Since 2009, we've been using Commonwealth water for the environment to help the Murrumbidgee catchment. This water is supporting habitats in streams and wetlands throughout the catchment.
The delivery of this water has helped to provide food, habitat and chances for wildlife to breed. It has also helped to improve the health of native plants in the region.
In 2023–24, 260 gigalitres of environmental water was delivered. This aimed to:
- provide opportunities for native fish to move and breed including Murray cod
- provide feeding and breeding areas for waterbirds
- improve the habitat and populations of threatened species
- ensure ecosystems can withstand changes to the environment
- develop the ability to recover from damage or stress.
The latest achievements are below. To learn more about past water delivery, visit Past water use - Murrumbidgee River Valley.
Waterbirds and wildlife
The Murrumbidgee is home to many native and threatened wildlife species. Providing water is crucial for supporting the habitat and breeding of:
- waterbirds
- native fish
- birds
- frogs
- turtles.
Protecting threatened species
We have protected several threatened species from further decline.
A key achievement was recovering southern bell frog populations in the Lowbigdee.
Water for the environment has seen southern bell frog populations returned to numbers not seen since early 2000s. It has also supported the expansion of this species, with some found in Western Lakes for the first time in 2021–22. In 2023–24 southern bell frogs continue to be found widely in the Lowbidgee.
Environmental water has helped Australasian Bitterns breed in spring and summer. Bitterns also use Murrumbidgee wetlands in winter.
Bird breeding
Water delivery in the Murrumbidgee has helped many water birds breed.
Environmental water has supported large groups of water birds to breed in Gayini wetlands over consecutive years. Around 45,000 to 50,000 nests of waterbirds were active in the region during 2021–22 and over 150,000 nests in 2022–23. Species included Straw-necked ibis, nankeen night-herons, egrets, great cormorant, Australian pelican and Little black cormorant.
Fish, frogs and turtles
Animal populations have improved thanks to the delivery of water for the environment.
Water for the environment has supported a variety of fish populations such as:
- Golden perch
- Carp gudgeon
- Australian smelt
- Flathead gudgeon
- Bony bream
- Murray–Darling rainbow fish
- Unspecked hardyhead
- Murray cod
- Freshwater catfish.
Frog species in the Murrumbidgee include:
- Barking and Spotted marsh frogs
- Peron’s tree frog
- Plains froglet
- Inland banjo frog
- threatened Southern bell frog.
The Murrumbidgee is also home to different turtle species, including:
- Broad-shelled turtle
- Eastern long-necked turtle
- Macquarie river turtle.
Vegetation, flows and wetlands
Water delivery has helped restore key native plant communities. This includes areas that were once lost.
This has helped to recover and preserve the ecological character of:
- Ramsar-listed wetlands Fivebough and Tuckerbil
- mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands
- Lowbidgee floodplain
- Junction wetlands.
Water quality has also improved. Higher flows helped prevent low oxygen levels in the lower Murrumbidgee River and Yanco Creek. This has protected aquatic life including native fish. This has also avoided more fish deaths during the 2019 drought.
Water delivery has increased the connection between rivers and wetlands in the region. As a result, native fish could move between the Murrumbidgee and Murray rivers, and Yanga National Park. River Flows along with temporarily opening weirs allows a free-flowing river to help fish move.