Table A3 shows a summary of the volume of environmental water delivered in the Goulburn catchment between 2009 and May 2014, and the different amounts of water contributed to these watering actions by the Commonwealth and delivery partners (The Living Murray program and VEWH). This table clearly illustrates that cumulative environmental watering in the Goulburn catchment since 2009 has been significant; however, no managed floodplain watering of the lower Goulburn River has yet been undertaken. Table A3 Environmental water delivered in the Goulburn region between 2009 and May 2014 Catchment complex Commonwealth contribution (ML) 2009–14 Partner contribution (ML) 2009–14 Total delivered (ML) 2009–14 Lower Goulburn River floodplain 0 0 0 Goulburn–Broken catchment river flows 690,644 111,344 801,988 Other Goulburn–Broken catchment sites 75 0 75 Source: Importantly, although there are several entitlement holders involved, most of the available environmental water allocations in the Goulburn catchment are used every year. This is because the water is needed for a range of environmental objectives in the river and downstream every year. A proportion of the environment’s water is carried over, as is the same entitlement for other irrigation users, but the majority of holdings are used each year (Figure A2). Source: CEWH Figure A2 Availability and use of Commonwealth water, 2008–09 to 2013–14 Every year, the outcomes from environmental watering activities are assessed and key learnings are captured by each of the environmental water holders. For the Goulburn River, monitoring and outcome reports can be found at the following locations: include the ecological objectives for watering, and the proposed monitoring programs are in the for each year The Living Murray, .
2012 Summarises work to date on environmental water requirements for lower Goulburn to inform the development of the Basin Plan A number of site-specific flow indicators (e.g. timing, frequency, duration and size of event) developed to achieve ecological objectives Assessment of environmental water requirements for the Lower Goulburn, MDBA 2012 Explore potential environmental benefits that would result if some major existing river operating constraints in the southern connected Basin were relaxed Hydrologic modelling of the relaxation of operational constraints in the southern connected system: methods and results, MDBA 2013 Improve knowledge, data and information of the levees along the Goulburn River including levee surveys, condition assessments and cost estimates for priority works Rural levees assessment — final report of lower Goulburn River levees, Water Technology for GBCMA 2013 Explore ways to change river management arrangements to coordinate the delivery of environmental water across catchments to achieve multiple ecological outcomes Summary of analysis undertaken to support the experienced river operators workshop (April 19, 2012), MDBA 2014 Identifying opportunities for flows between Lake Eildon and Nagambie to benefit the Goulburn River's environmental, social and economic values Mid-Goulburn River flows study — final report: flow recommendations, Cottingham et al. for GBCMA Appendix 4 Changes to the Shepparton ratings table A change to the Shepparton ratings table was first detected during MDBA consultation in This understandably caused concern for Deep Creek landholders, as the rules that trigger the opening and closing of the Loch Garry regulator are based on river heights at the Goulburn River gauge at Shepparton. However, there have been no changes to the height or time-based rules at Shepparton that trigger the pulling of Loch Garry bars. There has also been no change to the physical location or height of the Goulburn River gauge at Shepparton.