Planning and reporting on water for the environment

Annual environmental watering priorities statements

We prepare annual watering priorities for the catchments in which we actively manage water for the environment.

Environmental water managers work with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and local community advisory groups in their annual planning process. This includes addressing the objectives of long-term water plans, which provide direction for the management of water for the environment in each basin catchment. 

Environmental watering priorities statements for each catchment are then developed and made publicly available.

Plans from previous years

Long-term water plans

We provide long-term directions of up to 20 years for annual and event-based water management for environmental outcomes in each catchment in our long-term water plans.

Long-term water plans have been developed for 9 Murray–Darling Basin catchments across New South Wales, which is consistent with the Basin Plan.

Annual environmental watering outcomes reports

We prepare environmental water outcomes reports for 11 catchments each water year. These reports summarise how water for the environment has supported our river systems and meet the needs of native plants, native fish, waterbirds, and other water-dependent wildlife.