Notes to : A. As indicated by hydrological modelling undertaken by the Murray Darling Basin Authority (northern Basin review and in developing the Basin Plan) testing outcomes for flow indicators under a number of different water recovery scenarios to meet tributary catchment targets and the shared reduction for the Barwon-Darling system B. Ongoing in-stream use of unregulated Commonwealth entitlements ('passive management') will contribute to all listed demands. Contributions from unregulated entitlements are subject to suitable flow events and are determined by the characteristics of each particular flow (peak, duration, losses) and the access conditions of held entitlements. C. Potential for active management is based on demand (antecedent conditions, required frequencies of flows) and whether active management is in scope for the demand. The larger volume demands are generally out of scope because it is unlkely to be feasible to obtain the additional volume and/or funding to make a significant contribution to these demands. Potential does not relate to the likelihood of a suitable flow event occuring in 2016-17, which cannot be predicted. Implementation will always be subject to a suitable unregulated trigger flow. References for Error! Reference source not found. 1 NSW DPI (New South Wales Department of Primary Industries) 2015, Fish and flows in the Northern Basin: responses of fish to changes in flows in the Northern Murray-Darling Basin, Tamworth, NSW 2 MDBA (Murray-Darling Basin Authority) 2016d, Inundation mapping in the Northern Basin review, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra (in prep.) 3 Eco Logical Australia 2016 'Vegetation of the Barwon-Darling and Condamine-Balonne floodplain systems of New South Wales: Mapping and survey of plant community types' prepared for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. 4 Brandis, K and Bino, G 2016, A review of the relationships between flow and waterbird ecology in the Condamine-Balonne and Barwon-Darling river system Systems, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra (in prep)
Vegetation extent Catchment Area of river red gum (ha)* Area of black box (ha)* Area of coolibah (ha)* Shrublands Non–woody water dependent vegetation Warrego 7,300 80,400 121,400 Fringing/within the Warrego, Langlo, Ward & Nive rivers Nebine 200 28,800 15,400 Fringing/within Nebine Creek Condamine Balonne (lower Balonne) 11,500# 36,100# 62,900# Lignum in Narran Lakes Fringing/within the Condamine, Balonne, Birrie, Bokhara, Culgoa, Maranoa, Merivale & Narran rivers Moonie 2,200 2,500 7,900 Fringing/within Moonie River Border Rivers 10,700 3,800 35,200 Lignum in the lower Border rivers region Fringing/within the Barwon, Dumaresq, Macintyre rivers & Macintyre Brook Barwon Darling 7,800# 11,700# 14,900# Fringing/within the Barwon and Darling rivers Area estimates (ha) are from: Cunningham SC, White M, Griffioen P, Newell G and MacNally R 2013, ‘Mapping vegetation types across the Murray-Darling Basin’, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra # considered to be an underestimate due to technical limitations in determining the lateral extent of floodplain inundation achieved through Basin Plan implementation WATERBIRDS Maintain current species diversity Increase Basin-wide abundance of waterbirds by 20–25 per cent by 2024 Up to 50 per cent more breeding events (Basin-wide) for colonial nesting waterbird species A 30–40 per cent increase in nests and broods (Basin-wide) for other waterbirds Important Basin environmental assets for waterbirds in the northern unregulated rivers Environmental asset Total abundance and diversity Drought refuge Colonial waterbird breeding Shorebird In scope for Commonwealth watering Narran Lakes * * * Yes Cuttaburra channels * * * Minor in-stream contribution Yantabulla swamp * Upper Darling River * * Talyawalka system * No NATIVE FISH No loss of native species Improved population structure of key species through regular recruitment, including Short-lived species with distribution and abundance at pre-2007 levels and breeding success every 1–2 years