Healthy , healthy communities

Many rivers of the Murray-Darling This has interrupted the natural We deliver water for the Southern Basin have been changed to provide fl ow of water that plants and animals environment when native plants water for towns, industry and food need to survive. With natural runoff and animals need it most. This is production. from rainfall now captured in dams, critical to keeping rivers healthy, the pattern of fl ow in rivers needs so they continue to sustain Basin to be actively managed to keep healthy communities. It is also them healthy. key to meeting our international obligations to conserve important listed wetlands. Mur ay-Darling

Our Local Engagement Offi cers are based in Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Berri, Mildura, Griffi th and Wodonga. For more information contact:

• Berri, SA - Michelle Campbell, 0437 064 664 To view our Water Management Plan 2020-21, or • Mildura, VIC - Richard Mintern, 0437 218 649 Water for the Environment – 2020-21 Planning Overview an overview of planning in the Northern Murray-Darling • Wodonga, VIC - Anthony Wilson, 0419 188 430 Basin, visit environment.gov.au/water/cewo • Griffi th, NSW - Michele Groat, 0427 682 309

A message from the Commonwealth Planning our use of water for the environment in 2020-21 Environmental Water Holder

Our planning for 2020–21 refl ects 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 on First use of Commonwealth water - depends on how much water is allocated to our entitlements by state last three years. While the rainfall every drop of water available. Nations’ environmental objectives begins long before the water governments. Every year is different. outlook for winter/early spring from the Murray Lower Darling starts fl owing. looks optimistic, we start the new We will scale our water use as the Indigenous Nations. This is a We plan water use scenarios for a range of weather conditions water year with low storages and season unfolds. Over winter, we will signifi cant step and complements We work with local water managers, (from dry to wet) so we can adapt to whatever seasonal our lowest volume of carryover in a limit our use to maintaining river fl ow the work we do locally with First scientists, First Nations peoples, conditions eventuate. decade. patterns to help native fi sh, then ideally, Nations people. river operators and landholders deliver larger fl ows in late spring across to prioritise critical sites and * the northern Victorian tributaries, River We work closely with many people carefully plan where water for the Forecast water available in 2020-21 Murray, Baaka/Lower Darling and the and organisations to plan our environment will be delivered in the Carryover from Forecast allocations to Edward/Kolety-Wakool. water use. We are grateful for their year ahead. Their advice ensures our previous year Commonwealth entitlements contributions and look forward to water use is backed by science and Southern-connected Basin** 267GL 1,539GL working together in the coming year meets local needs. to deliver water to keep our rivers valley 16GL 67GL We prepare a Water Management fl owing and healthy. Wimmera river valley 0GL 0GL Plan which considers: * Volumes based on Bureau of Meteorology forecasts for wetter than average conditions • forecast water availability for July to September 2020-21. the coming year ** Southern Connected Basin is the network of rivers that feed into the between the Hume Dam • seasonal rainfall outlook and the sea. • health of river and wetland Jody Swirepik plants and animals. Commonwealth Environmental Water