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Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

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The Northern Rivers

The Northern connectivity event

In 2018, Commonwealth and NSW environmental water holders released water from storages in the Northern Murray-Darling Basin to support the environmental health of river systems including the Barwon-Darling down to Wilcannia and beyond for local communities and the fish and ecosystems that depend on them.

The Northern Connectivity Event Final Report

As a result of the Barwon-Darling ceasing to flow for an extended period, native fish and other aquatic life were under considerable stress in early 2018. The Northern Connectivity Event (NCE) ran between April and July 2018 improving water quality right along the river system. Water for the environment was released from Glenlyon and Copeton dams near the Queensland / NSW border. Connectivity between waterholes was achieved to the Menindee Lakes, near Broken Hill. In total, over 2,000 km of the Gwydir, Mehi, Dumaresq, Macintyre and Barwon-Darling rivers benefited from the flow. Water for the environment was contributed by both the Commonwealth and New South Wales (NSW).

There was strong community interest in the NCE. Towns along the river looked forward to the arrival of the flow. The NCE also provided the opportunity for government agencies to work together.

Whilst flow events such as the NCE are not expected or possible in many years, the NCE provides an example of what is possible under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Outcomes from the event are outlined in the Northern Connectivity Event Final Report.

  • Final Report on the Northern Connectivity Event (April – July 2018)

The Northern connectivity event updates

posted 20 July 2018

Northern connectivity event update 8

The northern connectivity flow event travelled a distance of more than 2,000 km over three months – the flow reached Lake Wetherell in mid-June 2018.

  • Read the Northern connectivity update 20 July 2018

posted 15 June 2018

Northern connectivity event update 7

The flow from the northern connectivity event reached the Darling River between Bourke and Menindee, with the flow peak approaching Wilcannia.

  • Read the Northern connectivity update 15 June 2018

posted 1 June 2018

Northern connectivity event update 6

The flow from the northern connectivity event reached nearly 800 ML/day in the Darling River at Louth in late May 2018, and continued downstream towards Tilpa and Wilcannia.

  • Read the Northern connectivity update 1 June 2018

posted 25 May 2018

Northern connectivity event update 5

The flow from the northern connectivity event reached 1,000 ML/day in the Barwon River at Brewarrina on 22 May 2018.

  • Read the Northern connectivity update 25 May 2018

posted 18 May 2018

Northern connectivity event update 4

One month after releases of Commonwealth and NSW environmental water commenced from Glenlyon and Copeton dams the bulk of the flow passed into the Barwon River from the Macintyre, Mehi and Gil Gil systems and the front of flow has reached Brewarrina.

  • Read the Northern connectivity update 18 May 2018

posted 11 May 2018

Northern connectivity event update 3

The northern connectivity event connected flows from the Border and Gwydir river systems with the Barwon-Darling.

  • Read the Northern connectivity update 11 May 2018

posted 4 May 2018

Northern connectivity event update 2

Two weeks after releases of Commonwealth and NSW environmental water commenced from Glenlyon and Copeton dam, flows reached Mungindi and Collarenebri on the Barwon River.

  • Read the Northern connectivity event update 4 May 2018

posted 27 April 2018

Northern connectivity event update 1

Just over one week after releases of Commonwealth and NSW environmental water commenced from Glenlyon and Copeton dams, flows made their way down the Border Rivers, Mehi River, Carole and Gil Gil Creeks towards the Barwon River.

  • Read the Northern connectivity update 27 April 2018
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Last updated: 03 October 2021

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