To help us manage water for the environment, we follow an annual water management cycle.
We've also committed to being a 'good neighbour' throughout this cycle. We want to foster positive relationships with other water holders in the Murray–Darling Basin including irrigators and landholders.
Our annual water management cycle
Managing water is complex. Every year, the amount of available water changes depending on rainfall and seasonal conditions.
We follow an annual water management cycle of; plan, deliver, measure and review.
This cyclical approach helps us adapt and refine how we do things to achieve the best possible environmental outcomes.
Plan
Our water use planning starts long before the water starts flowing.
We match supply with demand by comparing how much water we're likely to have with what the environment needs.
To help us do this, we have 3 water management tools:
- Use: Deliver water to a river, wetland or floodplain to meet an environmental demand.
- Carryover: Leave water in storage so that it's available to meet environmental demands in the future.
- Trade: Sell or buy water for equal or greater environmental benefit.
Our Water Management Plan considers ecological priorities, stakeholder input and scientific knowledge. It also covers a range of weather scenarios, from wet to dry. This helps us adapt to the seasonal conditions.
For more visit How we plan water use.
Deliver
We work closely with stakeholders to deliver water as planned. This involves working with:
- advisory groups
- our delivery partners
- local water managers
- First Nations peoples
- irrigation networks and industry
- landholders
- state environmental water managers.
State governments allocate water to entitlement holders throughout the year. This determines how much water we have available to use.
On top of delivering water to sites, we use our other water management tools, carryover, and trade to maximise environmental benefits.
We cannot always deliver water as intended in the Water Management Plan. Environmental conditions, knowledge and stakeholder priorities can change. That's why we practice adaptive management.
Measure and review
Monitoring and evaluation are crucial tools to help us manage water to improve the health of the rivers and wetlands.
Scientists work with First Nations peoples and local communities to help us understand how plants and animals respond to water for the environment.
They measure the impact the water is having on rivers, wetlands and floodplains. They share their findings with water managers to inform future decision making.
For more information about how science underpins our water management, visit CEWH science.