Native fish migration, Aboriginal water management priorities and longitudinal river connectivity were the focus for environmental water managers in the Hunter catchment in 2024–25.
Key outcomes
Under wet to very wet conditions, natural flows across the Hunter catchment were sufficient to meet key ecological needs. This enabled water managers from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, in collaboration with partner agencies and stakeholders, to focus on planning and initiating an environmental water outcome monitoring program. At the same time, relationship-building efforts were supported through the commencement of recruitment for the Hunter–Paterson Environmental Water Advisory Group.
Catchment conditions
During the 2024–25 water year, the Hunter catchment experienced La Niña weather conditions with moderate to high rainfall and cooler-than-average temperatures.
No releases of water for the environment were undertaken because of these favourable conditions. Instead, environmental water managers focused on establishing a robust monitoring framework to assess future water releases.
This enabled a monitoring project to be planned, and the initial stages rolled out. The project focuses on tracking fish movement during water releases, which will be conducted on an ongoing basis. This will improve the success of future environmental watering strategies.
Partnering with Aboriginal peoples
Water for Country represents the planning and delivery of environmental water by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in collaboration with Aboriginal people across New South Wales. This work continues to evolve, supporting ecological outcomes while also protecting and revitalising cultural places, values and interests.
In the 2024–25 water year environmental water managers:
- continued to build relationships with Aboriginal people in the catchment
- recruited Aboriginal representatives for the Hunter–Paterson Environmental Water Advisory Group.
Water aims
Under a forecast wet to very wet resource availability scenario developed in the annual environmental watering priorities in the Hunter 2024–25, aims for the use of water for the environment were to:
- facilitate native fish migration, particularly around Liddell Weir
- reconnecting the Hunter River
- support native fish breeding and dispersal.
With favourable wet to very wet conditions, under adaptive management strategies, water managers allowed natural flows to enhance opportunities for plants and animals to breed, move and thrive across the Hunter River.
Water delivery
Significant flows were observed throughout the catchment through high rainfall and corresponding river flows. This year no releases of water for the environment were made in the Hunter catchment.
Outcomes
With no releases of water for the environment undertaken in the Hunter catchment for the 2024–25 water year, the focus was on laying critical groundwork for future environmental water management. This included:
- foundational work to support future water deliveries
- recruitment for the Hunter–Paterson Environmental Water Advisory Group
- development of a robust monitoring program.
This work will ensure that releases will be strategically timed and targeted to maximise ecological benefit and specifically fish passage across Liddel Weir, a key fish barrier. The monitoring program will provide data to assess fish responses to flow events and guide adaptive management.
Overall, the year marked a significant step forward in building capacity, partnerships, and systems to support effective environmental water use in the Hunter catchment.
Case study: breaking barriers, tracking fish migration in the Hunter River
The Hunter River Fish Migration Monitoring Project is a multi-year initiative aimed at improving ecological outcomes through targeted environmental water management. Led by the department, in collaboration with Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development – Fisheries scientists and regional partners, the project will focus on understanding how native fish navigate barriers such as Liddell Weir.
Liddell Weir is a fixed crest structure with no fishway and presents a significant obstacle to fish movement, particularly in the absence of natural high-flow events. To address this, the project will use acoustic tagging and a strategically deployed receiver network to monitor fish responses to both natural flows and environmental water allowance releases. This will enable near real-time tracking of fish movements and provide insights into migration timing, direction, and environmental triggers.
The project aims to:
- evaluate the effectiveness of water for the environment in facilitating fish passage
- identify flow conditions that support bi-directional movement
- inform future water delivery strategies to better support native fish populations.
Monitoring infrastructure will support broader ecological research and collaboration. Data collected will be analysed to establish links between fish movement and environmental variables, such as flow rate and temperature. This will help distinguish the impacts of natural versus managed water events.
By integrating scientific research with water planning, the project will support evidence-based decision making and contribute to the long-term health of the Hunter River ecosystem.
