Gwydir 2020-21 Annual Report Appendix H Refuge Pools

Extremely dry and warm conditions in winter and spring of 2019 across the Gwydir valley, combined with very low inflows, resulted in extended periods of cease-to-flow conditions in channels across much of the lower Gwydir system in late 2019. As a result, only a small number of larger pools remained, providing refuge for aquatic species within the rivers. In response, the CEWO (Commonwealth Environmental Water Office) and NSW DPIE (Department of Planning, Industry and Environment) collaborated to deliver water for the environment between October 2019 and January 2020 in a series of flows.