DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES IMPACTS OF WATER TRADE ON AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS Trading rules controlling irrigation water movement July 2007 IMPACTS OF WATER TRADE ON AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS Trading rules controlling irrigation water movement For further information contact: Mike Morris Primary Industries Research Victoria Department of Primary Industries Private Bag 1 Ferguson Road Tatura Victoria 3616 Phone: (03) 5833 5283 Fax: (03) 5833 5299 Email:
[email protected] Published by Primary Industries Research Victoria Department of Primary Industries, Tatura Private Bag 1 Ferguson Road Tatura Victoria 3616 July 2007 Find more information about DPI on the Internet at: www.dpi.vic.gov.au ISBN 978-1-74199-219-9 (print) ISBN 978-1-74199-220-5 (online) Disclaimer The information contained in this report is offered by the State of Victoria, through its Department of Primary Industries, solely to provide information. While the information contained in this report has been formulated with due care by the Department of Primary Industries, the State of Victoria, its servants and agents accept no responsibility for any error, omission, loss or other consequence which may arise from any person relying on anything contained in this paper. © State of Victoria, Department of Primary Industries, 2007 Executive summary This report presents an overview of water trading rules controlling irrigation water movement and information on the historical background preceding and underpinning current rules and regulations. Irrigation water trade ocurs under a Cap on consumptive entitlements implemented in 1995 and administered by the MDBC. Since imposition of the Cap, consumptive allocations have been progressively reduced to improve the condition of riverine ecosystems, and further reductions are likely.