Healthy rivers, creeks, floodplains and wetlands benefit everyone who works, lives and plays near them.
Water for the environment is good for all of us
Waterway health is the foundation for social and recreational benefits. Water for the environment aims to protect, maintain and increase the health of waterways and the plants and animals whose survival depend on them. Meeting the essential needs of rivers, creeks, floodplains and wetlands also benefits community wellbeing and prosperity.
Water for the environment supports:
the native animals and plants and places that people care deeply about
recreational activities such as paddling, camping, fishing, bushwalking and birdwatching
a sense of wellbeing, through contributing to healthier landscapes for people to enjoy
helping sustain healthy Country and meet cultural objectives for Traditional Owners
improving the quality of water for activities such as swimming, and indirect economic benefits such as irrigated farming.
Who benefits
Water for the environment reintroduces some of the river flows that support the habitat that our native fish depend on. Across Victoria, the popular native angling species that environmental water targets each year are black bream, Macquarie perch, estuary perch, silver perch, golden perch, freshwater catfish and Murray cod. Environmental water can also be used to trigger and support breeding and migration of particular species.
A study by the Victorian Fisheries Authority in 2012 identified the 50 most popular river reaches for recreational fishers. Of these, 28 can receive environmental water.
The rivers and wetlands that receive environmental water vary each year as the environmental watering program is designed to adapt to changing seasonal conditions, however supporting native fish is one of the highest priority objectives of the program.
Supporting rivers and wetlands with environmental flows provides ‘green’ and ‘blue’ spaces for people to access and enjoy. Water for the environment supports healthy waterways, and these in turn are enjoyed by local communities and visitors. In drier times, water for the environment can be a significant portion of the water in some systems, providing welcome respite for animals and people alike.
Flows support vegetation in and around important riverside camping areas such as Gunbower Forest and Creek, the Campaspe River and the Lindsay Mulcra Wallpolla islands. They can also improve water quality, providing a more enjoyable backdrop for campers.
Benefits can be felt long after water for the environment is delivered, when vegetation and animals respond to the environmental flows. Sometimes, flows can be directly timed around holiday periods to maximise benefits or avoid any adverse impacts to campers.
By providing water and habitat for bird breeding and foraging at key wetlands, water for the environment supports populations of native birds that can then be spotted by bird watchers.
Favourite bird watching sites that can receive water for the environment include the central Murray wetlands, Hattah Lakes and the lower Latrobe wetlands.
Paddlers benefit from improved water quality and waterway health both generally, and when environmental flows raise water levels during delivery.
The Gunbower Island Canoe Trail is located in an area which regularly receives water for the environment, promoting the health of the iconic vegetation of the site.
In the Thomson River in Gippsland, paddlers enjoy the quicker river speeds and higher water levels afforded by environmental flows. Often, these can be timed to occur over weekends when visitation rates are high.
Aside from the natural benefits of healthier rivers for communities, we can actively support community benefits in the way water for the environment is stored and delivered.
Sometimes the timing of a release of water for the environment can be adjusted to align with recreational events or activities, for example:
a summer fresh timed to align with the summer holiday period to support paddlers on the Glenelg River
a summer/autumn fresh timed to support the annual Bridgewater Weir pool waterskiing competition on the Loddon River
a spring fresh timed to reduce impacts on recreational river access on the Goulburn River
a summer fresh timed to coincide with a long weekend in the Tarago River.
Where possible, water managers try to maximise benefits like these, so long as the environmental reasons for the watering are not compromised.
How people are involved
Millions of Victorians appreciate and interact with rivers and wetlands. We walk our dogs by them, camp near them, swim and fish in them. So it's not surprising that lots of Victorians get involved in decisions about how water for the environment is used.
Local communities
Each year local communities have a say about environmental priorities in their region when seasonal watering proposals are developed by waterway managers (catchment management authorities and Melbourne Water).
The VEWH engages with representatives from peak interest groups across Victoria. Every two years we hold the Environmental Water Matters Forum to hear from others who are interested in water for the environment and for us to get feedback on how water for the environment is managed. Many different organisations attend, including environment groups, Traditional Owner representatives, farming peak bodies, recreation groups and community and industry groups.
