The Murrumbidgee catchment saw dry conditions and lower than average inflows in 2017–18. This resulted in 38% general security allocations (to March 15, 2018) with about 100 gigalitres of NSW environmental water allowances available for use.
To build on low starting allocations, water was carried over from the 2016–17 water year. Under these conditions, we worked with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office to deliver a whole-of-system wetland reconnection flow. This event connected hundreds of wetlands along the Murrumbidgee catchment from the mid-Murrumbidgee through to the Murray junction.
Remaining water for the environment was used to maintain refuge habitats for native fish, frogs and turtles as well as the condition of habitat important to listed waterbird species such as Australasian bitterns.
Some significant ecological outcomes achieved included:
- improved condition of wetland vegetation communities in the mid-Murrumbidgee
- improved fish habitat
- opportunities for breeding and movement.