Partnering with Aboriginal peoples
Water for Country is environmental water use planned by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the Snowy Advisory Committee and Aboriginal people to achieve shared benefits for the environment and cultural places, values and/or interests.
In 2025–26 we will continue to partner with Aboriginal people and organisations across the Snowy and Snowy montane catchment to build relationships and embed cultural knowledge and values into our program. For example:
- actively prioritise working and engaging with Aboriginal people from Ngunnawal, Gunaikurnai, Wolgalu and Ngarigo communities to increase the understanding of their cultural values
- continuing to be inclusive and support the priorities of Aboriginal representatives from Ngunnawal, Gunaikurnai, Wolgalu and Ngarigo communities in water management and monitoring programs.
Key planned actions
At the start of the Snowy and Snowy montane water year, 1 May 2025, 176,860 megalitres of water for the environment was available for the Snowy River. The Snowy montane streams will receive 76,800 megalitres and the upper Murrumbidgee River will receive 19,800 megalitres in the foregone electricity generation of 119 gigawatt hours. This water will be delivered in daily flow patterns, which are designed by water managers in consultation with ecological experts and the Snowy Advisory Committee. The other montane streams allow natural flows from rain and snowmelt to pass the weir structures that would otherwise be diverted by aqueducts.
Native fish
Flows from local surface runoff will support native fish breeding and dispersal in the Snowy and Snowy montane rivers. Small autumn pulses in the Snowy River will support dispersal and spawning of the threatened Australian grayling.
Larger releases to the upper Murrumbidgee River in winter and spring will prime habitat, encourage spawning and movement for the endangered Macquarie perch. Natural flows for some montane streams, including Strezlecki Creek, will be unimpeded. Allowing natural flows to occur will support native fish movement and breeding for species such as the small freshwater fish, galaxias.
Vegetation
Planned water releases will support aquatic native vegetation in low benches or riparian zones, connected ponds, wetlands, and backwaters that support water-dependent animals, such as platypus and frogs. Larger releases into the Snowy and upper Murrumbidgee rivers will help limit the encroachment of terrestrial plants into the riverbed.
Native animals
Planned releases will support water-dependent animals by protecting habitat, increasing resource availability and productivity, and inundating connected wetlands and ponds. This will provide breeding opportunities for water-dependent species, including macroinvertebrates, frogs, platypus and turtles.
Geomorphology
Multiple large flows, including 5 events with 8-hour peaks, will aim to improve the Snowy River channel condition. This will include a flushing flow with an 8-hour peak of 9,000 megalitres per day. These high-flow events will increase stream power, or flow velocity, and mobilise fine sediment from the stream bed, reduce algae smothering and clean riffles. This will improve the health of the riverbed and help maintain habitats for water-dependent animals and plants.
Proposed annual priority targets in the Snowy and Snowy montane water resource plan area
For more information, go to our Annual environmental watering priorities 2025–26 webpage, which includes each catchment’s resource availability scenario and expected volumes of environmental water available.
