Environmental flows

Indicator description

Environmental flows are the amount of water that is needed in streams (rivers, lakes and marshes) to meet the requirements of aquatic flora and fauna. Insufficient water, or water at the wrong time, can result in a loss of habitat, breeding failure and even death for some species.

The need for developing environmental flow guidelines has arisen as both rural and urban communities have developed and utilised the water resource. Establishing and meeting guidelines for environmental flows in the streams of the Australian Capital Region is necessary to prevent further decline in stream health.

Ideally all streams would have environmental flow guidelines. Until that occurs, the number and proportion of streams for which environmental flow guidelines have been established and are being met is an indicator of the response by our community to the threat to aquatic ecosystems caused by our use of the water.