noted otherwise. noted All imagesby Commonwealth Environmental Water Officeunless Borderthe Back cover: Royal anabranch inaninundated Spoonbills nesting in Cover: Dumaresq Upper Above: Booberanna Creek respects their continued connection cultures and to their elders both past both past to elders cultures and their The Commonwealth EnvironmentalThe to water, community. and We land pay our respects to them and their their respects to our and pay them ’s traditional owners and Water acknowledges Holder and present.and © Commonwealth ofAustralia,2017 W: www.environment.gov.au/water/cewoW: GPO Box787,CanberraACT2601 E: [email protected] Postal address: T: 1800803772 T: @theCEWH

WAT412.0617 Commonwealth Environmental Water Office RESTORING AND PROTECTING THE THE PROTECTING AND RESTORING 2017–18 SNAPSHOT The Morella Watercourse, and Recruitment means the survival of a We use environmental Pungbougal Lagoon complex is a nationally species through all life stages and into water to improve the significant wetland. Boobera Lagoon— the next generation. Successful considered one of the most important Aboriginal recruitment means that, over the long health of our rivers, places in eastern Australia—is one of the few term, the population of the species permanent waterbodies in the northern Basin, spans all age groups. This is particularly floodplains and providing important drought refuges. important in the Macintyre River from to the junction of the Severn The lower reaches of the Severn River in wetlands River (), the floodplain and the Severn River in New South lagoons between and Wales are also significant areas, supporting a Throughout the Murray–Darling Basin, we deliver Boomi, and the Severn River large range of native fish and providing refuge water to key locations to support the health of (Queensland) in . waterways and the many unique native animals, pools for these species in times of drought. Maintain the current species diversity plants, birds and fish that depend on them to Commonwealth environmental water is and increase abundance of waterbirds survive and thrive. managed in partnership with state and local by supporting breeding opportunities. delivery partners to improve connectivity across The Border Rivers region contains diverse and rich In the Border Rivers Valley, the catchment. In particular, delivery of natural environments that support domestic water Commonwealth environmental water environmental water may target sites that use, extensive agriculture and irrigated could be used to improve habitat and support nationally threatened species under the production, and the cultural values and practices foraging opportunities for waterbirds Environment Protection and Biodiversity of Aboriginal traditional owners, as well as tourism but is unlikely to significantly contribute Conservation Act 1999 and state legislation, and and recreational activities. to large-scale breeding events. wetlands of international and national Water is delivered to key environmental locations significance. This water contributes to achieving Maintain the current extent of river red to support the region’s many unique native environmental outcomes as outlined in the gum, black box and coolibah animals, plants, birds and fish that rely on healthy Basin-wide Environmental Watering Strategy— communities, along with improvements waterways, creeks and wetlands, including part of the implementation of the Murray– to condition and greater likelihood of nationally significant wetlands. Darling Basin Plan. young tree survival. These communities The Border Rivers region is abundant with native provide essential food and habitat for fish, supporting at least 16 species including the Summary of longer term outcomes many native animals across the Basin threatened Murray cod, silver perch, purple- under the Basin-wide Environmental and are culturally significant to local spotted gudgeon, olive perchlet and eel-tailed Watering Strategy Aboriginal people. catfish. After large floods, the region’s many Maintain the extent of non-woody billabongs, lagoons and wetlands support Maintain base river flows, and contribute to vegetation communities near or in waterbirds that are nationally and internationally increased flows in the Barwon–Darling system. wetlands and streams and on low-lying significant, including great egrets, brolgas, Prevent loss of native fish species by floodplains, and improve the condition Australian painted snipe, black-necked storks, supporting regular recruitment (for short-, of lignum shrubland communities of the magpie geese and royal spoonbills. medium- and long-lived species) and lower Border Rivers. increased movement and distribution. likely to have assisted fish recruitment by Depending on river operating rules, flow Water for the Border providing more areas for breeding and constraints and climatic conditions, increasing food availability. the Commonwealth Environmental Water Rivers environment Holder can decide to: During 2013–2016, conditions were generally to date dry in the Border Rivers. In 2013–14, catchment ■ use water to meet identified conditions were characterised by well below environmental demands Environmental demand and water availability average rainfall and higher temperatures. ■ hold on to the water and carry it over for influence the use and management of During this period, water for the environment use in the next water year (‘carryover’) environmental water. This water can be used for (NSW and Commonwealth water) was reasons ranging from avoiding environmental delivered as a stimulus flow for a second ■ trade (buy or sell water) for equal or damage to improving ecological health, successive year. In 2014–15 and 2015–16, greater environmental benefit. depending on how much water is available conditions remained dry but small local rainfall Planned environmental water is water that has and the environmental need of the system. events provided a series of small freshes been set aside for environmental purposes In 2016 and 2017 the Border Rivers region throughout the system. once the cap (maximum limit) on the experienced the largest flow events since In 2010–11 the Border Rivers catchment extraction amount for consumptive use has January 2013. These included a series of medium experienced very wet conditions, including been reached. This ensures that water remains to high flows in August to October 2016, with flooding as a result of significant rainfall. in the river to support a healthy river system. additional high flows in March and April 2017 This assisted ecological recovery of the system An unregulated flow event is when river flow following ex-cyclone Debbie. High flows following the millennium drought. Moderate to does not come from a controlled release of comprised both in-channel pulses and overbank wet conditions continued in 2011–12 and 2012–13 water from a dam or weir (government flows. An in-channel pulse is an increase in river in the lower Border Rivers. owned or operated water storages). levels beyond the base flow, filling the river Rather, the river flow reflects rainfall and channel and benefiting near-channel habitats. Supplying water for the run-off from unregulated catchment areas These flow events occurred when they were environment flowing unimpeded through the system. required by fish and waterbirds for breeding, Regulated flow is a river flow released from a and achieved multiple environmental dam or storage that has been ‘ordered’ by a The water acquired by the Australian outcomes across the catchment. In the customer who holds a water entitlement. there was evidence of Government through investment in more large-scale breeding of Murray cod, while in the efficient irrigation infrastructure and other Severn River (New South Wales) a good number measures enables the Commonwealth of small- to large-bodied fish were recorded. Environmental Water Holder to provide river Flow connectivity between the wetlands and flows needed to restore and protect river floodplains in the lower catchment helped systems throughout the Basin’s irrigation districts. maintain native vegetation communities, This water is often used to supplement large which waterbirds used for nesting. Connectivity rainfall events and water provided to the between the main channel and wetlands is environment by the New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage. ■ the Queensland Department of Agriculture The Commonwealth Environmental Water Our partners and Fisheries Office regularly engages with the local community. We attend community forums, ■ the New South Wales Office of Environment The best approaches to managing water for the events and committees in the catchment and Heritage environment involve local knowledge and the and continue to forge local partnerships to latest science. ■ the New South Wales Department of Primary ensure that community groups, including Commonwealth environmental watering is Industries Aboriginal traditional owners, have the planned, delivered and managed in ■ Local Land Services— opportunity to help shape the regional partnership with people and organisations in the planning and management of our delivery of ■ the Queensland Murray–Darling Border Rivers region in Queensland and New environmental water over the long term. Committee Inc South Wales. Partner organisations include: To learn more about our work or offer ■ WaterNSW suggestions for the use of environmental ■ the Queensland Department of Natural water locally, please contact your local Resources and Mines ■ the Bor der Rivers Environmental Water Network engagement officer on M: 0437 141 495 ■ the Queensland Department of Science, or email [email protected] Information Technology and Innovation ■ Bor der Rivers Food and Fibre ■ the Murray–Darling Basin Authority

Ducks using inundated anabranch in Border Rivers Upper region of the Border Rivers

BORDER RIVERS Commonwealth Environmental Water Office

The Border Rivers region is scenarios based on those considerations. summer months in the Dumaresq River to The anabranches of the lower Macintyre River In other off-channel wetlands along the Environmental watering has a focus on Responding to encourage movement and breeding of native have had limited connection to the main river Macintyre there is low to moderate demand spread across both New supporting threatened species and communities environmental fish and to provide access to breeding habitat channel since 2013 due to low flows. However, for water, due to a prolonged period with no South Wales and under the Environment Protection and for significant species. rainfall in late 2016 and early 2017 has improved major flood events of the level experienced Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, such as river flows into a number of anabranches. We are in 2011. demands in 2017–18 Meeting any of these environmental demands Queensland, with a roughly Murray cod, silver perch, Australian painted still learning how best to use environmental water will require additional flows in the system, In the near-channel wetlands in the lower snipe and great egret. in this region and need a better understanding of equal area in each state. In 2017–18, water for the environment is most such as a rainfall event or a large irrigation Dumaresq River there is low to moderate the frequency and duration of in-channel flows In 2017–18 the overall focus for use of likely to be used to provide flows to improve delivery, to which we would add environmental demand for water, following recent flows. needed to support the anabranches. environmental water in the main channel of the in-stream habitat and support breeding of water to improve outcomes and extend the Watering of specific anabranches may occur in It is unlikely that enough environmental water The Border Rivers system is based around the Border Rivers (Dumaresq and Macintyre rivers) is threatened fish species in the Dumaresq and period of flow. Environmental water on its own 2017–18, following an assessment to determine will be available to meet the demands of the Macintyre and Dumaresq rivers, which merge to add water to the system when required to Macintyre rivers. If there is enough rainfall, cannot meet all the demands. environmental needs (for example, supporting wetlands along the lower Dumaresq River. upstream of and continue as the meet essential environmental demands of additional water could contribute to flows that If there is a prolonged dry period in 2017–18, native fish and maintaining wetland vegetation). Contributing to the wetlands in the lower Macintyre River. The is a significant important wetlands, floodplains and improve wetland connectivity and breeding of watering may be required to provide a flow to Macintyre River is likely to involve tributary downstream of Boggabilla. river reaches. The main objective of this use will threatened fish species in the lower Wetlands, lagoons and billabongs: The watering the end of the Border Rivers system at Mungindi, environmental water supplementing natural The Dumaresq River, Macintyre River and be to improve the overall ecological health and Macintyre River. If conditions become very dry demands of off-channel habitats (wetlands, to support drought refuges and improve flows from rainfall. Barwon River (downstream of the junction of support fish and waterbird habitat. To maintain again, environmental water may be used to lagoons and billabongs) in the Border Rivers water quality. the Weir River to Mungindi—the end of the the health of floodplain areas such as help maintain refuge pool habitat. region range from low to high. Some of these Wetlands in the New South Wales Severn River Border Rivers system) forms the border off-channel lagoons that could be isolated There may be other opportunities to provide off-channel habitats along the Macintyre are have low demand for water, as they have been River channels: Across the Border Rivers region between New South Wales and Queensland water to the Border Rivers region if water watered for the last five years through from river flows or anabranches and off-channel there is moderate to high demand for now permanently cut off from natural flows, for approximately 470 km. The Macintyre availability is high. unregulated flows, irrigation deliveries and the wetlands requiring overbank flows for environmental watering to improve water mostly between Goondiwindi and Boomi. Filling River’s main tributary is the Severn River New South Wales stimulus flows. inundation, small volumes may be delivered quality, in-stream habitat and connectivity Anabranches and creeks: There is moderate to these habitats would enable reconnection with (New South Wales). to specific habitats in the lower Macintyre (between river and floodplain) to support native high environmental demand to connect the main river to improve water and soil quality, Stimulus flows are used to tumble rocks, scour Planning for the best use of environmental floodplain using public and private fish movement and breeding. anabranches and the river channel. This would support movement of native fish, and build the and disturb algae and stimulate in-stream water to achieve healthy river systems and irrigation infrastructure. support floodplain vegetation and wetland health and resilience of vegetation across production. They can also allow water-based In the lower Macintyre River there is moderate to species must take into account the water health and bring nutrients and carbon into the the lagoons. Water could be delivered to these species to access a wider range of habitats for If the river dries significantly and system high demand for a large fresh of water to that is currently available and the climate main river. areas using private infrastructure like pumps. feed and shelter. connectivity is lost, the focus will shift to improve habitat for native fish and connect the conditions (such as whether it is a dry year or supporting basic river health, through a watering channel to low-level wetlands. There is moderate a wet year), how urgently some parts of the action to replenish refuge pools and improve demand for flows from late winter to early system require water to maintain ecological water quality to the end of the system. 13.40 GL was carried over by health, and different environmental watering the Commonwealth 34 GL have been delivered to the Border Rivers Environmental Water Holder for in the past five years, including the 2017–18 water year in the Border Rivers Catchment unregulated flows. In 2016-17, unregulated Border Rivers region. p to 30 water entitlements from Queensland 13.40 GL can be used in-stream from contributed 23.5 GL of increased flow during GL Commonwealth unregulated unregulated events in the Macintyre, entitlements in the Border Rivers Dumaresq and Severn (Qld) rivers, which in 2017–18, although this is provided cues for fish movement subject to suitable unregulated and breeding. In some years, Commonwealth flow events occuring. environmental water from regulated 34 GL entitlements (water held in dams) has also have been delivered been used in the Border Rivers to inundate to the Border Rivers important instream habitats and improve the between 2011–12 connectivity from flow events into the 23.50 GL of unregulated flows and 2016–17. Macintyre River. These enhanced flows were contributed to the system, helping achieved in 2012 and 2013, and are likely to be 23.50 to improve end of system flows in achieved again in 2017 in both the Severn and GL 2016–17. Dumaresq rivers.

ML megalitre 1 million litres GL gigalitre 1000 megalitres

Royal Spoonbills on branch of main nesting tree along an inundated anabranch in Border Rivers

www.environment.gov.au/water/cewo