Integrated catchment management

Environmental flows are not the only factor in a healthy river, wetland or floodplain. Also important are other aspects, including water quality, riparian land and in-stream habitat. It is important that environmental watering and complementary measures are integrated to achieve the best environmental outcomes.

Complementary measures can include:

• revegetation of waterways to provide habitat and prevent erosion
• streamside fencing to protect habitat from livestock damage and allow regeneration
• provision of fish passage to allow breeding and recolonisation
• better management of river banks to maintain and improve water quality.

River health activities are currently broadly directed by the Victorian River Health Strategy (soon to be replaced by the Victorian Strategy for Rivers, Estuaries and Wetlands).  River health activities in each catchment are specifically guided by regional river health strategies (soon to be replaced by regional waterway strategies).