In 1986, the River Murray Riparian Vegetation Survey was initiated by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) to assess the present status of the vegetation along the River Murray, to identify causes of degradation, and to develop solutions for its rehabilitation and long term stability. The Study area was the floodplain of the River Murray and its anabranches, including the Edward-Wakool system, from below Hume Dam to the upper end of Lake Alexandrina, a total of nearly 9,000 square kilometres (900,000 hectares). The survey was conducted by Margules and Partners Pty Ltd, P and J Smith Ecological Consultants, and the then Victorian Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands (DCFL). The results were then compiled by DCFL, a report published (see References) and a GIS was constructed. Please note that the vegetation mapping uses a mixed floristic/structural classification. VIS_ID 4156

Native vegetation mapping of the Murray River National Park (Vic), covering part of Barmah Forest area.; ; This map was prepared to specifically show the spatial delineation of stem density and canopy condition categories of vegetation in the Barmah and Millewa Forest areas. This map was prepared using aerial photo interpretation (API) of ADS40 digital aerial photography captured in 2010. ; ; The map was prepared by updating (linework and attribution) of existing vegetation mapping produced in 2005 by Doug Frood (Frood 2007).; ; Barmah National Park (Vic) and the Murray River Park (Vic) are collectively known as the Barmah Forest. VIS_ID 3868

Data forms part of a project undertaken for the Resource and Conservation Assessment Council as part of the regional assessments of western New South Wales - Joint Vegetation Mapping Project (JVMP), Brigalow Belt South Bioregion (BBS). Murrurrundi 1:100K mapsheet was part of the "targeted API" program, whereby information on the structural characteristics and overstorey composition was obtained via aerial photo interpretation (API) of 1:50000 or 1:25000 aerial photography.; ; Joint Vegetation Mapping Project. NSW Western Regional Assessments. Final Report, Dec 2003. Resource & Conservation Assessment Council. Project No. WRA 24.Hill, L. (2000) Goulburn River National Park and Munghorn Nature Reserve - Vegetation Survey for Fire Management Purposes. Volume 1: Main Report. Upper Hunter District. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Hill, L. (1999) Goulburn River National Park and Munghorn Nature Reserve - Vegetation Survey for Fire Management Purposes.Volume 2: Community Profiles. Upper Hunter District. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The composition and extent of the present vegetation within the Mutawintji Lands, comprising Mutawintji National Park, Historic Site and Nature Reserve, is described and mapped at 1: 100 000 scale from intensive quadrat samples, field traverses and aerial photograph interpretation. Five broad vegetation communities are described and 530 taxa of vascular plants recorded from 100 sample sites, opportunistic records and previous surveys, nine of which are rare or threatened taxa and 33 of which are regionally significant. Reference: Vegetation Map of the Mutawintji Lands area (including Mutawintji Historic Site, National Park and Nature Reserve). VIS_ID 823

Native vegetation was delineated into stands using feature recognition software. A hybrid classification method that combined spatial modelling and visual interpretation was used to combine the features and create a vegetation map. SPOT 5 and Landsat satellite imagery was used in the creation of image objects. The spectral response of individual SPOT 5 scenes varied widely across the catchment so it was not used in the classification of vegetation type. Spatial layers used in the classification included a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Landsat reflectance data, radiometric data and soil and climate layers, all of which are available for the entire State. Over 340 new full floristic survey sites were commissioned and the results were combined with 900 existing survey site records to create training areas for spatial modelling. Each survey site was assigned a New South Wales Vegetation Classification and Assessment (NSWVCA) vegetation type. The relationship between survey sites and spatial layers was explored by using machine learning software and vegetation type was classified using an object-based nearest neighbour approach. The catchment was divided into three discrete spatial models with separate training and validation survey sites. Model performance was assessed on the basis of the number of NSWVCA types mapped correctly in five classes of precision. The percentage of correctly modelled vegetation types ranged between 58% and 68%. Several vegetation community types were not able to be modelled (e.g. chenopods) or were poorly modelled due to lack of sample data. These communities were added or amended based on the visual interpretation of remotely sensed data. The amended map was assessed against a limited subset of independent survey data. The percentage of correctly mapped vegetation types in five classes of precision ranged between 72% and 78%. The mapping was presented in a geodatabase, which allows for user-generated updates so that the product can evolve as more field data are collected. ROFF, A., SIVERTSEN, D., AND DENHOLM, B. 2010. The Native Vegetation of the Murray Catchment Management Authority Area, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Sydney, Australia. VIS_ID 3808 VIS_ID 3809 VIS_ID 3810 VIS_ID 3811

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan (available at http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2012L02240) was developed under the Commonwealth Water Act 2007 and aims to deliver a coordinated approach to water use by States and Territories in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), underpinned by a commitment to restoring the long-term health of rivers and wetlands in the Basin. To achieve this, the Basin Plan sets a long term average Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) for surface water and groundwater use across the major valleys in the MDB, and incorporates an Environmental Watering Plan (EWP) that ensures surplus water beyond SDLs is made available for the natural floodplain and wetland systems. The EWP is central to the Basin Plan as it aims to achieve the best possible environmental outcomes in its use of environmental water, in terms of size, timing and nature of river flows. The EWP is supported by the Environmental Water Recovery Strategy, a voluntary water buyback instrument (SEWPAC 2012). The long term average SDL for surface water flow is currently set by the Basin Plan at 10,873 gigalitres per year (GL/y). This includes 3,468 GL/y for the northern Basin, which establishes a water ‘saving’ of 390 GL/y from water allocations previously set under the Living Murray initiative (MDBA 2011). These savings are available as ‘environmental water’ which is regulated by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) via the EWP. Water allocations in the northern Basin are currently under review via the Northern Basin Review, which is due for finalisation in mid-2016. This review is expected to improve environmental science in relation to floodplain systems in the Condamine-Balonne and Barwon-Darling River systems, and may recommend changes to the Basin Plan accordingly. A key part of the Review is to improve knowledge about environmental assets within river systems of the northern Basin (e.g. floodplain and wetland vegetation, fish, water birds), and how they respond and interact to fluctuations in surface water flow. Improved knowledge about the native vegetation of inland floodplain systems is fundamental to the Northern Basin Review. To improve information about the distribution and extent of floodplain and wetland vegetation types in the northern Basin, Eco Logical Australia (ELA) was commissioned by the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to map the distribution of plant community types (PCTs) within a large section of the Darling floodplain west of Louth, and within the Condamine-Balonne system south of the NSW-Queensland border. An improved knowledge about the distribution and extent of floodplain PCTs will inform how environmental water allocations might be refined, and is thus an important component of the Northern Basin Review. For more information please refer to the technical report Eco Logical Australia 2015. Vegetation of the Barwon-Darling and Condamine-Balonne floodplain systems of New South Wales: Mapping and survey of plant community types. Prepared for Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Attributes: PCT_ID = NSW Plant Community Type Code PCT_LABEL = Plant Community Type Label BROAD_VEG = Broad Vegetation Type HYDROL_ECOL = Hydro-Ecological Functional Group VEG_FORMAT = Vegetation Formation VEG_CLASS = Vegetation Class Floodplain = Floodplain vegetation (yes or no) MAP_LABEL = Short vegetation label suitable for display on map products RE = Regional Ecosystem Code RE_LABEL = Regional Ecosystem Label ACCURACY = Attribute accuracy (values 1 to 5) 5 - Verified in the field by either full floristic, rapid or API (observational) site 4 - Not verified in the field but likely to be correct due to extrapolation from similar verified pattern or verified in field but uncertain of boundary 3 - Probably correct although could be one of a few related communities 2 - Possibly correct but might be one of several other communities 1 - Unlikely to be correct VIS_ID 4454

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan (available at http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2012L02240) was developed under the Commonwealth Water Act 2007and aims to deliver a coordinated approach to water use by States and Territories in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), underpinned by a commitment to restoring the long-term health of rivers and wetlands in the Basin. To achieve this, the Basin Plan sets a long term average Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) for surface water and groundwater use across the major valleys in the MDB, and incorporates an Environmental Watering Plan (EWP) that ensures surplus water beyond SDLs is made available for the natural floodplain and wetland systems. The EWP is central to the Basin Plan as it aims to achieve the best possible environmental outcomes in its use of environmental water, in terms of size, timing and nature of river flows. The EWP is supported by the Environmental Water Recovery Strategy, a voluntary water buyback instrument (SEWPAC 2012). The long term average SDL for surface water flow is currently set by the Basin Plan at 10,873 gigalitres per year (GL/y). This includes 3,468 GL/y for the northern Basin, which establishes a water ‘saving’ of 390 GL/y from water allocations previously set under the Living Murray initiative (MDBA 2011). These savings are available as ‘environmental water’ which is regulated by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) via the EWP. Water allocations in the northern Basin are currently under review via the Northern Basin Review, which is due for finalisation in mid-2016. This review is expected to improve environmental science in relation to floodplain systems in the Condamine-Balonne and Barwon-Darling River systems, and may recommend changes to the Basin Plan accordingly. A key part of the Review is to improve knowledge about environmental assets within river systems of the northern Basin (e.g. floodplain and wetland vegetation, fish, water birds), and how they respond and interact to fluctuations in surface water flow. Improved knowledge about the native vegetation of inland floodplain systems is fundamental to the Northern Basin Review. To improve information about the distribution and extent of floodplain and wetland vegetation types in the northern Basin, Eco Logical Australia (ELA) was commissioned by the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to map the distribution of plant community types (PCTs) within a large section of the Darling floodplain west of Louth, and within the Condamine-Balonne system south of the NSW-Queensland border. An improved knowledge about the distribution and extent of floodplain PCTs will inform how environmental water allocations might be refined, and is thus an important component of the Northern Basin Review. Attributes: PCT_ID = NSW Plant Community Type Code PCT_LABEL = Plant Community Type Label BROAD_VEG = Broad Vegetation Type HYDROL_ECOL = Hydro-Ecological Functional Group VEG_FORMAT = Vegetation Formation VEG_CLASS = Vegetation Class Floodplain = Floodplain vegetation (yes or no) MAP_LABEL = Short vegetation label suitable for display on map products RE = Regional Ecosystem Code RE_LABEL = Regional Ecosystem Label ACCURACY = Attribute accuracy (values 1 to 5) 5 - Verified in the field by either full floristic, rapid or API (observational) site 4 - Not verified in the field but likely to be correct due to extrapolation from similar verified pattern or verified in field but uncertain of boundary 3 - Probably correct although could be one of a few related communities 2 - Possibly correct but might be one of several other communities 1 - Unlikely to be correct For more information please refer to the technical report. Eco Logical Australia 2015. Vegetation of the Barwon-Darling and Condamine-Balonne floodplain systems of New South Wales: Mapping and survey of plant community types. Prepared for Murray-Darling Basin Authority. VIS_ID 4453

Structural Vegetation mapping covering the NSW portion of the Murray Darling Basin. Mapped using visual interpretation of Landsat TM satellite images (bands 2, 3, 4 and 5) from 1989 to 1991. Attribute mapping includes genus and species information. Scale of use = 1:100 000. The Vegetation group and density data mapping was developed as part of a larger MDBC project named BasinCare (project code M305). The specification is described in a report entitled Structural Vegetation Data: a specifications manual for the Murray-Darling Basin Project M305 by Kim Ritman (See additional Metadata). The entire project was undertaken by a number of State and Commonwealth agencies on behalf of the MDBC. The data produced by the project contains information about woody vegetation. It contains woody vegetation attributes including density, genus, species and growth form for overstorey and understorey vegetation. ANZNS0208000072 VIS_ID 917

Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board 2022-23 Annual Report tabled 6th February 2024

Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board 2021-22 Annual Report tabled 7th March 2023