Environmental flows are natural flows or releases of water, intended to supply the environment’s needs.

Environmental flows are critical for maintaining the health of the waters and rivers upon which ecosystems and industries depend. The timing, quantity and duration of flows and the quality of our waters are inextricably linked and depend upon interactions between the catchment, floodplain, wetland, groundwater and stream.

Effective management of environmental flows requires understanding of these interactions. Without the development and application of this understanding, the health of our waters will continue to decline, with environmental and economic costs to our nation.

The concept of the environment being a legitimate user of water and therefore requiring its own allocation is relatively new. However, developments in catchment management and legislation indicate that the concept is becoming increasingly accepted across many parts of Australia.

From a social perspective, providing environmental flows is about working out a balance between the needs of farmers, communities and miners, (existing users) and the urgent need to ensure that there is enough good quality water, for our rivers to remain healthy.

More Information
Federal Government
Environmental Flows – Social Perspective
Australian Society for Limnology
Murray Darling Basin Commission – Climate change and environmental flows