Seasonal Watering Plan 2016–17 collaboration integrity commitment initiative © Victorian Environmental Water Holder 2016 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence. You are free to reuse the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) as author. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs or branding, including the Victorian Government logo and the VEWH logo. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Printed by Impact Digital (June 2016) ISSN: 2203-6539 (Print) ISSN: 2203-6520 (Online) Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the VEWH and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please contact the VEWH on (03) 9637 8951 or email [email protected]. This document is also available on the internet at www.vewh.vic.gov.au. Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners The VEWH proudly acknowledges Victoria’s Aboriginal community and their rich culture and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s first peoples and as Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and water on which we rely. We recognise and value the ongoing contribution of Aboriginal people and communities to Victorian life and how this enriches us. We embrace the spirit of reconciliation, working towards equality of outcomes and ensuring an equal voice. Front cover image: Australasian darter, by Mallee CMA Swamp lily, by North Central CMA Section 1: Introduction 1.1 The Victorian environmental watering program .................1 1.2 The seasonal watering plan ...............................................3 1.3 Implementing the seasonal watering plan .........................6 1.4 Managing available environmental water ........................12 Section 2: Gippsland Region 2.1 Gippsland Region overview .............................................19 2.2 Latrobe system ................................................................20 2.3 Thomson system .............................................................26 2.4 Macalister system ............................................................30 2.5 Snowy system..................................................................34 Section 3: Central Region 3.1 Central Region overview ..................................................37 3.2 Yarra system ....................................................................38 3.3 Tarago system ..................................................................42 3.4 Maribyrnong system ........................................................46 3.5 Werribee system ..............................................................49 3.6 Moorabool system ..........................................................54 3.7 Lower Barwon wetlands ..................................................58 Section 4: Western Region 4.1 Western Region overview ................................................65 4.2 Glenelg system ................................................................66 4.3 Wimmera system .............................................................71 4.4 Wimmera–Mallee wetlands ..............................................78 Section 5: Northern Region 5.1 Northern Region overview ...............................................85 5.2 Victorian Murray system ..................................................87 5.3 Ovens system ................................................................110 5.4 Goulburn system ...........................................................114 5.5 Broken system ...............................................................121 5.6 Campaspe system ........................................................128 5.7 Loddon system ..............................................................135 Section 6: Further information 6.1 Acronyms .......................................................................147 6.2 Glossary ........................................................................148 6.3 Contact details ...............................................................151 Foreword The Seasonal Watering Plan 2016–17 scopes potential many regions, the VEWH used water that had been carried environmental watering in Victoria for the coming year. over from the previous year to bolster low water allocations. The plan, produced by the Victorian Environmental Water In late May 2016, the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed Holder (VEWH) in collaboration with program partners, that El Niño conditions have returned to neutral and outlines where, when and why environmental water may be further cooling of the tropical Pacific may lead to a La used, under a range of climate scenarios. Niña developing at the start of the 2016–17 year. There The plan draws on proposals from Victoria’s waterway is also an increased chance of a negative Indian Ocean managers (the catchment management authorities Dipole developing late in the outlook period. This typically [CMAs] and Melbourne Water) that recommend the most brings above-average rainfall to southern parts of Australia. effective watering activities for their regional waterways However, as the bureau reported, this influence is likely based on the best-available ecological, hydrological and to be limited by increased mean sea level pressure to geomorphic science and detailed river and wetland studies. the south of the continent, so Victoria has roughly equal Communities play a large part in these regional proposals chances of a wetter or drier outlook. by providing local perspectives, including historical With likely low allocations in the early part of the year across waterway knowledge and citizen science. most of the state, the VEWH has again carried over water Environmental watering is often essential for maintaining to support critical and early-season watering in 2016–17. and improving the health of rivers, wetlands and If the dry conditions continue, environmental watering floodplains. Beyond the benefits for plants, animals and objectives in many systems will aim to protect water quality broader environmental health, watering also intrinsically in critical drought refuges. If wetter conditions eventuate, provides broader social benefits to communities such as the dry catchments will need significant wetting before improving amenity for fishing, camping and canoeing; sustained streamflows eventuate. Under these improved sustaining healthy Country for Aboriginal communities with conditions, environmental watering objectives will transition a continuing connection to rivers, wetlands and floodplains; towards maintaining and improving outcomes for native and improving water quality which can have indirect fish, birds and vegetation. This plan includes information for economic benefits for irrigation and urban water supply. each system about environmental watering objectives and potential environmental watering and expected water usage These shared benefits of environmental water can under a range of planning scenarios. sometimes be actively maximised by making decisions about the storage, delivery and use of environmental water The VEWH continues to work with program partners (such as holding water in weirs at specific times to help (including waterway managers, storage managers and support local rowing regattas). Where possible, program land managers) to achieve the best-possible return on partners look for opportunities to maximise shared benefits, the environmental water investment for all Victorians. provided environmental outcomes are not compromised. As always, I would like to acknowledge the ongoing These opportunities have been considered and are commitment of all of these partners of the Victorian reflected in the Seasonal Watering Plan 2016–17. environmental watering program. 2015–16 was a challenging year for many Victorians, as I am pleased to present the Seasonal Watering Plan an El Niño weather pattern saw Victoria struggle with 2016–17 for Victoria’s environmental watering program. below-average rainfall statewide. The west of the state experienced some of the driest conditions on record. Both the Wimmera and Glenelg rivers, for instance, were reduced to chains of pools with environmental water topping up and freshening these drought refuges in the Denis Flett hottest months to keep plant and animal species alive. In Chairperson, Victorian Environmental Water Holder Introduction Section 1 Introduction Lake Carpul, by Mallee CMA 1.1 The Victorian environmental watering program ............................................................... 1 1.1.1 Who is involved in the Victorian environmental watering program? ......................................................................1 1.1.2 What is the program aiming to achieve? ................................................................................................................1 1.1.3 What is the role of the VEWH? ...............................................................................................................................2 1.1.4 Where can I find more information about the Victorian environmental watering program? ...................................2 1.2