Barmah-Millewa forest environmental water allocation

Area of Science:

• River management and ecological restoration
• Environmental water allocation strategies
• Wetland ecosystem health and biodiversity

Background:

• The Barmah-Millewa Forest, a Ramsar-listed wetland and the world's largest river redgum forest, faces ecosystem degradation due to altered natural flooding cycles from Murray River regulation.
• The Murray-Darling Basin Commission developed a water management strategy to address these impacts and enhance forest, fish, and wildlife values.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate the practical application of community participation in environmental water management.
• To demonstrate the use of hydrological and biological triggers for environmental water allocation.
• To highlight the positive biological outcomes of environmental water allocation in the Barmah-Millewa Forest.

Main Methods:

• Community consultation and development of a water management strategy (1990-1993).
• Formal allocation of 100 Gigalitres per year approved in 1993, with equal contributions from NSW and Victoria.
• Implementation of the Barmah-Millewa Forest Environmental Water Allocation (EWA) in 2000-2001, releasing 341 GL.

Main Results:

• The strategic release of 341 GL, representing only 8% of total flows, successfully maintained flooding in the Barmah-Millewa Forest.
• Significant breeding success was observed for water birds and other biota within the forest ecosystem.
• The case study demonstrates effective community involvement and the application of scientific triggers in environmental water management.

Conclusions:

• Environmental water allocation, when strategically managed with community participation, can yield significant ecological benefits.
• The Barmah-Millewa Forest EWA serves as a successful model for restoring and maintaining wetland health.
• Continued adaptive management and community engagement are crucial for the long-term sustainability of river redgum forests and associated biodiversity.