Snowy River ASL Policy Document

POSITION STATEMENT FOR THE SNOWY RIVER

The Australian Society for Limnology (ASL) is an Australian-based scientific society whose focus is the study and management of inland waters. Established in 1961, it has a current membership of over 600 researchers, managers, engineers, teachers and tertiary level students from all states and territories.

The charter of the ASL is to further our understanding of Australia's inland waters and to promote their wise use and sustainable management. Through this, the society contributes to the continued existence of this valued resource and the maintenance and enhancement of the quality of life for all Australians.

Overview

The Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme ("The Scheme") and water supply is constructed within a major national park in NSW, containing the only true mainland alpine environment in Australia. The Scheme has resulted in major fragmentation and drastic changes to the flow regimes of rivers within The Scheme, and has severely altered the flow regimes of rivers flowing from the Kosciusko National Park (eg. Snowy, Tooma, Murrumbidgee).

The ASL has written this position statement in response to impending corporatisation of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority that will set environmental flows for the long term. The Position Statement arose from a workshop held at the Society's Annual Congress in Darwin in July 2000, and was subsequently circulated to the membership of the Society for comment.

The Society emphasises the need for improved environmental flows for wetlands and rivers of Australia. We recognise that the level of understanding regarding the ecological requirements for environmental flows is relatively limited, but this should not be used as an excuse for a lack of adequate action on the Snowy River and other rivers adversely affected by the Snowy Mountain Scheme.

Therefore, the provision of environmental flows in rivers affected by The Scheme must be part of an adaptive management regime, with adequate monitoring of the environmental outcomes, and the provision for future adjustments to the flows provided.

Our specific recommendations are:

  • Environmental flow regimes that are implemented must recognise that there are critical thresholds that need to be met to allow rivers to function adequately. Critical thresholds include inundation of the channel, restoration of connectivity and the provision of at least a large flood flow event annually.
  • An environmental flow regime is implemented in the Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam. This flow regime should be set at a minimum of 28% of the annual natural discharge (see Expert Panel ref, below).
  • The environmental flow allocation for the Snowy River should have a minimum flow release of 200-300 ML/day at Jindabyne Dam. Seasonal flow must also be implemented. This flow could be set at about 95% exceedence per month as recommended by the Expert Panel Environmental Flow Assessment of the Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam (1996).
  • Each year between May and October, a flood event be released down the Snowy River to restore and maintain habitat and channel morphology.
  • To restore natural short-term flow variability and hydrological connectivity in the Snowy River, the aqueducts on the Mowamba River and Cobben Creek be decommissioned.
  • To evaluate the effects of environmental flow on the Snowy River, a well-funded monitoring program must be set up and maintained, and that this program becomes part of an adaptive management scheme to periodically evaluate and adjust the environmental flow regime.
  • That environmental flow regimes be implemented for rivers in the Kosciusko National Park, adversely affected by The Scheme, such as the upper Murrumbidgee, the Snowy above Jindabyne, the Geehi and the Tooma (Bevitt, et al. 1998).
  • Appropriate monitoring programs should also be implemented for these rivers, and the management of the flow regimes be carried out by adaptive management practices.

References:

Bevitt, R., Erskine, W., Gillespie, G., Harris, J., Lake, P.S., Milners, B., and Varley, I. 1998. Expert panel environmental flow assessment of various rivers affected by the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Report to the NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation.

Expert Panel Environmental Flow Assessment of the Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam 1996.