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Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

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Commonwealth Environmental Water Office

 Kayaking at the Macquarie Marshes, NSW. (CEWO)
Kayaking at the Macquarie Marshes, NSW. Photo: CEWO.

 

Water used to keep our rivers healthy is known as ‘water for the environment’

Rivers and wetlands in the Murray Darling Basin have been changed to provide water for towns, industry and food production.

With runoff from rainfall now captured in dams or extracted for human use, the seasonal flow of water that plants and animals need to survive has been interrupted.

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office delivers water for the environment when and where plants and animals need it most. It is used to help rivers flow, keep native plants healthy, and support feeding and breeding of native animals, birds, fish and frogs.

This is critical to keeping rivers healthy, so they can continue to sustain healthy communities.

Healthy Rivers, Healthy Communities

Front cover of plan

An introduction to water for the environment and how it is carefully managed to ensure it delivers the best environmental outcomes, while benefiting river communities.

  • Healthy Rivers, Healthy Communities. A pocket guide to water for the environment
  • Healthy Rivers, Healthy Communities. A pocket guide to water for the environment: northern Basin

Water Management Plan 2021-22

Front cover of plan

Find out more about our annual planning process and what we aim to achieve with water for the environment in our 2021-22 Water Management Plan.

  • Water Management Plan 2021-22
  • Water Management Plan 2021-22: A summary

Water for the environment is making a difference

Picture of river
Good news stories about how water for the environment is being delivered to help native plants and animals, and keep our rivers, floodplains and wetlands healthy.
  • Water for the environment is making a difference

News and media

Lake Poomah

Co-ordinated winter flows in the Goulburn and Murray Rivers

  • Media release
  • CEWO
22 July 2022

Careful planning of water for the environment coupled with a helping hand from natural wet…

Freshwater mussels are able to move around using a “foot” seen in this photograph. Photo credit: NSW DPI Fisheries

New research to help protect freshwater mussel populations – heroes of Basin river systems

  • Media release
  • CEWO
14 July 2022

Freshwater mussels may not be cute or “insta famous” but they are the unrecognised heroes of Murray…

Intermediate egret at Macquarie Marshes. Photo credit: Nicola Brookhouse  NSW NPWS 2021

Waterbird resurgence in the Murray-Darling Basin

  • Media release
  • CEWO
13 July 2022

It’s been a big year for waterbirds, with the most widespread breeding across the Murray-Darling…

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Hilton Taylor

Water Management Plan 2021-22

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  • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Update

Environmental water

Latest environmental water storage, use, allocation and carryover data.

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Last updated: 07 June 2022

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.