SNOWY RIVER RECOVERY: SNOWY FLOW RESPONSE MONITORING AND MODELLING PROGRAM The strategy for the Increased Flows 2014-15 and defining cultural water requirements

This factsheet outlines the relationship between Flow management in the Snowy the release strategy for the Snowy River The Snowy Water Inquiry Implementation Deed Increased Flows (SRIFs) for 2014-15 and the (2002) sets the framework for water recognition of the traditional people of the management in the . The Snowy Mountains. NSW Office of Water manages the Specifically this fact sheet: environmental water on behalf of the NSW, • Identifies the key aboriginal groups that Victorian and Commonwealth Governments. have a connection to the waterways of the The NSW Government is also seeking to change NSW Snowy Mountains. the Snowy Corporatisation Act 1997 to allow a • Initiates the recognition of cultural water in greater aboriginal representation in future the Snowy Mountains, by naming environmental water management in the Snowy components of the 2014-15 flow regime. Mountains. • Initiates the development of key cultural The annual allocations are dependent on water objectives. climate, but the 2002 Deed defines a target environmental water allocation to be delivered The traditional aboriginal knowledge system of to (i) Snowy River Increased Flows- 212 the Snowy River has been identified as a gigalitres per year (1 gigalitre = 1 billion litres), mechanism to (i) gain a longer-term (ii) Snowy Montane Rivers Increased Flows- 118 understanding of the river system and improve GL per year and the Increased the rehabilitation ecological end-points by Flows- 70 GL per year (Figure 1). understanding the river condition prior to river development, (ii) provide greater recognition of Figure 1. Location of the (i) Snowy, (ii) Snowy Montane and (iii) Murray River Increased Flow the requirements of aboriginal communities and release points. (iii) provide greater involvement by the aboriginal communities to protect and enhance LAKE BURRINJUCK the Snowy River below Jindabyne. M u r r u m b i d g e e C a t c h m e n t The Snowy cultural water project was commissioned by the NSW Office of Water in A .. C .. T order to: River Goodradigbee • Incorporate and integrate the traditional

knowledge with the contemporary science TANTANGARA

M to improve our long-term understanding of ur ra y R iv er

the Snowy River. M u r r a y River Murrumbidgee r C a t c h m e n t e iv R DAM i • h Work with the Aboriginal community to (i) e LAKE EUCUMBENE � e G S w a GEEHI . revise the ecological objectives and (ii) m y R � LAKE JINDABYNE p w y o Sn P la Jindabyne in develop cultural water objectives for the s � R . Dalgety Snowy River.

S n o w y R i v e r C a t c h m e n t

Snowy (SRIF) Snowy Montane (SMRIF) & Murray (MRIFs) River Increased Flows.

www.water.nsw.gov.au The strategy for the Snowy River Increased Flows 2014-15 and defining cultural water requirements

The 2014-15 annual targeted volume of 156.7 • The need to link relevant cultural and GL from is the second largest environmental water objectives. since the program began in 2002. This annual • The need for greater cultural total represents 15.2% of the Mean Annual representation, and, Natural Flow (MANF) of the Snowy River at • The need gain a longer-term understanding Jindabyne. The 2014-15 daily flow release of the waterways in the Snowy Mountains strategy (Figure 2) attempts to mimic the by integrating traditional knowledge with hydrological cues of a Snowy Montane River, contemporary science. such as the . These factors are essential in order to develop a The 2014-15 flow regime provides five winter- holistic and integrated release strategy in the spring high flow events, a strong seasonal signal, Snowy River. and a high degree of daily flow variability Aboriginal people in the Snowy region hold throughout the year (Figure 2). valued cultural and ecological knowledge. This Figure 2. Snowy River below Jindabyne mean cultural understanding includes an intimate daily discharge pattern for 2014-15 (blue), with one knowledge of the natural landscape and the primary (4) and four secondary (1,2,3,5) hourly flow peaks (red dotted lines). associated terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of 10,000 the Snowy Mountains. Wai – Garl 4 Mean Daily Discharge (ML/day) In recognition of the gap in cultural water 9,000 (River Black Fish) knowledge, the Office of Water is undertaking Peak Discharge (ML) 8,000 consultation with ancestral groups, Aboriginal

7,000 people and Local Aboriginals associated with the waterways in the Snowy Mountains (i.e. Snowy 6,000 River Catchment, Upper Murrumbidgee and

5,000 Upper Murray River systems).

4,000 The project will also attempt to integrate Waawii 2 3 Billa Bidgee Kaap (Water Spririt) (Big Water season) cultural knowledge with traditional science (i.e. Discharge (ML)Discharge 3,000 Djuran 1 the Snowy Flow Response Monitoring and (Running water) 5 Bundrea Nooruun Bundbararn 2,000 (Waterhole Big Lizard) Modelling program). The linkage of contemporary science with aboriginal and 1,000 cultural knowledge will greatly assist our 0 understanding of the waterways in the Snowy 01/May 20/Jun 09/Aug 28/Sep 17/Nov 06/Jan 25/Feb 16/Apr Mountains, as contemporary ecological data have a limited temporal coverage, whereas the Recognition of cultural water cultural knowledge has a much longer temporal requirements in the Snowy and coverage and understanding of these Snowy Montane Rivers waterways. In revising the existing ecological water The project will identify the key cultural water objectives for the Snowy River and developing a objectives and incorporates identification and new water release strategy, the NSW Office of assessment of the water dependent cultural Water identified: assets for potential incorporation into future • The need to inform Aboriginal stakeholders environmental flow releases for the Snowy of the Snowy River Increased Flows and the River. Snowy Montane River Increased Flows The NSW Office of has been working with program, Aboriginal people in the Snowy Mountains, • The need for greater cultural recognition, documenting the traditional significance of including the recognition of the Snowy water and river systems including the belief Rivers Traditional Nations values and systems of Aboriginal people through their oral practises for the preservation of cultural history and cultural knowledge to quantify water dependants values and sites, where specific water requirements to sustain possible within the existing legal framework Aboriginal cultural resources and the future health of the Snowy River.

2 NSW Office of Water, July 2014 The strategy for the Snowy River Increased Flows 2014-15 and defining cultural water requirements

Aboriginal communities through oral history Bidwell Maap people have identified the cultural importance of many Djuran (running water) aquatic and riparian species, and the utilitarian use of these resources such as medical and bush The Bidwell-Maap people have lived in tucker plants, within the Snowy Mountains. The Gippsland and Southern NSW for generations, traditional use of plants for medicinal purposes and several hundred people currently belong to and food sources is still being practiced and the Bidwell Nation. knowledge is still passed down from generation The stars, sun, moon, fire, earth and water are to generation. important foundations for the Bidwell-Maap culture. The rhythms of their ancestor’s lives Aboriginal communities were driven by the sun and moon. The sun, land, water and the region’s plants and animals There are essentially five aboriginal provided the essential needs of the Bidwell communities that claim connection to the Maap people. waterways of the Snowy Mountains. These communities are: The Bidwell Maap people stories and song lines describe the creation of the rivers in the • Maneroo-Ngarigo people Snowies. Their creator the “Eagle” emerged • Bidwell Maap people when the Egg Rock split and formed heaven and • Southern Monero people earth, the Copper Head Snake appeared and (Monero Ngarigo / Yuin / Bolga) created the rivers and Djuran (i.e. running • Wongalu people water). • Wiradjuri people Djuran (i.e. running water) was a central part of the Bidwell Maap culture. The Bidwell Maap These five traditional groups are not permanent people fished for eels and turtles and they lived residents of the upper Snowy, but are located and camped beside the region’s rivers and throughout South-Eastern NSW and Eastern estuaries. Running water was a key to the . Traditionally, these five communities provision of food, it also provided significant would access the Snowy mountains waterways medical treatment opportunities. The running for various purposes. water was seen a significant factor in River health is a major concern of the Aboriginal maintaining the health of the Snowy River and people of this region, who want an active role in the estuary. policy, planning and the management of the Freshwater inputs to estuaries are a natural resources and cultural heritage of the fundamental component of the salinity waterways in the Snowy Mountains, including dynamics and ecosystem processes (i.e. food- the Snowy River. web dynamics) in estuaries. The salinity These five traditional aboriginal groups were dynamics of the Snowy Estuary is an important asked to provide culturally relevant names for factor in the determining the distribution and the environmental water being released to the abundance of many plants and animals in the Snowy River and the Snowy Montane Rivers as lower Snowy. an important step to improve the recognition of The Bidwell Maap people recognise the these cultural connections with water in the importance of higher flows. For example, the high country. high flows allow the salt water fish to migrate Each year these traditional groups travelled long from the estuary to the freshwater reaches of distances to gather in the high country where the Snowy River to shed sea lice. decisions were made including trade, ceremony “Running water is still important for our people and marriages. The Snowy Mountains are a today because it connects us to the creation of significant meeting place, similar to our current the waterways and to our future.“ Bevan parliament house and the water is a significant Harrison, Lenny Hayes and Clayton Harrison factor for the culture of these traditional Haynes. communities. For example, the end of the Snow melt often signified the timing for these communities to travel to the Snowy Mountains.

3 NSW Office of Water, July 2014 The strategy for the Snowy River Increased Flows 2014-15 and defining cultural water requirements

Maneroo - Ngarigo people Wolgalu people Wai – Garl (River Black Fish) Waawii (Water Spirit) The Maneroo Ngarigo people have traditional The high country rivers of the Snowy Mountains connection to the land, mountains and rivers of are the traditional spiritual and functional the Snowy Mountains. The Maneroo-Ngarigo connective pathways for the Wolgalu people. people have long occupied the mountains, rivers The Wolgalu people have typically resided in the and streams of the eastern flowing catchments upper reaches of the western flowing and their customs, beliefs, and values are catchments, such as the Murrumbidgee, and interlinked to the landscape. Water is a part of rivers, and the eastern flowing this intricate cultural connection. (Snowy River catchment). The Maneroo-Ngarigo people, via the Bundian- Ecologically the connectivity from the top of the Eden LALC Committee, who have representation high country to lower in the aquatic landscape is of many of the traditional people from the area, an important ecological processes, and supports have identified the River Black Fish “Wai – Garl” nutrient spiralling, the provision of carbon and as an important cultural asset of the Snowy sediment, and that drives the aquatic food- River. chain. The longitudinal and lateral connectivity of rivers to the landscape is also important for Since the Scheme, there has been the dispersal of the aquatic biota in these a crash in the River Blackfish populations in the montane waterways. main-stem of the Snowy River. Wai-Garl (River Blackfish) have not been recorded in the main This hydrological connectivity also extends to stem of the Snowy River between 2000 and the Wolgalu peoples cultural connectivity, and 2014. The lack of Wai-Garl (River Blackfish- traditional pathways in the Snowy Mountains. Gadopsis marmoratusare) is likely to be Functionally, the Wolgalu have reported staple attributable to the poor condition of the river food sources linked to the Snowy Montane substrate, as Wai-Garl (River Blackfish) are rivers, such as fresh water crayfish, Silver Perch, intolerant of sedimentation and poor substrate freshwater mussels in the . condition. However, River Blackfish are present The Wolgalu people relied on these aquatic in selected tributaries of the Snowy River, where biota and ecosystem functions in the high the habitat condition is of higher quality. country. River Blackfish are deemed culturally important Culturally, the Snowy Montane rivers intersect as a traditional staple food source and their with the stories, spirituality and songlines of the bones were used for medicinal purposes. Wolgalu people and they are interlinked with “The Maneroo-Ngarigo people believe the high the connection to the aquatic biota, riverbeds flow releases will be beneficial to improve the and the surrounding landscape. The Wolgalu habitat formally used by Wai-Garl (River people associate their spirituality with the Blackfish) and may encourage the return of Wai- connectivity of the waterways to the Garl (River Black fish) back to the main stem of surrounding landscape of the Snowy Mountains. the Snowy River.” Ossie Cruise and John Bray. The Snowy montane rivers, such as the upper Figure 3. River Blackfish (Gadopsis Murrumbidgee River is the birthplace of the marmoratusare) important cultural assets in the Waawi, the Water Spirit. The Water Spirit plays Snowy River. River Blackfish require good habitat an important role for the Wongalu people, condition to maintain viable populations and the high flows taking care of the waterways, the releases will will assist in improving the river bed condition. (Source NSW DPI Fisheries). replenish ‘Waawi’ to travel the rivers to attend to his affairs. “The Wolgalu people believe that the release of the environmental water to the Upper Murrumbidgee and Upper Murray will initiate not only an ecological connectivity but improve the spiritual connection to the natural

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environment and release the Water Spirit. The The river water flows are now diminished to a naming the releases after Waawii “the water mere shadow of our childhood memories. spirit” will provide a greater recognition of this Environmental releases are the key to the future ecological and cultural connectivity of the protection of our sites and places of significance. waterways in the high country. “ Alice Williams. Our catchments are the primary source of these flows and they are like oxygen as they are a Southern Monero/Yuin /Bolga people companion to clear air.” Aileen Blackburn – Bundrea Nooruun Bundbararn (Waterhole Big Mongta. Lizard) River systems of South East Victoria, such as the Wiradjuri people Sydenham Inlet, Bemm River, Cann River, and Billa Bidgee Kaap (Big Water Season) Snowy River and her tributaries were an The southern Wiradjuri people typically important economic resource which sustained associated with the west of Great Dividing the Southern Monero/Yuin/Bolga people. The Range, but they are closely connected to the lower Snowy River was a major food source, Snowy Mountains. They are connected through such as River Blackfish, Bream and freshwater stories and knowledge passed down, through mussels. generations. These stories relate to the spring The Monero/Yuin/Bolga also speak proudly of snow melt and other natural occurrences that the deeply complex ties and connection that the keep the river and streams flowing. groups continue to share in terms of their Traditionally, the mountain waterways are their spiritual and cultural interdependence with the primary food source. Wiradjuri traditional rivers, streams, lakes, and coastal shorelines practices and food sources relied on “Billa around the lower Snowy River near Orbost. Bidgee Kaap”. The ‘Waterhole Big Lizard’ was the water The ‘Billa Bidgee Kaap’ (big water season) was regulator and would lie in the Wallagaraugh and acknowledged as a traditional season, which is Genoa rivers. During dry times the ‘Waterhole typically associated with the spring snow melt. Big Lizard’ would release water, and during high flows he would store excess water, to be These natural high flow occurrences sustained released at some future time. their traditional practices and cultural ecosystems by wetting riparian zones, filling Bubul Yanguin (Water Dragonfly Spirit) billabongs, inland lakes and rivers. These high- The Water Dragonfly spirit is a protector of the flows are also important for the maintenance of local children and the sign of healthy clean in-stream fluvial habitat, by disturbing the bed water. of these rivers. Dragonflies are typical of the lower altitude These western Snowy Montane rivers provide waterways in the Snowies. Dragonflies found in food sources such as fresh water crayfish, silver montane rivers require good quality habitat to perch, freshwater mussels and watercress. The sustain viable populations. spring snowmelt was important for inundating the banks for the montane rivers, and promoted In the lower reaches of the Snowy, Genoa and the growth of watercress. Watercress was used Cann River, the Water Dragonfly was used by for multiple purposes including food. These the aboriginal women as an indicator for high flow water events also created a breeding children’s health. Aboriginal mothers relied on ground for swamp corroboree frogs. the Water Dragonfly to help them gauge their children hearing ability, awareness of sounds, by The end of the spring snow-melt is also their responsiveness to the Dragonfly's unique associated with traditional men’s business for wing fluttering. ceremonial practices within the landscapes. In the low flow summer months, the Wiradjuri “Our customs, language, beliefs, values and men and other traditional neighbours would stories are all interwoven with our waterways. congregate at ‘Yelonbay’ and The waterways and our culture cannot be travel to the upper Snowy Mountains to discuss separated.

5 NSW Office of Water, July 2014 The strategy for the Snowy River Increased Flows 2014-15 and defining cultural water requirements the traditional men’s business and to feast on Key cultural outcomes from the the Bogong moth, which is a high protein food 2014-15 SRIF strategy. source and had strong medicinal benefits. The NSW Office of Water recognises Aboriginal “Wiradjuri people beliefs, values, song and people have a long associated history with the storylines interlink with these waters, the Snowy and Snowy Montane Rivers. The interim releases will play an important role in sustaining cultural objectives listed below are for the 2014- our customs.” Ramsey Freeman. 15 water year and act as a starting point for the further development cultural water objectives Overall long term rehabilitation for the Snowy River. The long-term objective for an environmental Objective- To improve linkages between flow regime based on natural daily and hourly cultural recognition and water management in flow sequences in the Thredbo River is ‘To the Snowy Mountains rivers. facilitate the rehabilitation and evolution of the In recognition of the five traditional aboriginal Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam into a smaller groups associated with the Snowy Mountains but healthy river.’ Over decade to century long Rivers, the five winter-spring high flow releases time scales, environmental water releases have been called: scaled to the Thredbo River flows will allow the 1. � Djuran (running water) Snowy River to slowly develop a size, shape and perhaps condition, similar to that of a Snowy 2. � Waawii (Water Spirit) montane river, such as the Thredbo. 3. � Billa Bidgee Kaap (Big Water Season) This long-term objective implicitly recognises 4. � Wai – Garl (River Black Fish) that: 5. � Bundrea Nooruun Bundbararn (Waterhole • it is not possible to restore or maintain the Big Lizard) Snowy River to its former size with one fifth Objective- To return high flows to improve the of its former flow volume, and linkage with the spiritual needs associated with • the in-stream habitat needs to be the Snowy Mountains rivers. substantially improved in-order for major secondary and tertiary ecological response, The winter-spring high flows will improve the and forms the primary focus of the strategy hydrological and spiritual connection to the in the early stages of the river recovery. river and the landscape. This spiritual connect includes the spiritual values of Djuran (running water) and WAAWII the water spirit. Figure 4. Introducing high flows in the Snowy River below Jindabyne is critical to improving Objective- To return of high flows to improve habitat condition and the in-stream ecology. habitat quality and promote the return of the source: S. Williams. Wai-Garl (River Black Fish). The winter-spring high flows will improve the in- stream habitat quality, by disturbing the bed of the river and scouring the fine sediment. It is anticipated that over time as (i) the habitat quality improves and (ii) Wai-Garl are capable of dispersing back into the Snowy River via the Delegate River, there will be an increase in the distribution and abundance of the culturally significant River Blackfish. Objective- To return moderate to high flows to increase primary productivity and stimulate the aquatic food chain. Regular pulses of water down the Snowy River have been demonstrated to inundate the lower

6 NSW Office of Water, July 2014 The strategy for the Snowy River Increased Flows 2014-15 and defining cultural water requirements in-channel benches and provide carbon to the Figure 5. Vegetation change in the Snowy River at water column (i.e. a basic component of the Rockwell (site 3) (A) Spring 2013 and (B) Autumn 2014. Source: S Williams. aquatic food web). Many of the lower benches in the upper reaches are inundated at flow rates A Spring 2013 of about 1,500 ML/day. It is anticipated that multiple small to moderate peaks will provide carbon from these lower benches to the river and promote primary heterotrophic productivity and stimulate the aquatic food chain in the freshwater and estuarine reaches of the Snowy River. 1 Objective- To return moderate to high flows to promote water mixing in the Snowy River Estuary. Press (i.e. sustained event) and Pulse (i.e. peak event) hydrological high flow disturbances are B Autumn 2014 important in mixing the saline water in the Snowy River estuary. These events will be influence the spatial distribution and abundance of estuarine plants and animals. Objective- To return moderate to high flows to allow the culturally significant estuarine fish to 1 migrate to the lower freshwater reaches to complete their life cycle. The high to moderate flows will facilitate the dispersal of culturally significant estuarine fish into the lower freshwater reaches of the Snowy Note: The more variable flow regime has seen an increase River. in aquatic macrophytes on the side of the Snowy River, as the variable flow regime keeps the lower river banks wet. Objective- To increase daily flow variability to This has seen an increase in the area of Juncus sp. promote the health of the aquatic and riparian Phragmites sp. Eleocharis sp. Cyperus sp. and Persicaria sp. vegetation, including culturally significant Objective- To introduce a summer low flow stream side vegetation. pattern to signal the commencement of secret men’s business in the high-country. The increased daily flow variability is designed to frequently wet the lower benches and the The start of the summer low flows, following the lower margins of the riparian zone and maintain spring snow melt, is a cue for the men of the moisture in the soil profile of the riverbank. It is mountain to meet and discuss secrete men’s expected that the increased daily flow variability business. will favour the development of aquatic and riparian vegetation within a band just above the low water level of the Snowy River. Additionally, the daily flow variability will limit the ingress of terrestrial vegetation back into the river channel. It is envisaged that the waterside vegetation used by traditional people will be more abundant and available for cultural purposes.

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Acknowledgments The NSW Office of water would like to thank: The document should be cited as: Alice Williams, Maureen Fox, Ossie Cruse, BJ Cruse, John Connolly, D. and Williams, S. (2014). The strategy for the Bray, Ramsay Freeman, Bevan Harrison and the Bidwell – Snowy River Increased Flows 2014-15 and defining cultural Maap people, Sharon Turner and Donna McLeod and the water requirements. Snowy Flow Response Modelling and Maneroo - Ngarigo people. Aboriginal Elder Aileen Modelling program, NSW Office of Water, . Blackburn – Mongta and Southern Monero/Yuin /Bolga © State of through the Department of Trade and people and The Bundian Way Committee for their Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services 2014. You may copy, information. distribute and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute the NSW Department of Primary Industries as The NSW Office of water would also like to thank all the the owner. Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on Aboriginal people who attended the meetings. NSW Office knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (July 2014). However, of Water did not meet with every Aboriginal person from because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to the Program area, but we would welcome any future ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of the Department participation from interested parties. of Primary Industries or the user’s independent adviser. Published by the Department of Primary Industries, a division of NSW Lyndal Betterridge and Paul Simpson (NSW Office of Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services. Water) are thanked for their support. Jobtrack 13014

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