Fish resilience, movement, spawning and recruitment Connectivity Wet low and point bars baseflow greater than 3 ML/day) from Chaffey Dam Pulsed baseflow (~500 ML/day) from Chaffey Dam met met met met Min baseflows not fully met in 2015–16 Pulsed baseflow requirements have not been met in the last two years. other water under a wet scenario. High Pulsed baseflows met for only 4 days in July 2012 Pulsed baseflows met for 1 day in August 2013 Pulsed baseflows not met Pulsed baseflows not met Environmental water could contribute to pulsed baseflow releases from Chaffey Dam Moderate Low High Connectivity Water quality Fish spawning, recruitment, movement and condition Fresh flow (1 000–4 000 ML/day) to provide connectivity and wet medium-level benches, point bars and riparian zone 2–3 years Average return interval Flows greater than 1 000 ML/day over 3 days in July 2012 Not met Not met Not met High Demand has not been met in last three years. Improve Environmental water could contribute to this demand if allocations become available and if delivered in conjunction with other water. Low Very Low Low See references at Table 3a Carryover potential Due to small holdings, low to moderate proportion of allocations carried into 2016–17. NOTE: No carryover provisions in the Peel Valley. Low to moderate proportion of allocations may be carried over to but will depend upon resource availability and demands. Level of carryover will depend on environmental demands and resource availability. Trade potential Potential for purchases to augment water for the environment in a number of catchments in the northern Murray-Darling Basin to meet high environmental water demands (particularly in the Macquarie Marshes, Lower Balonne/Narran Lakes and Border Rivers). Further information will be provided to the market ahead of any trade of Commonwealth environmental water.
Key fish species for the Namoi River Valley include: Species Specific outcomes In-scope for C’th water in the Namoi River Valley? Freshwater catfish (Tandanus tandanus) Expand the core range of at least 3–5 existing populations (Candidate sites include Namoi River) Yes Golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) A 10–15 per cent increase of mature fish (of legal take size) in key populations Yes Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) A 10–15 per cent increase of mature fish (of legal take size) in key populations Yes Olive perchlet (Ambassis agassizii) Establish or improve the core range of 2–5 additional populations (Candidate sites include Namoi River) Possibly (Once widespread. Current extent unknown in Namoi) River blackfish (Gadopsis marmoratus) Establish or improve the core range of 2–4 additional populations (candidate sites include Namoi River) Yes Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) Expand the core range of at least 2 existing populations (Candidate sites include Namoi River) Yes (Current extent unknown in Namoi. Stocking of 50 000 fingerlings in 2016) Southern purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) Establish or improve the core range of 2–5 additional populations – (priority catchments include Namoi) Possibly (Once widespread. Current extent in Namoi unknown. Some stocking has occurred) Important Basin environmental assets for native fish in the Namoi River Valley Environmental asset Key movement corridors High Biodiversity Site of other Significance Key site of hydrodynamic diversity Threatened species Dry period / drought refuge In-scope for C’th e-water Namoi (Gunnedah to Walgett) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Peel River downstream of Chaffey Dam Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Namoi River upstream of Keepit Dam Yes Yes Yes No