The Victorian Environmental Water Holder has released its plan for watering in 2016-17, and water carried over from 2015-16 will supplement this year’s water allocations.

,Across northern Victoria, environmental water will be delivered to the Loddon, Campaspe, Goulburn, and Broken rivers as well as wetlands and floodplains in these regions.

It will also be delivered to the Victorian Murray system, including Barmah and Gunbower Forest, Hattah Lakes and Lindsay, Wallpolla and Mulcra islands.

VEWH chairperson Denis Flett said despite uncertainty about how the upcoming seasons would play out, the water holder was prepared for all circumstances.

“We are subject to water allocations like any other entitlement holder and if there is less water available we will scale back the scope of our environmental objectives in 2016-17,” he said.

“Rain in early winter has wet catchments, particularly in the northeast, which are now primed to provide good runoff after more rainfall.”

North Central Catchment Management Authority Environmental Water Manager Louissa Rogers said river flows were about delivering the right amount of water at the right time, and responding to any natural cues.

“If allocations are low, environmental watering in rivers will be targeted at the lower end of our flow recommendations, to ensure gains achieved for plants and animals since the Millennium Drought are protected,” she said. “Wetland watering will focus on providing a variety of habitat types in the landscape to support a diverse range of waterbirds and wetland plants.”

The VEWH is is an independent statutory body responsible for making decisions on the most efficient use of Victoria’s environmental water. The annual plan scopes potential watering in Victoria using water held in reservoirs set aside to be returned to rivers and wetlands for plants and animals.

The VEWH plans for a range of scenarios – from drought to wet seasonal conditions – adjusting environmental water deliveries according to conditions.

In 2015-16, 27 rivers and 73 wetlands in Victoria received environmental water. 

The Seasonal Watering Plan 2016-17 is based on proposals from waterway managers across northern Victoria – the Mallee, North Central, Goulburn Broken and North East catchment management authorities – which recommend the most effective watering activities for their region based on the best-available science.

Communities play a large part in these regional proposals by providing local perspectives, including historical waterway knowledge and citizen science.

The plan is available at vewh.vic.gov.au.