Water that is allocated and managed to improve the health of rivers, wetlands and floodplains is known as water for the environment.
Our environmental water management teams work with local community advisory groups to develop detailed annual plans for the use of water for the environment in each catchment. This includes how environmental water use is prioritised.
These groups include:
- Aboriginal communities – representing cultural knowledge and connection to Country
- landholders – individuals and entities with land management responsibilities within the catchment
- partner agencies – governmental and non-governmental organisations with relevant expertise and mandates
- interested community members – providing broader perspectives and local insights.
Water for rivers and wetlands
In 2026–27, water managers will target a range of outcomes, including:
- maintaining low and base flows to avoid extended cease-to-flow periods in the Barwon-Darling catchment
- optimising spring conditions in the Severn River by leveraging the Pindari Dam bubble plume to deliver warmer, higher‑quality flows for native fish breeding and improved river productivity in the Border Rivers catchment
- maintaining the current condition and extent of semi-permanent wetland vegetation and where possible, providing opportunities for restoration in the Gwydir catchment
- continuing to improve river connectivity to support native fish migration and breeding, while enhancing habitat and productivity for a range of water-dependent animals across the Hunter catchment
- providing refuges for native fish under expected dry to very dry conditions across the Intersecting Streams catchment
- building the resilience of native vegetation communities in the Lachlan and the Great Cumbung Swamp
- providing a spring 2026 pulse to the Macquarie Marshes to support vegetation, waterbirds and native fish populations in the mid-Wambuul-Macquarie River
- reconnecting wetlands and creeks via the Murray Irrigation supply system to restore aquatic and floodplain habitats that support threatened native species across the Murray and Baaka–Lower Darling catchments
- maintaining native fish and turtle refuges and creating recruitment habitat in Tala Lake, Tala Creek and Waugorah Lake, while supporting the commissioning of new Yanga National Park regulators and fishways in the Murrumbidgee catchment
- providing a small autumn pulse in the Peel River to support native fish movement, access to suitable overwintering habitats and new food sources across the Namoi catchment
- completing the final year of trigger flow trials to test more flexible environmental releases, including summer flows that coincide with natural events to better mimic rainfall responses, flushing river systems during low flow, and supporting downstream river and estuary health in the Snowy.
Expected volumes of environmental water
| Catchment | Held environmental water volume expected 1 July 2026 (GL) | Planned environmental water (discretionary) volume expected 1 July 2026 (GL) |
|---|---|---|
| Barwon–Darling | – | – |
| Border Rivers | 3.9 | 4 (if triggered) |
| Gwydir | – | 190 |
| Hunter (from 2025-26) | – | 22 |
| Intersecting Streams | – | – |
| Lachlan | 106.4 | 10 |
| Macquarie | 85 | 41 |
| Murray | 17 | 177.7 |
| Baaka – Lower Darling | – | 30 |
| Murrumbidgee | 170 | 12 |
| Namoi | 21.3 | 3.2 |
| Snowy and Snowy montane rivers | – | 204.3 |
Notes: GL = gigalitres. Held environmental water includes combined volumes of NSW, The Living Murray and Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder held environmental water (conveyance, high security and general security). Supplementary and unregulated licenced water have not been included in expected volumes as they are dependent on surplus flows and therefore the expected volume is zero.
This is an indicative summary of expected volumes to be available on 1 July 2026 under current conditions except for the Snowy and Snowy montane rivers, for which expected volumes are as of 1 May 2026.
For more information on available volumes in a specific catchment, contact the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water by phone: 1300 361 967 or email: [email protected]
Weather and water forecast
The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is now in an active El Niño phase, with climate models indicating this event is likely to strengthen to a strong or very strong level and persist until at least the end of 2026. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is currently neutral; however, most climate models suggest a transition toward a positive IOD during winter to spring. Sea surface temperatures around Australia are currently average to well above average, with particularly warm conditions along the New South Wales coast. As a result, these climate drivers are expected to favour drier-than-average conditions across New South Wales, particularly in eastern and southern regions.
As of June 2026, regional NSW dam storages are approximately 49% full. With drier conditions forecast, storage levels are expected to gradually decline leading into the 2026–27 water year.
How we make decisions
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.
During the planning process, scientific research, prior monitoring and lived experiences of local community members guide decisions. Working within water sharing plans and operational constraints, strategies for adaptive management are incorporated throughout the year when required.
Water managers consider the forecast conditions for a catchment and explore a range of weather and water availability scenarios for the coming year. These are known as resource availability scenario assessments.
Resource availability scenarios for 2026–27 are shown on the following map. These are dry to very dry for the Barwon-Darling and Intersecting Streams, dry for the Lachlan, Macquarie, Namoi and Murrumbidgee, dry to moderate for the Gwydir, Murray and Lower Baaka-Darling, Border Rivers, and moderate for Hunter and Snowy and Snowy montane.
Resource availability scenarios can be used to support water managers to respond in ways that will best support the long-term health of native fish, waterbirds, native vegetation, and flow and connectivity.
| Condition | Response | Aim |
|---|---|---|
| Very dry | Avoid loss |
|
| Dry | Maintain basic functions and resilience |
|
| Moderate | Maintain health and resilience |
|
| Wet to very wet | Improve health and resilience |
|
Catchments
Statements of annual watering priorities for each catchment include information on how we are partnering with Aboriginal peoples; key planned actions for native fish, waterbirds, vegetation and connectivity; and locations of priority targets and volumes of environmental water to be delivered.