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Northern Murray-Darling Basin Water for the Environment – 2020-21

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Northern Murray-Darling Basin Water for the Environment – 2020-21 Healthy rivers, healthy communities Many rivers of the Murray-Darling The Commonwealth Environmental In the wettest years, we look to improve Basin have been changed to provide Water Office delivers water for the river system health and help fish and water for towns, industry and food environment when native plants wildlife build up numbers. In the driest production. and animals need it most. This is years we maintain system health and critical to keeping rivers healthy, reduce environmental damage. This has interrupted the natural flow so they continue to sustain healthy of water that plants and animals communities. Our first priority in most years is need to survive. With natural runoff to support internationally important from rainfall now captured in dams Water availability can change wetlands and increase the connection or extracted for human use, the dramatically in the northern Basin. of northern rivers with the pattern of flow in rivers needs to This changes how we use water Barwon-Darling River. be actively managed to keep them for the environment and is why we healthy. need to carefully plan our potential watering options every year. Northern Basin Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Our Local Engagement Officers are based in Moree and Walgett. To view our Water Management Plan 2020-21, or For more information contact: Water for the Environment – 2020-21 Planning Overview an overview of planning in the Southern Murray-Darling • Moree, NSW - Jane Humphries, 0437 141 495 Basin, visit environment.gov.au/water/cewo • Walgett, NSW - Jason Wilson, 0418 210 389 A message from the Commonwealth Planning our use of water for the environment in 2020-21 Environmental Water Holder Our planning for 2020–21 reflects Careful planning is critical to squeezing I’m delighted this year’s planning Each year, planning the best What we aim to achieve - when, where and how our water is delivered - the very dry conditions of the the most for the environment out of includes formal input from the use of Commonwealth water depends on how much water is allocated to our entitlements by last three years. While the rainfall every drop of water available. Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations begins long before the water state governments. Every year is different. outlook for winter and early spring on First Nations’ environmental starts flowing. looks optimistic, storages are low Without further major rainfall, our objectives. This is a significant step We plan water use scenarios for a range of weather conditions and our carryover is the lowest in a water use in the northern Basin will and complements the work we do We work with local water (from dry to wet) so we can adapt to whatever seasonal decade. be limited to topping up refuges for locally with First Nations people. managers, scientists, First Nations conditions eventuate. native fish and possibly small flows peoples, river operators and to internationally important wetlands We work closely with many people landholders to prioritise critical * such as the Macquarie Marshes, and organisations to plan our sites and carefully plan where Forecast water available in 2020-21 Gwydir Wetlands and Narran Lakes. water use. We are grateful for their water for the environment will be Carryover from Forecast allocations to contributions and look forward to delivered in the year ahead. Their previous year Commonwealth entitlements working together in the coming year advice ensures our water use is Macquarie 23GL 92GL to deliver water to keep our rivers backed by science and meets flowing and healthy. local needs. Namoi 1GL 5GL Gwydir 12GL 33GL We prepare a Water Management Plan which considers Border Rivers 2GL 9GL • forecast water availability for * For regulated systems only. Volumes based on Bureau of Meteorology forecasts for wetter than average the coming year conditions July to September 2020-21. • seasonal rainfall outlook Jody Swirepik • health of river and wetland Commonwealth Environmental plants and animals. Water Holder Northern Murray-Darling Basin What we aim to achieve with water for the environment in 2020-21 Healthy Rivers, We plan water use scenarios for very dry through to very wet conditions Working with First Nations and adapt to whatever season eventuates. Rivers in the northern Basin The Commonwealth Environmental can switch from being dry to in flood within days or weeks. In times of Water Office pays respect to the Healthy Communities Traditional Owners and First Nations of C drought, rivers can shrink back to small pools or dry up completely. Water the Murray-Darling Basin. for the environment is used to help connect river habitats and reconnect We acknowledge their enduring cultural, rivers to important wetlands. This is critical for fish and other animals to social, environmental, spiritual and find food and shelter, escape predators and migrate to breed. economic connection to the rivers, wetlands and floodplains of the Basin. We are committed to continuously Condamine-Balonne improving how we work with First Nations Continue to support the Maranoa River across the Basin to manage water for the recovery of the Narran environment. Lakes Ramsar site following drought. Increase connection between habitats. Condamine River G Border Rivers B Protect drought refuges for native fish. Increase Moonie River connection between habitats. St George Nebine Creek Warrego River C Increase connection Goondiwindi between the Warrego River Balonne and Darling River. Maintain River Dumaresq River Currawinya health of the Warrego Lakes G Gwydir Wetlands floodplain. Ramsar site Culgoa River F Ramsar site Macintyre River B Moree F Severn River Paroo River Narran River Wetlands Mehi River Gwydir River Gwydir River Valley A Ramsar site A Barwon River Maintain drought refuges Narran Lake Ramsar site for native fish. Support Warrego River E Gwydir Wetlands (including Ramsar site) following Paroo River Bourke Narrabri drought and fire. Barwon-Darling River Namoi River Castlereagh River Increase connection between habitats along the Bogan River river. Protect refuges and Macquarie Marshes native fish populations. Ramsar site E D Tamworth Wilcannia Macquarie River D A Namoi River Valley Broken Hill Macquarie River Valley Support recovery of Protect drought refuges and Macquarie Marshes Ramsar support native fish. Increase Darling River connection between site following drought and Dubbo fire. Support native fish to habitats. Menindee breed and disperse. Forbes ORANGE Riverland Banrock Station Ramsar site Weland Complex Lachlan River Ramsar site River Murray Mildura Griffith Fivebough-Tuckerbil Ramsar site Renmark Leeton Murrumbidgee River NSW Central Murray Wagga Wagga Hattah-Kulkyne Forests Ramsar Site Murray Bridge Lakes Ramsar site Coorong and Lakes Edward River Alexandrina and Swan Hill Albert Ramsar site Barmah Forest Canberra Lake Ramsar site Kerang Albacutya Deniliquin Wetlands Ramsar site Ramsar site Murray River Albury Gunbower Loddon River Forest Ramsar site Ovens River Wimmera River Bendigo Shepparton Horsham Goulburn River.
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