Wetland ecosystem condition and river connectivity were the focus for environmental water management in the Intersecting Streams catchment in 2024–25.
Key outcomes
Under wet to very wet conditions, environmental water managers worked with partner agencies to coordinate the protection of water for the environment in the Intersecting Streams catchment to:
- help sustain waterbird breeding habitat and vegetation condition at Narran Lakes
- improve system connectivity between the Condamine–Balonne rivers and the connected Culgoa–Birrie–Bokhara–Narran system
- inundate the western floodplain to the Darling River at Toorale National Park and State Conservation Area
- provide connection between the Warrego and Darling rivers to help alleviate the risk of fish kills in the Darling River
- inundate significant areas of wetlands along the Paroo River.
Catchment conditions
During much of the first half of the 2024–25 water year, the Intersecting Streams catchment experienced mostly below average rainfall over winter and spring. This turned in early summer, with significant rainfall and 2 flow events in summer and autumn. The flow event in autumn was the largest seen at Toorale since the modification of water infrastructure works. Throughout the water year conditions remained warm with average to above average temperatures.
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 progress, supporting ecological outcomes while also protecting and revitalising cultural places, values and interests.
In the 2024–25 water year in the Intersecting Streams, environmental water managers:
- continued to build relationships with the Toorale Joint Management Committee through meetings on Country including long-term water plan updates
- worked with members of Kurnu-Baarkandji to install monitoring equipment for brolgas on the western floodplain.
Watering aims
The annual environmental water priorities in the Intersecting Streams catchment 2024–25 were developed under expected dry to moderate weather and water availability.
Aims for the use of water for the environment were to:
- support stocks of native fish and provide opportunities for them to breed and disperse into secure habitats
- increase the duration of inundation of water-dependent vegetation at Narran Lakes
- increase the duration of inundation of water-dependent vegetation on the western floodplain at Toorale
- ensure adequate vegetation condition and water levels, should further inflows trigger a native waterbird breeding event at Narran Lakes in spring 2025
- prioritise connectivity between the Warrego and downstream Darling rivers alongside maintaining connection when environmental water is delivered to the western floodplain.
With moderate to wet conditions, water managers used plans devised at the start of the water year.
Water delivery
This table and chart provide a summary of 2,887 megalitres of water for the environment protected in the western floodplain at Toorale, in the Intersecting Streams catchment during the 2024–25 watering year.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder coordinated the protection of 81,502 megalitres (ML) of water for the environment in Queensland, from the Warrego (27,075 ML), Nebine (5,920 ML), Moonie (3,766 ML) rivers and Condamine–Balonne system (44,741 ML). These flows contributed to environmental outcomes across parts of the NSW Intersecting Streams and into the Barwon–Darling River.
Figures were accurate at the date of publishing but may be adjusted. The watering event number in the table and bar chart relate to the location number marked on the map.
Notes: CEW = Commonwealth licensed environmental water.
| Watering event number | Event name | Outcomes | Start date | Finish date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Floodplain Wetlands | Native fish, native vegetation, connectivity | 6 January 2025 13 April 2025 | 25 January 2025 12 June 2025 |
Outcomes
In the 2024–25 water year, much of the Intersecting Streams catchment received small and large fresh events that were protected in part by Commonwealth environmental water licenses in Queensland and New South Wales.
The Commonwealth used 44,741 megalitres of environmental water in the Lower Balonne, which contributed to flow events in the connected Culgoa–Birrie–Bokhara–Narran system.
This supported:
- vegetation condition at Narran Lakes
- native fish movement and recruitment
- lateral and longitudinal system connectivity.
Management of Warrego River flows at Toorale saw inundation of a large area of the western floodplain and connection with the Darling River from the Warrego main channel and the western floodplain.
Fish monitoring on the western floodplain found spangled perch, Hyrtl’s tandan, bony bream, rainbow fish and juvenile golden perch.
Flows from the Warrego River also entered the Cuttaburra Channel inundating a large area of wetland in the Yantabulla Swamp and connecting to the Paroo River.
Rainfall in south-western Queensland and north-western New South Wales resulted in significant flows through the Paroo River system and inundation of wetlands at Nocoleche Nature Reserve and the Paroo–Darling National Park during summer.
The Commonwealth also protected water in Queensland, 3,766 megalitres in Moonie River and 5,920 megalitres in Nebine Creek, which contributed to flows in the Barwon–Darling River.