Supply Measure ProjectsSouth Australia

Diane FavierMurray-Darling Basin Policy and Strategy

Department for Environment and Water

June 2018

Supply Measures

• Proponent for five projects• Co-proponent for seven projects

– The Living Murray projects– Enhanced Environmental Water Delivery

project

South East Flows

Chowilla Floodplain

Riverland Floodplain

SARFIIP

Riverine Recovery Project

Flows for the Future

SA River Murray

Constraints

Six projects located in SA

Chowilla Floodplain TLM• Regulating structure and other works on

Chowilla Creek and wetlands (Ramsar site)• Water up to 4,000 ha at flows of 10,000 ML/day • Objectives

– maintain high-value wetlands – maintain the current area of river red gum forest (largest remaining in the Lower

Murray region)– maintain at least 20 per cent of the original area of black box vegetation

• Completed in 2014 and being operated• Community and Indigenous groups input to

management

SLIDES FROM RC Main regulator – Chowilla Creek

Chowilla The Living Murray projectBefore operation

Chowilla The Living Murray projectAfter operation

BEFORE

AFTER

Chowilla Floodplain

Riverine Recovery Project (RRP)• Regulating structures, fishways and operational

changes to return wetlands to more natural wetting and drying

• Water savings transferred to CEWH• Will be completed by end June 2019 • Objectives

– improved management of weir pools, anabranches, floodplains & wetlands– more diverse habitats and productive and diverse plants and animals– reduced impacts of carp

• Landholders, community and Indigenous groups engaged in design and management

Sample of wetland sites

South Australian Riverland Floodplains Integrated Infrastructure Program (SARFIIP)

• Regulating structures, levee banks, and saline groundwater management schemes

• Water at low flows of 10,000-15,000 ML/day• Objectives

– Improve health of the diverse range of terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including Black Box, River Red Gum, Lignum communities and wetlands

• Construction began in 2016 (end date of 2020)• Community and Indigenous groups input to

design and implementation

Pike – Margaret Dowling Regulator

Pike floodplain inundation map

Flows for the Future (F4F)• Supply and install low flow devices on dams

and watercourse diversions in Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges

• Objectives– Reinstate more natural flow patterns– Increase flow to Lower Lakes and Coorong

• Commenced in 2017 (end date of 30 June 2022)• Initial consultation in 2011• Ongoing direct engagement with landholders

Example low flow device

South East Flows Restoration Project

• Extension of the South East drainage system to supply water to South East wetlands and the Coorong South Lagoon

• Objectives– assist salinity management in Coorong South Lagoon,– enhance wetlands in the Upper South East – reduce drainage outflow at Kingston beach

• Construction began in 2017 (end date of 2018)• Community and Indigenous groups input to

design and implementation

Taratap drain before Taratap drain after

Blackford diversion site before Blackford diversion site after

Reference location for before and after

SA River Murray Constraints• Works & measures to enable managed higher

flow events – up to 80,000 ML/day– e.g. crossings, flood proofing assets, easements– 80,000 ML/day at the border inundates 116,117 ha

• Links with NSW and Victorian projects• Objectives

– improve wetland and floodplain health with more frequent over-bank flows between 40,000 to 80,000 ML/day

– reduce inundation risks on low lying areas from natural and managed flows

• Continue to work with private landholders, councils and public land managers

Enhanced Environmental Water Delivery Project (EEWD)• SA, Victoria and NSW • Step-change in forecasting, planning and

coordination of environmental water use• Objective

– optimise benefits from available environmental water– coordinate managed flows and natural inflows & optimise watering with

constraints addressed

• Business case approved• Engage with water holders and managers as well

as communities and Indigenous groups

Enhanced Environmental Water Delivery method

Jun Nov

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Jul Aug Sept Oct

Regulated flow boundary (constraint)

River operator

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Targeted trigger

Flow trigger

Websites for more information• www.mdba.gov.au/basin-plan-roll-out/managing-

constraints• https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/river-

murray/basin-plan/adjustment-to-the-sustainable-diversion-limit

• https://www.mdba.gov.au/basin-plan-roll-out/sustainable-diversion-limits/sdl-adjustment-proposals-state-projects