History - Macquarie

Environmental watering in the Macquarie River and Marshes

Status: Action completed

About the watering

A total of 4,312 ML of Commonwealth water for the environment was delivered in conjunction with 63,800 ML of NSW water to the mid-Macquarie River/Wambuul and Macquarie Marshes in 2021–22.

The use of water for the environment was managed adaptively as conditions became progressively wetter during the year. The delivery contributed to the inundation of up to ~135,500 hectares of wetland vegetation in the Marshes, providing benefits for waterbirds, native fish and frogs. It also helped maintain waterbird breeding and feeding habitat, and connection through the lower Macquarie River to the Marshes.

This watering action was managed in collaboration with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) – Environment and Heritage Group, the NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries, and WaterNSW. The Macquarie Cudgegong Environmental Water Advisory Group provided advice in planning and designing the action.

Monitoring of the outcomes from this watering action was undertaken by DPE – Environment and Heritage Group, including surveys of vegetation condition, inundation extent, waterbirds and frogs. Additional monitoring of colonial waterbird breeding was undertaken by the University of NSW (funded by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office).

Further updates on the watering action can be found at: 2021–22 Macquarie River Valley updates.

Supplementary Commonwealth environmental water use in the Macquarie catchment

Status: Action completed

About the watering

The Commonwealth currently holds 8,292 ML of supplementary entitlements in the Macquarie, which can be used to contribute to meeting environmental demands at target assets when supplementary access is announced.

The purpose of the water use is to maintain the ecological health and resilience of assets in the Macquarie River catchment.

Commonwealth supplementary water for the environment was used on several occasions during 2021–22, in conjunction with NSW supplementary water. A total of 7,750 ML was delivered, including 6,588 ML of Commonwealth water.

Water was delivered in late July and early August 2021 to the Macquarie Marshes, to support the recovery of wetland vegetation, and to provide habitat for waterbirds, native fish and frogs. Additional water was delivered between February and May 2022 to help maintain inundation in the Marshes, support the finalisation of colonial waterbird breeding, and to maintain feeding habitat for the survival.

Environmental watering in the Macquarie River and Marshes

Status: Action completed

About the watering

A total of 37,488 ML of Commonwealth water for the environment was delivered in conjunction with 111,992 ML of NSW water to the mid-Macquarie River and Macquarie Marshes in 2020–21.

The purpose of the water use was to support further post-drought recovery in the system, providing benefits for native fish, wetland vegetation, waterbirds and frogs. Specifically, the delivery supported the breeding and recruitment of Murray cod in the mid-Macquarie River, and growth of ~9,000 ha of core wetland vegetation in the Macquarie Marshes.

This watering action was managed in cooperation with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) – Environment, Energy and Science, NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries and WaterNSW. The Macquarie and Cudgegong Environmental Flow Reference Group provided advice in planning and designing the action.

Monitoring of the outcomes from this watering action was undertaken by NSW DPI – Fisheries (funded by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office), and NSW DPIE – Environment, Energy and Science (including surveys of vegetation condition, inundation extent, waterbirds and frogs).

Further updates on the watering action can be found at: 2020–21 Macquarie River Valley updates.

Supplementary Commonwealth environmental water use in the Macquarie catchment

Status: Action completed

About the watering

The Commonwealth currently holds 8,292 ML of supplementary entitlements in the Macquarie, which can be used to contribute to meeting environmental demands at target assets when supplementary access is announced.

The purpose of the water use was to maintain the ecological health and resilience of assets in the Macquarie River catchment.

In August 2020 and March 2021, Commonwealth and NSW supplementary environmental water was used to help protect a proportion of the natural flows in the mid-Macquarie River. A total of 1,063 ML of Commonwealth supplementary water was delivered in conjunction with 187 ML of NSW supplementary water. This water was delivered to the Macquarie Marshes, to support the recovery of wetland vegetation, and to provide habitat for waterbirds, native fish and frogs.

A summary fact sheet can be found at: Macquarie River Valley 2020–21 Water Use.

Sinclair’s Lagoon, Macquarie Marshes. Photo: CEWO

Environmental watering in the Macquarie River and Marshes

Status: No action as no water available

With new drought of record conditions in the Macquarie River Valley all carryover allocations of water for the environment were held in a drought sub-account (along with other general security water). Consequently, no water for the environment was able to be delivered as the extreme drought continued.

Supplementary Commonwealth environmental water use in the Macquarie catchment

Status: Action completed

About the watering

The Commonwealth currently holds 8,292 ML of supplementary entitlements in the Macquarie, which can be used to contribute to meeting environmental demands at target assets when supplementary access is announced.

The purpose of the water use was to maintain the ecological health and resilience of assets in the Macquarie River catchment.

In February and April 2020, Commonwealth and NSW supplementary environmental water was used, to help protect a proportion of the natural flows in the mid-Macquarie River. A total of 3,895.55 ML of Commonwealth supplementary water was delivered in 2019–20 in conjunction with 687.45ML of NSW supplementary water. This water was delivered to the Macquarie Marshes, to support the recovery of wetland vegetation, and to provide habitat for waterbirds, native fish and frogs.

A summary fact sheet can be found at: Macquarie River Valley 2019–20 Water Use.

Macquarie River flowing downstream of Warren in February 2020. Photo: CEWO

Environmental watering in the Macquarie River and Marshes

Status: Action completed

About the watering

Between 24 July and 11 December 2018, a total of 51,401 ML of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered in conjunction with 75,076 ML of NSW environmental water to the mid-Macquarie River and Macquarie Marshes.

An additional 300 ML (150 ML Commonwealth and 150 ML NSW water) was delivered to the Bogan River, and 800 ML (520 ML Commonwealth and 280 ML NSW water) to Ewenmar Creek in autumn 2019 to maintain fish refuge habitat.

The purpose of the water use was to maintain the ecological health and resilience of assets in the Macquarie River catchment. In particular, the action in the mid-Macquarie River and Marshes was designed to support the recruitment of semi-permanent wetland vegetation, and to provide benefits for native fish such as Murray cod and freshwater catfish, and waterbirds. The deliveries to the Bogan River and Ewenmar Creek were designed to support key refuge habitat during extreme drought conditions, to prevent the death of native fish, including endangered olive perchlet.

These watering actions were managed in collaboration with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, WaterNSW, Natural Resources Access Regulator, Department of Industry – Water, with local community advice from the Macquarie and Cudgegong Environmental Flow Reference Group.
Monitoring of the outcomes from these watering actions was undertaken by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, including surveys of vegetation condition, inundation extent, waterbirds and frogs.
The remaining allocations of Commonwealth environmental water from 2018-19 were carried over into 2019-20.

Summary fact sheets and further detail on the watering actions can be found at: 2018-19 Macquarie catchment updates.

Supplementary Commonwealth environmental water use in the Macquarie catchment

Status: Action not implemented – no supplementary event occurred

About the watering

The delivery of up to 8,292 ML of Commonwealth supplementary environmental water is dependent on a supplementary event being announced. If available, Commonwealth supplementary environmental water can augment baseflows and freshes to support wetland and riparian vegetation and the survival and reproduction of waterbirds, fish and other vertebrates in the Macquarie system.

No supplementary events occurred during 2018-19.

Environmental watering in the Macquarie River and Marshes

Wetland vegetation at Halls Block in the Macquarie Marshes. Photo: CEWO

Status: Action completed

About the watering

Between 19 July and 12 November 2017, a total of 50,660 ML of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered in conjunction with 83,717 ML of NSW environmental water to the mid-Macquarie River and Macquarie Marshes.

The purpose of the water use was to maintain the ecological health and resilience of assets in the Macquarie River catchment. In particular, the action was designed to support the recruitment of semi-permanent wetland vegetation, and to provide benefits for native fish such as Murray cod and freshwater catfish, and waterbirds.

This watering action was managed in cooperation with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries and WaterNSW. The Macquarie and Cudgegong Environmental Flow Reference Group provided advice in planning and designing the action.

Monitoring of the outcomes from this watering action was undertaken by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, including surveys of vegetation condition, inundation extent, waterbirds and frogs.

The remaining volume of Commonwealth environmental water available for use in 2017-18 was carried over into 2018-19.

A summary fact sheet can be found at: Macquarie River Valley 2017–18 Water Use.

Supplementary Commonwealth environmental water use in the Macquarie catchment

Loudens Lagoon in the Macquarie Marshes (CEWO)

Status: Action not implemented – no supplementary event occurred

About the watering

The delivery of up to 8,292 ML of Commonwealth supplementary environmental water is dependent on a supplementary event being announced. If available, Commonwealth supplementary environmental water can augment baseflows and freshes to support wetland and riparian vegetation and the survival and reproduction of waterbirds, fish and other vertebrates in the Macquarie system.

No supplementary events occurred during 2017-18.

Up to 60,000 ML of Commonwealth environmental water was approved for use in the Macquarie catchment in 2016-17 to provide opportunities for native fish, maintain and improve the condition of wetland vegetation in the Macquarie Marshes, support foraging and breeding habitat for waterbirds, fish and frogs, and to support colonial waterbird breeding should an event be triggered naturally.

All watering actions undertaken in the Macquarie catchment in 2016-17 were managed in cooperation with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries, NSW DPI Water and WaterNSW. The Macquarie-Cudgegong Environmental Flows Reference Group provided advice in planning and designing the action.

The remaining volume of Commonwealth environmental water available for use in 2016-17 was carried over into 2017-18.

Environmental watering in the Macquarie Marshes

Status: Action completed

About the watering

Between 24 January and 18 February 2017, 17,039 ML of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered in conjunction with 29,374 ML of NSW environmental water to the Macquarie Marshes to support the completion of a naturally triggered colonial waterbird breeding event.

In particular, environmental water was used to maintain feeding, foraging and breeding habitat, and to support waterbird chicks through to fledgling. This was especially important for later nesting birds such as egrets, night heron, cormorants and spoonbills.

Monitoring of the outcomes from this watering action was undertaken by the CSIRO and the University of NSW (funded by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office), and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (including surveys of vegetation condition, inundation extent, waterbirds and frogs).

Straw necked ibis and chicks in the Macquarie Marshes (Heather McGinness, CSIRO)

Waterbirds at Monkeygar Swamp in the Macquarie Marshes (NSW OEH)

Environmental watering in the mid-Macquarie River

Status: Action completed

About the watering

Between 4 and 12 April 2017, 2,648 ML of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered in conjunction with 3,833 ML of NSW environmental water to the mid-Macquarie River and Macquarie Marshes to provide opportunities for the post-spawning dispersal of native fish, including golden, silver and spangled perch.

Environmental water was also expected to have supported a range of other native fish species including Murray cod and trout cod, but increasing connectivity and supporting fish movement and condition. Benefits were also expected downstream in the Macquarie Marshes.

See also: Joint Commonwealth Environmental Water Office and NSW Government media release – The time is right for water for the Macquarie River environment to allow native perch to feed, establish new territories, and breed

Macquarie River at Dubbo (CEWO)

Environmental watering in the lower Macquarie River

Status: Action completed

About the watering

Between 16 April and 15 May 2017, 27,583 ML of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered to the lower Macquarie River to provide connection from to the Barwon River, via the mid-Macquarie and Macquarie Marshes.

The objective of the watering action was to facilitate the movement of native fish between the Macquarie and Barwon rivers (in both directions). Environmental water was also expected to provide additional environmental benefits, including the inundation of wetland vegetation, provision of waterbird foraging habitat, and continued replenishment of groundwater systems.

Monitoring of the outcomes of this watering action was undertaken by the NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries and WaterNSW (funded by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office), the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.

See also: Joint Commonwealth Environmental Water Office and NSW Government media release – Fish get a boost from Macquarie-Barwon connection

Junction of the Macquarie and Barwon rivers (CEWO)

Supplementary Commonwealth environmental water use in the Macquarie catchment

Status: Action completed

About the watering

The Commonwealth currently holds 8,292 ML of supplementary entitlements in the Macquarie, which can be used to contribute to meeting environmental demands at target assets when supplementary access is announced.

The purpose of the water use was to maintain the ecological health and resilience of assets in the Macquarie River catchment.

Between July and December 2016, Commonwealth supplementary environmental water was used on three occasions to help protect a proportion of the natural flows in the mid-Macquarie River. This water helped to maintain inundation in the Southern and Northern Macquarie Marshes, recharged shallow groundwater systems, and supported wetland and riparian vegetation. Supplementary environmental water delivered in December also contributed to supporting a naturally triggered colonial waterbird breeding event. As of 6 June 2017, a total of 7,250 ML of Commonwealth supplementary water had been delivered in 2016–17 in conjunction with up to 1,446 ML of NSW supplementary water.

See also: Joint Commonwealth Environmental Water Office and NSW Government media release – Thousands of waterbirds return to the Macquarie Marshes

Coolabah lower Macquarie River (CEWO)

Environmental watering in the Macquarie River and Marshes

Status: Action completed

About the watering

Up to 20 gigalitres (GL) of Commonwealth environmental water was made available for use in the Macquarie River and the Marshes during 2015-16.

Between 6 August and 17 October 2015, 12,114 ML of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered in conjunction with 40,440 ML of NSW environmental water to provide two flow pulses to the Northern and Southern Macquarie Marshes.

The purpose of the environmental water delivery was to avoid the loss, and maintain the resilience of, permanent and semi-permanent wetlands in core refuge areas of Northern and Southern Macquarie Marshes. In particular, the action targeted reedbeds and inner floodplain river red gums in the Northern Marshes. The action also provided refuge habitat for waterbirds, fish and frogs.

This watering action was managed in cooperation with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries, NSW DPI Water and WaterNSW. The Macquarie-Cudgegong Environmental Flows Reference Group provided advice in planning and designing the action.

Monitoring of the outcomes from this watering action was undertaken by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, including surveys of vegetation condition, inundation extent, waterbirds and frogs.

The remaining volume of Commonwealth environmental water available for use in 2015-16 was carried over into 2016-17.

Magpie Geese at Gibson’s Way in the Southern Marsh - October 2015

White-necked heron and glossy ibis in the Ramsar listed U-block of the Macquarie Marshes, October 2015

Supplementary Commonwealth environmental water use in the Macquarie catchment

Status: Action completed

About the watering

The purpose of the water use was to maintain the ecological health and resilience of assets in the Macquarie River catchment.

A supplementary event was announced in the Macquarie on 21 June 2016. A total of 2,500 ML of Commonwealth (2,125 ML) and New South Wales (375 ML) supplementary environmental water was used between 25 and 30 June 2016 to protect a proportion of the natural flows in the mid-Macquarie River and provided water to the Southern and Northern Macquarie Marshes. This helped to provide natural variability, recharge shallow groundwater systems, support wetland and riparian vegetation and the survival and reproduction of waterbirds, fish and other vertebrates in these systems.

This watering action was managed in cooperation with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, WaterNSW with local community advice from the Macquarie and Cudgegong Environmental Flow Reference Group.

Environmental watering in the Macquarie River and Marshes

Status: Action completed

About the watering

Lignum at Pillicawarrina, Macquarie Marshes, 2014

Between 5 October and 12 December 2014, 28,500 ML of environmental water was delivered to the Macquarie River and the North and South Macquarie Marshes. This included 10,000 ML of Commonwealth environmental water in conjunction with up to nearly 18,500 ML of NSW environmental water.

This watering action was managed in cooperation with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, the NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries, NSW Office of Water, and Water NSW.

The purpose of the watering action was to contribute to baseflows and freshes in the Macquarie River and Marshes. It also contributed to three Annual Basin Priorities:

1. Improving native fish habitat within the Macquarie River below Burrendong Dam by restoring a more natural flow regime and managing cold water pollution.
2. Native fish in the northern Basin: Improving survival of native fish populations by enhancing and protecting dry period refuge habitat in the northern Basin.
3. Waterbird refuge: Maintaining waterbird habitat, including refuge sites, and food sources, to support waterbird populations across the Murray-Darling Basin. Supporting waterbird breeding, where feasible.

Supplementary Commonwealth environmental water use in the Macquarie catchment

Status: Action not implemented – no supplementary event occurred.

About the watering

The purpose of the water use is to maintain the ecological health and resilience of assets in the Macquarie River catchment.

Subject to availability, up to 6,292 ML of supplementary Commonwealth environmental water could be used to augment unregulated base to fresh flows in the Macquarie Marshes and distributary creeks from July 2014 through to 30 June 2015.

No supplementary events occurred during 2014-15.

Environmental watering in the Macquarie Marshes

Status: Action completed

About the watering

A Buff-banded Rail in the Monkeygar wetland, Macquarie Marshes, 2013

The purpose of this environmental watering action was to maintain the ecological health and resilience of the Macquarie Marshes. This included contributing to meeting the basic annual water requirements of native marsh plant communities such as water couch, reeds, typha, spike rush and club rush, and providing freshes in support of native fish reproduction.

Up to 10,000 ML of Commonwealth environmental water in conjunction with up to 50,000 ML of NSW environmental water contributed to a two stage delivery, namely:

• Up to 51,000 ML, comprising 7,500 ML of Commonwealth and 43,500 ML of NSW environmental water, delivered over a three month period commencing in mid July 2013 with the intention of inundating permanent and semi permanent wetlands in the North and South Macquarie Marshes Nature reserve; and
• Up to 9,000 ML, comprising 2,500 ML of Commonwealth and 6,500 ML of NSW environmental water, delivered to the Gum Cowal-Terrigal system in the East Macquarie Marshes area over a two month period starting in September to provide flows to semi permanent wetlands and riparian vegetation. This delivery was intended to coincide with warmer water temperatures to also provide hydrologic connectivity and conditions for native fish to access breeding habitat at key reproduction times.

This watering action was managed in cooperation with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW State Water with local community advice from the Macquarie and Cudgegong Environmental Flow Reference Group.

See also: NSW media release - Environmental Water released to Macquarie Marshes

Supplementary Commonwealth environmental water use in the Macquarie catchment

Status: Action not implemented – no supplementary event occurred.

About the watering

The purpose of the water use is to maintain the ecological health and resilience of assets in the lower Macquarie River catchment.

Subject to availability, supplementary Commonwealth environmental water could be used to augment unregulated base to fresh flows in the Macquarie Marshes and effluent creeks from July 2013 through to 30 June 2015.

No supplementary events occurred during 2013-14.

Environmental watering in the Macquarie Marshes in 2012-13

Status: Action completed

About the watering

Up to 100 GL of Commonwealth environmental water, in conjunction with additional environmental water supplied by the New South Wales Government, was delivered to the Macquarie Marshes as part of this watering action. The watering action aimed to contribute to:

• maintaining adequate water levels across approximately 50,000 hectares of native wetland plant communities, including river red gums, to contribute to the ongoing regeneration of these communities that, in turn, provide habitat for many native animals
• restoring the Marshes, which are recognised as a wetland of international importance
• maintaining the connection of low-lying water courses on the floodplain to improve water quality and allow native plants and animals to move between different areas
• providing the type of flow required to support the habitat needs and breeding sites of migratory shorebirds and waterbirds such as glossy ibis, Australian white ibis, straw-necked ibis, intermediate egrets and rufus night herons.

Delivery of this environmental watering action was managed by the New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, in cooperation with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, the Macquarie and Cudgegong Environmental Flow Reference Group, Central West Catchment Management Authority, and State Water Corporation.

Wilgara Wetlands, Macquarie Marshes

Environmental watering in the Macquarie Marshes 2011-12

Status: Action completed

About the watering

40 gigalitres of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered to the Macquarie Marshes in 2011-12.

Commonwealth environmental water was delivered in conjunction with approximately 110 gigalitres of water supplied by the New South Wales Government.

The purpose of the watering action was to build upon the improved wetland condition which resulted from the inundation of 2010-11. In addition the action aimed to improve system connectivity, and support habitat for a wide variety of wetland dependent species, including threatened species and migratory birds. Delivery of Commonwealth environmental water for this action commenced in early September 2011. In December 2011, egret (Ardea modesta; an EPBC listed migratory species) nests were reported in the Macquarie Marshes as a result of the watering action. By late January 2012, reports had been provided that the breeding event had successfully completed.

The watering action was managed in cooperation with the New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, New South Wales Office of Water, NSW State Water Corporation and the Macquarie Environmental Flows Reference Group.