Monitoring and reporting
Monitoring
It is important to demonstrate both that environmental water has been delivered, and that this water is delivering environmental outcomes.
Scientific environmental flow studies outline the links between particular flow components (such as freshes or overbank flows) and a specific environmental objective (such as breeding of a priority fish species). In addition to these flow studies, the Victorian Government has developed and is currently implementing the Victorian Environmental Flow Monitoring and Assessment Program (VEFMAP). This program provides additional scientific rigour and certainty that outcomes are achieved by providing particular flows.
This means the VEWH, Catchment Management Authorities and Melbourne Water focus their monitoring efforts on actual water delivery, with only targeted ecological monitoring.
The ecological objectives for watering and the proposed monitoring programs are in the seasonal watering plan for each year.
Reporting
The VEWH is required to report on when, where, how and why environmental water is used. There are also certain reporting obligations that must be undertaken by the VEWH in order to comply with each particular water entitlement.
More information about the use, management and outcomes of environmental watering can be sourced from the annual environmental watering booklet. To date, this booklet has been produced by DSE. It provides information to the community on the outcomes of environmental watering actions on an annual basis. The VEWH intends to continue the release of this booklet to report on environmental watering outcomes. The VEWH will also report on environmental watering outcomes through its website, media releases and other publications as required.
Information about the use of the broader EWR is available through the Monthly Water Report, produced by DSE. The Monthly Water Report provides a summary of the status of Victoria’s water resources and water supplies at the end of the reporting month, including a section on ‘water for the environment’.
