Water catchments are connected, and the Barwon-Darling River receives most of its inflows from upstream catchments. This means water in any region is influenced by the climate, water management and extraction in those catchments. An adequate level of connectivity, or water flowing between river valleys is critical to sharing water fairly and supporting the environmental health across NSW.
The flows in the Barwon-Darling sustain the communities, environments and industries along the length of the river from Mungindi in the North to Wentworth in the South and into the Murray River.
What we have delivered in 2022-2023
Progressing actions to improve water flowing across connected systems, or improving connectivity is a priority action being progressed from the strategies.
This work is prioritised in the Western Regional Water Strategy and within Northern Basin regional water strategies. Key actions in this reporting period have included:
- publishing draft critical dry triggers that could guide restrictions on access for low priority licence holders in the northern basin and Barwon-Darling at critical times
- setting up an independent Connectivity Expert Panel to review the analysis of flow targets undertaken by the department to improve connectivity and to provide an independent assessment of its adequacy. The advice from the panel will be used to inform water sharing plan changes. Panel members represent natural resources and First Nations organisations as well as science, education, economics, and engineering groups and include:
- Ms Amy Dula - Chair
Director of Programs, Natural Resources Commission - Professor Phil Duncan
First Nations representative, Galambany Professional Fellow, Acting CEO, EPIC CRC - Professor Fran Sheldon
Head of School, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University - Dr Mark Southwell
Principal River Scientist, 2rog Consulting - Dr Phil Townsend
Senior Economic Analyst - Mr Cameron Smith
Principal Water Engineer, Cleah Consulting.
- Ms Amy Dula - Chair
The scope of the panel’s review is outlined in the Connectivity Expert Panel Terms of Reference.
NSW has sought agreement from other Basin States to change the management of Menindee Lakes by recognising releases of operational water down the Great Darling Anabranch. This has the potential to save water in lakes Wetherell and Pamamaroo and provide for a higher drought reserve.
While changes to the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement are yet to be formally considered, a trial release of operational water from Lake Cawndilla to the Murray River via the Great Darling Anabranch has commenced. The trial will monitor impacts on active storage levels of Menindee Lakes.
Contribution to water strategies
- NSW Water Strategy
- Work with communities to better understand and improve system connectivity
- Regional water strategies
- Investigate ways to improve connectivity with the Barwon-Darling River on a multi-valley scale
- Publish critical dry condition triggers and seek to implement them in water sharing plans
- Finalise the review of the North-West Flow Plan to identify the best way to support algal suppression and fish migration
- Further investigate ways to provide replenishment flows from the northern tributaries during dry periods
- Progress investigations into changing the management of Menindee Lakes