The Mid-Murray region contains diverse and rich natural environments. Its waterways provide water for domestic use, and support diverse agriculture, tourism and recreational activities and, Aboriginal cultural values and practices.
The region is home to a vast estate of river red gum forest, wetlands and floodplains lining the River Murray including Barmah-Millewa, Gunbower, Koondrook-Perricoota and Werai forests. Collectively, these forests support 550 plant and 270 animal species, including threatened species such as the Australasian bittern, superb parrot, Mueller daisy, swamp wallaby grass, silver perch and Murray and trout cod.
Watering event at Pollack Swamp provided vital foraging habitat for local populations of Australian white ibis, great & intermediate egrets, royal & yellow-billed spoonbills, white-necked heron 2019. Image by Dan Hutton
Gunbower Forest also supports the only breeding colony of intermediate egret in Victoria and, along with Barmah-Millewa Forest, supports the breeding of threatened and vulnerable birds including the Australasian bittern.
The Mid-Murray region features a major anabranch and floodplain system, the Edward/Kolety-Wakool. The Edward/Kolety-Wakool supports a high proportion of native fish at all stages in their lifecycle including threatened species such as the Murray cod, trout cod, silver perch and Murray crayfish. It also provides refuge habitat during periods of drought.
For more information, please see the Commonwealth Environmental Water Management Plan 2021-22.
What has environmental water achieved in the Mid-Murray?
Monitoring shows that water delivered to the Mid-Murray is supporting food, habitat and breeding opportunities for many of the region’s unique plants and animals.
Full monitoring reports are available each year.
Our partners
River red gums of Barmah Forest. Photo: CEWO 2017
Commonwealth environmental water use is planned, delivered and managed in partnership with a number of individuals and organisations in the Mid-Murray, including:
- NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
- NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries
- Murray Irrigation Limited
- NSW Local Land Services
- Victorian Environmental Water Holder
- Victorian Catchment Management Authorities
- Goulburn-Murray Water
- Murray-Darling Wetlands Working Group Ltd
- Murray-Lower Darling Environmental Water Advisory Group
- Local landholders and community members
- Murray-Darling Basin Authority
Videos
2016 Hypoxic Blackwater Refuge Flows in the Edward/Kolety-Wakool River system - Edward Escape downstream