequate riparian habitat Prevent and regeneration of Macroinvertebrates, native fish, Fencing and stock management (includes grazing pressures) establishment of appropriate aquatic and riparian vegetation vegetation Introduced species Limits establishment of native Vegetation, platypus, native fish, Monitor introduced species vegetation Provide watering regimes that provide Predation of fauna competitive advantage for native Competition – reduced habitat species and resource availability Development and implementation of pest management plans Installation of carp screens Inappropriate fish stocking or Limits native fish populations Native fish Review fish stocking programs excessive recreational fishing through fishing pressure, Education programs for recreational predation and competition for fishing resources Poor water quality Low dissolved oxygen Fish, Waterbirds, vegetation, Monitor groundwater and assets amphibians, invertebrates, wetland

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Risk category Threat Implication Themes and related objectives at Management options risk High turbidity habitats and types Manage water regime High water temperature Increased salinity levels

Saline groundwater intrusion Poor vegetation health Vegetation, waterbirds, wetland Monitoring, adaptive management of Limited regeneration and habitats and types watering regime dominance of salt tolerant Investigate regional groundwater species influences Unsuitable habitat for waterbirds and food sources External factors Climate variability Extreme low flows May apply to all objectives Use seasonally adaptive approach in setting EWRs

Fire Altered hydrology, sediment May apply to all objectives Monitoring and adaptive management of watering regime Land use change Salinisation, altered hydrology May apply to all objectives Monitoring and adaptive management of watering regime Climate change Changes in species Monitoring and adaptive management composition and hence of watering regime Undertake ongoing watering requirements at sites research into climate change adaption Changes in the variability of flow regimes

Failure to Delayed ecosystem response Objective may be achieved, Monitoring and adaptive management demonstrate May apply to all objectives Monitoring not provided but may not be demonstrated of watering regime

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Risk category Threat Implication Themes and related objectives at Management options risk achievement of Inadequate research to Ongoing research into ecosystem ecological support conceptual models or response to environmental water. objectives monitoring design

Category Threat Implication Comment and management options Environmental Winter high fresh inundate Limits platypus populations Deliver winter high fresh in August to trigger female to select or construct nursery platypus burrows burrows at high elevation in the river bank. Summer fresh mobilises Blackwater event or other Time water events to coincide with cooler water temperatures to reduce build-up of leaf litter and water quality issues microorganism activity nutrients Management option is to deliver a summer fresh at the same magnitude as the previous winter low flow therefore the summer fresh will entrain only litter that has built up since the winter low flow was ceased. Monitor nutrient and Blue Green Algae levels, and the ecological response of the wetland to flooding Other native species (non- Decrease in abundance of Identify potential non-target species and monitor the effect of intervention target) disadvantaged non-target species Adapt management intervention to reduce the effects on non-target species Watering regime favours May competitively inhibit Monitor the abundance of native and invasive aquatic species. Pest management non-native species native species plans and complementary works Watering regime initiates Scour of banks, loss of Manage rise and fall rates of freshes. erosion habitat, sediment Provision of complementary works including revegetation mobilisation in large events Social Inundation of cultural Damage to cultural Monitor condition of sites, communicate with community heritage sites heritage sites Reduction in recreation Use of water for Work closely and engage with local communities opportunity environmental outcome, Monitor water levels reduces water available for recreation outcomes

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 128

Category Threat Implication Comment and management options Economic Inundation and or erosion of Community angst and Work closely with land managers, water agencies to provide advanced warning of private land and or watering liability water delivery

infrastructure (pump Monitor water levels equipment) Communicate with landholders and establish watering agreements Inundation and or erosion of Work closely with infrastructure managers to provide advanced warning of water roads and other transport delivery and communications Monitor water levels infrastructure

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 129

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 130

Long-term watering plan: Victorian Murray 131