Basin-scale evaluation of 2021–22 Commonwealth environmental water: Synthesis.

Strategic management of Commonwealth water for the environment by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) is central to achieving the Commonwealth’s Basin Plan 2012 objectives. The Flow-MER Basin-scale Project evaluates the ecological responses to the delivery of Commonwealth water for the environment to support legislative requirements under the Basin Plan, inform adaptive management, and support environmental water managers. This evaluation reports on outcomes from the use of Commonwealth water for the environment for the most recent water year (2021–22) and cumulative outcomes since the beginning of the program in 2014. It assesses the contribution of Commonwealth water for the environment to Basin Plan objectives, and provides considerations for adaptive management. Monitoring of ecological outcomes was constrained in 2021-22 due to wet conditions. Outcomes reported for the 2021–22 water year are based on fewer monitoring locations and should be interpreted with caution.