Outcomes and achievements

Each year, the VEWH reflects on how we work with program partners to play our part in supporting the health of rivers, wetlands, landscapes and communities. A full list of the volumes and locations of water releases can be found on the current watering releases page.

Outcomes and achievements snapshot 2025-26

• The VEWH oversaw delivery of 826,322 megalitres of environmental water including water made available by the VEWH, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the Living Murray.
• The VEWH coordinated delivery of water for the environment to 175 river reaches and wetlands in Victoria.
• All five targeted Ramsar sites that can receive water for the environment were watered, with Hattah in a drying phase.
• 89% of required potential watering actions were partially or fully achieved. These actions were achieved through environmental flow deliveries, natural river flows or delivery of consumptive water en route to customers.
• 72% of environmental flows delivered in northern Victoria were re-used to meet downstream environmental water needs. To further increase efficiency, environmental flows can also sometimes be ‘piggybacked’ on water delivered for towns and farms.
• 30 environmental watering actions in six systems were planned in partnership with Traditional Owners.
• 100% of Victoria’s top 28 recreational fishing river reaches that can receive environmental flows were watered this year.
• At least 250 stakeholders and program partners contributed to planning for environmental flows in 2025-26.

Environmental water deliveries supported a range of environmental, cultural, recreational, social and economic outcomes across Victoria in 2025-26. In many systems, flows helped maintain habitat for native fish, waterbirds, frogs, turtles and wetland plants, while also improving water quality and supporting river and wetland connectivity. In a year shaped by variable seasonal conditions, waterway managers adapted watering actions to respond to local conditions, and where possible, watering was also planned to provide shared benefits for communities, including improved conditions for recreation and local tourism.

These outcomes reflect the work of many partners across Victoria’s environmental watering program. Waterway managers, Traditional Owners, water holders, land managers, scientists, communities and other program partners worked together to plan, deliver, monitor and adapt watering actions. Their efforts, alongside complementary land and waterway management such as revegetation, weed and pest control, habitat restoration and fish passage works, helped strengthen the benefits achieved from environmental water.