Past water use – Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys

The following tables show, where and how much water we’ve delivered in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in previous water years. We first delivered water in the region in 2010–11.

'CEW' refers to Commonwealth environmental water. All water volumes are in megalitres (ML).

For any watering actions completed this water year, visit Latest water use.

Table 16: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2025–26
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
QLD Lower Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 1,559	February 2026 and March 2026	Improved connectivity and contributed to a more naturally variable flow regime. Supported native fish movement, condition and recruitment.
QLD Upper Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 842	February 2026 and March 2026	Contributed to a more naturally variable flow regime.
NSW Warrego	CEW use: 0	-	No use in the NSW Warrego was available in 2025–26. For more information, visit Toorale and the Western Floodplain.
NSW Barwon-Darling (unregulated)	CEW use: 1,707	April to June 2026	Improved connectivity through the Barwon-Darling system to Menindee. Supported native fish movement, condition and recruitment. A total of 37,140 ML was delivered from the Border Rivers and Gwydir River system between January and March 2026 in response to rapidly drying conditions and to mitigate against ecological decline. For more information, visit Barwon–Darling flow update - Summer refresh 2025–26

Table 15: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2024–25
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
QLD Lower Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 26,470	November 2024 to April 2025	Improved connectivity and contributed to a more naturally variable flow regime. Supported native fish movement, condition and recruitment.
QLD Upper Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 605	April 2025	Contributed to a more naturally variable flow regime.
NSW Warrego	CEW use: 2,886.72	January 2025 to May 2025	Contributed to flows to the Western Floodplain and supported the health of wetland areas. Natural flooding provided larger flows onto the Western Floodplain ~149,000 ML For more information, visit Toorale and the Western Floodplain.
NSW Barwon-Darling (unregulated)	CEW use: 65,987.9	July 2024 to May 2025	Improved connectivity through the Barwon-Darling system to Menindee. Supported native fish movement, condition and recruitment.

* Final volume will be updated once confirmed with state agencies

Table 14: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2023–24
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
QLD Lower Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 13,506	January 2024 to April 2024	Improved connectivity and contributed to a more naturally variable flow regime.
QLD Upper Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 950	February 2024 to April 2024	Contributed to a more naturally variable flow regime.
NSW Warrego	CEW use: 8,369.5	January 2024 to June 2024	Provided flows to the Western Floodplain and supported the health of wetland areas. For more information, visit Western Floodplain Toorale flow update – February 2024.
NSW Barwon-Darling (unregulated)	CEW use: 63,384.7	December 2023 to June 2024	Improved connectivity through the Barwon-Darling system to Menindee. Supported native fish movement, condition and recruitment.

Table 13: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2022–23
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
QLD Lower Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 13,193	2022–23	Helped retain a greater proportion of unregulated flow patterns.
QLD Upper Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 388.8	2022–23	Contributed to more naturally variable flow patterns.
NSW Lower Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 221.8 (Toorale licence)	2022–23	Helped retain a greater proportion of unregulated flow events instream. Enhanced connectivity.
NSW Barwon-Darling (unregulated)	CEW use: 16,867	2022–23	Maximised connectivity and supported native fish survival and movement.

Table 12: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2021–22.
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
Barwon–Darling	CEW use: 43,754	2021–22	Helped the system recover after the long dry. Helped native fish move downstream, all the way to Menindee Lakes and beyond. For more information, visit Barwon-Darling flow update for 2021-22.
QLD Upper Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 381.6	2021–22	Contributed to more naturally variable flow patterns. Supported ecological processes that rely on connectivity.
QLD Lower Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 19,685	2021–22	Helped retain unregulated flow patterns. Provided connection with the Barwon-Darling, promoting productivity and native fish movement.

Table 11: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2020–21.
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
Barwon–Darling	CEW use: 68,335	December 2020 to April 2021	Helped break the driest 4 years on record, filling the river channel and spilling onto nearby floodplains. Helped protect a portion of natural flows from extraction and keep water in the river. For more information, visit Barwon-Darling Connectivity Flow 2021.
Northern Barwon–Darling	CEW use: 6,000 NSW use: 2,000 Total: 8,000	December 2020 to February 2021	Connected the Barwon-Darling all the way from Mungindi to Menindee Lakes. Added more oxygen into the river to help native fish over the hot summer months. For more information, visit Northern Waterhole Top-up.
QLD Upper Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 194	2020–21	Contributed to more naturally variable flow patterns. Supported ecological processes that rely on connectivity.
QLD Lower Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 6,153	2020–21	Helped retain unregulated flow patterns. Provided connection with the Barwon-Darling, promoting productivity and native fish movement. Helped fill waterholes that provide critical refuge during dry periods.

Table 10: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2019–20.
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
Barwon–Darling River (unregulated)	CEW use: 28,631	2019–20	Contributed to more naturally variable flows. Improved the resistance of aquatic biota and the resilience of the system.
QLD Upper Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 475	2019–20	Contributed to more naturally variable flow patterns. Supported ecological processes that rely on connectivity.
QLD Lower Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 17,221	January to May 2020	Helped fill waterholes downstream of Cunnamulla that provide critical refuge during dry periods. Contributed to the largest flow down the Warrego River and western floodplain since 2012.
NSW Lower Warrego (unregulated at Toorale)	CEW use: 16,212	2019–20	Helped inundate the Warrego River channel network and downstream into the Darling River.

Table 9: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2018–19.
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
Barwon–Darling River (unregulated)	CEW use: 1,353	2018–19	Contributed to more naturally variable flows, including baseflows, freshes, bankfull and overbank flows. Improved the resistance of aquatic biota and the resilience of the system.
QLD Upper Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 86	April 2019	Helped protect and restore ecosystem functions and aquatic habitats by supporting: more naturally variable flow patterns ecological processes that rely on connectivity.
QLD Lower Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 7,632	April to May 2019	Helped protect and restore ecosystem functions and aquatic habitats by supporting: more naturally variable flow patterns ecological processes that rely on connectivity.
NSW Lower Warrego (unregulated at Toorale)	CEW use: 8,106	2018–19	Enhanced the diversity of aquatic habitat and primary production. Provided dispersal opportunities for aquatic biota.

Table 8: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2017–18.
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
Barwon–Darling River (unregulated)	CEW use: 11,585	2017–18	Contributed to more naturally variable flows, including baseflows, freshes, bankfull and overbank flows. Improved the resistance of aquatic biota and the resilience of the system.
QLD Upper Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 3,347	March to April 2018	Helped protect and restore ecosystem functions and aquatic habitats by supporting: more naturally variable flow patterns ecological processes that rely on connectivity.

Table 7: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2016–17.
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
Barwon–Darling River (unregulated)	CEW use: 26,796	2016–17	Contributed to more naturally variable flows, including baseflows, freshes, bankfull and overbank flows. Improved the resistance of aquatic biota and the resilience of the system.
QLD Upper Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 794	September 2016	Helped protect and restore ecosystem functions and aquatic habitats by supporting: more naturally variable flow patterns ecological processes that rely on connectivity.
QLD Lower Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 8,716	October 2016	Helped protect and restore ecosystem functions and aquatic habitats by supporting: more naturally variable flow patterns ecological processes that rely on connectivity.
NSW Lower Warrego (unregulated at Toorale)	CEW use: 7,800	2016–17	Provided flows through the lowest reaches of the Warrego River and to the Darling River at Toorale. Enhanced the diversity of aquatic habitat and primary production. Provided dispersal opportunities for aquatic biota.
NSW Warrego (high flow unregulated river access licence at Toorale)	CEW use: 9,700	2016–17	Supported the condition and reproduction of floodplain and semi-permanent vegetation communities. Supported waterbird survival and condition providing recruitment opportunities. Supported dispersal opportunities for aquatic biota.

Table 6: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2015–16.
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
Barwon–Darling River (unregulated)	CEW use: 7,640	2015–16	Contributed to more naturally variable flows, including baseflows, freshes, bankfull and overbank flows. Improved the resistance of aquatic biota and the resilience of the system.
QLD Upper Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 859	January 2016	Helped protect and restore ecosystem functions and aquatic habitats by supporting more naturally variable flow patterns.

Table 5: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2014–15.
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
Barwon–Darling River (unregulated)	CEW use: 1,715	2014–15	Contributed to more naturally variable flows, including baseflows, freshes, bankfull and overbank flows. Improved the resistance of aquatic biota and the resilience of the system.
QLD Upper Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 859	December 2014	Helped protect and restore ecosystem functions and aquatic habitats, primarily by supporting more naturally variable flow patterns.
QLD Lower Warrego (unregulated)	CEW use: 859	January 2015	Helped protect and restore ecosystem functions and aquatic habitats, primarily by supporting more naturally variable flow patterns.

Table 4: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2013–14.
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
Barwon–Darling River (unregulated)	CEW use: 13,000	2013–14	Helped protect and restore ecosystem functions and aquatic habitats in the Barwon-Darling River system by supporting: more naturally variable flow patterns ecological processes that rely on connectivity.
NSW Lower Warrego catchment Toorale	CEW use:506	2013–14	Helped increase water flow from the Warrego River to the Darling River. Improved river connections in the lower Warrego River, connections between the Warrego and Darling Rivers, and flows at the end of the system. Improved the variety of underwater environments and plant growth in the Warrego and Darling river areas and created chances for organisms to move around in the water.

Table 3: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2012–13.
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates	Outcomes
Barwon–Darling River (unregulated)	CEW use: 25,616	2012–13	Helped protect and restore water-dependent ecosystems by supporting: more naturally variable flow patterns ecological processes that rely on connectivity.

Table 2: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2011–12.
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates
Upper Warrego	CEW use: 6,050	2011–12
Lower Warrego	CEW use: 10,000	2011–12
Lower Warrego (Toorale)	CEW use: 8,016	2011–12
Lower Warrego Wester Floodplain (Toorale)	CEW use: 9,720	2011–12

Table 1: Watering actions we completed in the Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys in 2010–11.
Location	Water delivered (ML)	Delivery dates
Barwon–Darling catchment	CEW use: 41,826	2010–11
Upper Warrego	CEW use: 6,050	2010–11
Lower Warrego (Toorale)	CEW use: 10,000	2010–11

Past water use – Warrego and Barwon–Darling Valleys

2025–26

2024–25

2023–24

2022–23

2021-22

2020-21

2019-20

2018–19

2017-18

2016-17

2016-17

2014–15

2013–14

2012–13

2011–12

2010–11