1: Expected outcomes from the use of Commonwealth environmental water in the Northern Unregulated Rivers. Flow Type Expected outcomes for 2014–15 Contributions to longer term objectives Contribution to the following Basin Plan objective Base flows and freshes Individual survival and condition (individual refuges and ecosystem resistance) Ecosystem resilience Resilience Freshes Salinity Dissolved oxygen pH Dissolved organic carbon Chemical Water quality Freshes and bankfull Nutrient and carbon cycling Process Ecosystem function Freshes, bankfull and overbank Fish reproduction Fish condition Fish diversity Biodiversity Bankfull and overbank Vegetation reproduction Vegetation condition Vegetation diversity Biodiversity Waterbird survival and condition Waterbird diversity and population condition Waterbird chicks Waterbird fledglings Waterbird diversity All flow types Hydrological connectivity including end of system flows Connectivity Ecosystem function Biotic dispersal and movement Primary productivity (of aquatic ecosystems) Process
2: Operational considerations for the Northern Unregulated Rivers in 2014–15. Inflow scenario Very low Low Moderate High Very high Opportunities Contribute to unregulated flows in the Barwon-Darling and beyond at times when Menindee Lakes is spilling. Use environmental water in conjunction with naturally occurring river flows. This opportunity is applicable across all inflow scenarios and catchments. Coordinate regulated watering actions in tributaries (Namoi and/or Gwydir, Macquarie, Border Rivers) to provide (end of system) inflows that improve hydrological outcomes in the Barwon-Darling. This opportunity relates to Barwon-Darling inflow scenarios Purchase access rights in a water harvesting event/stored water to supplement inflows to Narran Lakes to enhance or maintain waterbird breeding conditions. This opportunity relates to Balonne inflow scenarios Constraints Neither long-term nor ad hoc shepherding arrangements to enable the use of water from northern basin entitlements for outcomes downstream of Menindee Lakes are likely to be available in 2014–15. This constraint is applicable across all inflow scenarios and catchments. If other unregulated flows are insufficient the environmental water needs of key assets may not be met. This constraint is applicable across all inflow scenarios and catchments. Risks* The provision of Commonwealth environmental water must consider potential inundation impacts to property and infrastructure. Irrigation diversions may reduce short term local benefits of environmental water and limit how far benefits extend downstream (all catchments). *See Section 7 for more information on risk management.
Table 3: Streamflow conditions in the Northern Unregulated catchments 2007–08 to 2013–14. Catchment (period of records) Recent annual streamflow~ 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 Border Rivers - Upper Severn River at Farnbro (1962–2013) High Low Very low Highest on record Low Moderate Very Low - Lower Macintyre at Goondiwindi (1980–2013) Low Moderate Very low Highest on record High Moderate Moderate Moonie Nindigully (1969–2013) High Moderate Very high Highest on record High Moderate Low Lower Balonne St George (1971–2013) Moderate Very low Very high Highest on record Very high High Low Nebine * Roseleigh Crossing (2007–2013) Low Very low Highest in the period of record Very low Very low Very Low Very Low Warrego - (Qld) Augathella (1967–2013) Very high Moderate High Highest on record Very high Very low Very low - Mid (Qld) Wyandra (1966–2013) Very high Low Very high Very high Very high Very low Very low - Lower (NSW) Ford’s Bridge (1972–2013) Very high Very low Very high Very high High Very low Very low (NSW) - Mid Collarenebri (1980–2013) Moderate Low Moderate Very High Highest on record Moderate Low Bourke (1943–2013) Low Very Low Moderate Very High Highest since 1998–99 Moderate Very low Notes: ~ Annual catchment streamflow was defined at key locations by: Very low up to 17.5 per cent rank, Low 17.5 – 37.5 per cent rank, Moderate 37.5 – 62.5 per cent rank, High 62.5 – 82.5 per cent rank, Very high greater than 82.5 per cent rank. Data sourced from NSW Office of Water (NSW sites) and Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (Queensland sites) * Qualitative information only. Gauged flow data is insufficient to classify annual streamflow in the Nebine Creek catchment . Darling
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