<< BACK TO CONTENTS Trent explained, “In drought, the focus may be on avoiding the loss of species such as fish, platypus or waterbirds. During average and wet-to-very-wet conditions, water for the environment aims to recover and enhance waterways.” This includes: • improving ecological health and resilience • reconnecting rivers to floodplains and wetlands • improving and enhancing opportunities for populations of key animal and plant species to grow and strengthen. “Sometimes, we have to think of environmental flows as preventative medicine,” said Trent. “Watering when it’s wet enables rivers and wetlands and their animal populations to become stronger and more resilient if conditions turn dry again.” Some of the water planned to be released for the environment in 2016–17 was not delivered. For example, when heavy rain hit the west of the state in winter and spring, waterway managers carefully monitored the Wimmera and Glenelg rivers and decided not to release any water from Rocklands Reservoir until late November 2016, when the threat of destructive flooding had subsided. Meanwhile, the Goulburn Broken wetlands did not need any ‘managed’ water for the environment in 2016–17: rain and natural flooding in late winter and early spring filled the wetlands earmarked for a drink. Summer rainfall then kept them wet until early autumn 2017. However, many river and wetland managers were able to make the most of the wet weather and add water for the environment to natural flows, creating the deep, long drinks some of our wetlands and waterways need every few years. These soakings replenished trees (such as red gum and black box), rejuvenated floodplains and returned food and nutrients to the river for fish and other water animals (like platypus and turtles). “As we are learning, it’s hard to predict what weather 2017–18 will bring us,” Trent said. “But without doubt, our waterway environments are in a better condition to deal with whatever is on the horizon, thanks to the soaking we’ve been able to give them this year.” Watering when it’s wet enables rivers and wetlands and their animal populations to become stronger and more resilient if conditions turn dry again. Reflections – Environmental watering in Victoria 2016-17 | 12
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