Successful environmental flow trial at Menindee Lakes

A successful water connectivity trial means Basin governments must find a permanent solution, so the southern and northern Basin is truly joined up, according to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH).

Established in the Water Act in 2007, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder manages Commonwealth water for the environment.

Dr Simon Banks currently holds that position within the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

As better water quality has arrived from the northern Basin, the connectivity trial – which finished last week – has seen more than 41 gigalitres of held environmental water protected through Menindee Lakes and down the Lower Darling-Baaka River.

Basin governments agreed to the trial, which sought to improve water quality and overall river health.

“This is water that is a result of us triggering our licences up in the northern basin, and then that water has been protected down the Barwon and darling Rivers to Menindee,” Dr Banks said.

“It’s extra water that gets to Menindee that historically would have been extracted. The trial is a great example of everyone working to improve conditions down the Darling to Menindee but also beyond there and down into the Lower Murray.”

Dr Banks said that about 60 gigalitres has been triggered this year against CEWH licences up in the northern basin and of that 41 gigalitres has got to Menindee.

“We have licences in several places along the Barwon-Darling that were recovered 10 years ago or longer. Like irrigators, we have licences that are triggered when the flow height gets to a particular point,” Dr Banks said.

“That enables you to take water, and for irrigators, they will take water and perhaps put it into storage, whereas when I’m triggering licenses, we’re leaving that water in the river to try and improve connectivity.” […]

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