Environmental Delivery

Environmental water in Barmah-Millewa
Forest, Photos: David Kleinert

Through The Living Murray program, environmental water management optimises water use to achieve the ecological objectives of the icon sites by:

smarter use of water
delivery of environmental water entitlements.

Individual icon site management plans outline the objectives, guidelines and priorities for water. These priorities are informed by monitoring, investigations and stakeholder consultation.

The Living Murray Environmental Water Portfolio

The Living Murray has an environmental water portfolio of just under 500 GL as a a long-term average. In addition to this portfolio, a program of works is being developed at each of the icon sites to make sure that available environmental water is used efficiently and ecological benefits are maximised. Both water and works are focused on improving the health of The Living Murray's six icon sites:

The amount of water available to The Living Murray program is dependent on seasonal water allocations to the range of entitlements in the portfolio of water holdings. For information on the Living Murray water holdings see The Living Murray Water Holdings.

Determining the use of The Living Murray environmental water

The Living Murray Annual Environmental Watering Plan 2010-11 states how environmental water will be delivered. The plan was developed by the Environmental Watering Group, comprised of state governments and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). The Living Murray Annual Environmental Watering Plan sets out how environmental watering decisions are prioritised across the Murray River system, and how these decisions are responsive to changes in water availability, and opportunities to gain maximum environmental benefits.

2009-10 watering actions

In 2009-10, 68.546 GL has been allocated to 25 floodplain and wetland locations within The Living Murray icon sites.

Table: 2009-10 watering actions

Icon site	Locations within icon site	Volume committed (GL) (of 155.666 GL available)	Period of watering	Benefit
Barmah-Millewa Forest	Douglas Swamp, Walthours Swamp, Reed Beds Gulf Creek	2.37	Oct'09 - Dec'09	Facilitate the maintenance and recovery of wetland vegetation, and contribute to the maintenance of bird breeding and foraging habitat.
Chowilla Lindsay-Wallpolla	Chowilla: Punkah Creek, Twin Creeks, Coppermine, Werta Wert, Lake Littra, Monoman Island Horseshoe, Kulkurna, Pilby Lagoon Wallpolla Island and Lindsay Island	10.39	Nov'09 - Jun'10	Provide drought refuge and contribute to the prevention of the decline in health of long-lived vegetation, including mature river red gum, black box and other high-priority vegetation.
Gunbower- Koondrook-Perricoota	Reedy Lagoon (Gunbower Forest)	2.201	Nov'09	Maintain drought refuge, and contribute to the maintenance of bird breeding and foraging habitat.
Hattah Lakes	Chalka Creek, Lake Lockie, Little Lake Hattah, Lake Hattah, Lake Bulla and Lake Arawak	5	Apr'10 - May'10	To halt or reverse the decline of fringing river red gums in Hattah Lake and surrounding wetlands and to extend the duration of drought refuge.
Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth	Narrung, Boggy Creek, Turveys Drain and Lake Albert	48.585	Nov'09 - Dec '09 & Feb'10 - June'10	Maintain drought refuge for threatened waterbirds and fish species, and prevent loss of aquatic vegetation. Assist in the process of recovery in Lake Albert through the inundation of sediments with high acidification risk, and reducing salinity.
	TOTAL	68.546

A decision was made to carry over 82 GL of environmental water available to The Living Murray in 2009-10. By carrying over water it provides The Living Murray with the opportunity to undertake significant watering actions at multiple sites in spring and thus maximise the ecological benefits that can be obtained during this season.