Environmental flows
Barmah State Forest, Victoria
Photo John Baker
Environmental flows are natural flows or water deliberately released to supply the needs of the environment. For example, releasing water to:
- mimic natural water flows
- encourage fish breeding
- connect floodplains and wetlands to rivers
- water stressed floodplain plant communities
Environmental flows are critical for maintaining the health of the waters and rivers upon which ecosystems and industries depend. The timing, quantity and duration of flows and the quality of water is crucial to the effectiveness of environmental flows. Interactions between the catchment, floodplains, wetlands, groundwater and streams are required for the effective management of environmental flows. Without the development and application of this understanding, the health of our waters will continue to decline, with environmental and economic costs to our nation.
The Environmental Flows Initiative was developed under the National River Health Program of the Natural Heritage Trust to address knowledge gaps in environmental flows management. Projects funded through the Environmental Flows Initiative aimed to:
- identify the environmental values of the system
- undertake targeted research to identify risks to the system and flow requirements to sustain environmental values
- identify and trial preferred management options for reducing risks and establishing environmental flow requirements
- evaluate trials and adjust management regimes
More information on current activities is available at:
- Environmental water management
- Environmental Flows Initiative - summary of projects
- Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
See also
- Australian Water Resources 2005
- Coasts and oceans
- Lake Eyre Basin Agreement
- Living Murray Initiative
- Meteorological information for primary industry and natural resources management
- National Centre for Tropical Wetland Research
- National Framework for Improved Groundwater Management in Australia
- National Principles for the Provision of Water for Ecosystems
- Water for a Healthy Country Flagship
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