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Going with the Flow - Case studies on the Use of an Environmental Water Allocation
Publication
"Going with the Flow" outlines the environmental achievements of Victoria's 27 600 ML Environmental Water
Allocation (EWA).
The Environmental Water Allocation was provided to the environment in the late 1980's to protect flora and fauna values of wetlands along the River Murray.
Specific allocations of environmental water are needed in the River Murray due to changes in the natural flow regimes of the river. Since European settlement, rivers and wetlands have been used to store and deliver irrigation water, dams have been constructed and drainage water has been disposed into wetlands. While some of these changes have enabled communities to benefit from town water supplies, irrigation, and improved water use, they have also caused stress to the environment. Stresses on the riverine environment have shown up in
- rising salinity
- increased algal blooms, and a
- reduction in native animals and plants.
By providing environmental allocations we aim to improve the environmental values of the wetlands or rivers and to get better social and economic outcomes. Today's water manager understands that to keep our rivers and wetlands healthy, action is needed to achieve the right balance to prevent further degradation and enhance environmental values while meeting supply requirements. The provision of water for the environment is now recognised as an essential component of water allocation.
The EWA has been used in a range of significant wetlands along the River Murray including Barmah Forest, the Kerang Wetlands and the Cardross Lakes in the States North West. This document highlights some of the good ecological results we have seen along the River Murray from the application of the environmental water allocation.
Publication
Contents (PDF - 2.1 Mb) Foreword (PDF - 420 Kb) Chapter 1 - The requirement for environmental allocations (PDF - 1.3 Mb) Chapter 2 - The River Murray Environmental provisions (PDF - 1.8 Mb) Chapter 3 - Environmental water - case study: Barmah Forest (PDF - 1.9 Mb) Chapter 3 - Environmental water - case study - Cardross Lakes (PDF - 1.1 Mb) Chapter 3 - Environmental water - case study - Johnson Swamp (PDF - 476 Kb) Chapter 3 - Environmental water - case study - Lake Cullen (PDF - 770 Kb) Chapter 3 - Environmental water - case study - Lake Murphy (PDF - 1.9 Mb) Chapter 4 - Appendices - Abbreviations-Glossary (PDF - 1.6 Mb) Chapter 4 - Appendices - Reports (PDF - 1.0 Mb)