Murrumbidgee Selected Area Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) is responsible under the Water Act 2007 (Cth) for managing Commonwealth environmental water holdings. The holdings must be managed to protect or restore the environmental assets of the Murray-Darling Basin, and other areas where the Commonwealth holds water, so as to give effect to relevant international agreements. The Basin Plan (2012) further requires that the holdings must be managed in a way that is consistent with the Basin Plan's Environmental Watering Plan. The Water Act 2007 (Cth) and the Basin Plan also impose obligations to report on the contribution of Commonwealth environmental water to the environmental objectives of the Basin Plan. Monitoring and evaluation are critical for supporting effective and efficient use of Commonwealth environmental water. They provide important information to support the CEWH to meet their reporting obligations in addition to demonstrating overall effectiveness at achieving ecological objectives.The Long-Term Intervention Monitoring Project (LTIM Project) is the primary means by which the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) will undertake monitoring and evaluation of the ecological outcomes of Commonwealth environmental watering. The LTIM Project will be implemented at seven Selected Areas over a five year period from 2014-15 to 2018-19 to deliver five high-level outcomes (in order of priority):· Evaluate the contribution of Commonwealth environmental watering to the objectives of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's (MDBA) Environmental Watering Plan· Evaluate the ecological outcomes of Commonwealth environmental watering at each of the seven Selected Areas· Infer ecological outcomes of Commonwealth environmental watering in areas of the Murray-Darling Basin not monitored· Support the adaptive management of Commonwealth environmental water· Monitor the ecological response to Commonwealth environmental watering at each of the seven Selected Areas.This Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (M&E Plan) details the monitoring and evaluation activities that will be implemented under the LTIM Project for the Murrumbidgee Selected Area. This M&E Plan includes:· A description of the Selected Area including hydrological zones· Evaluation questions relevant to the Selected Area· Monitoring indicator methods and protocols· A monitoring schedule· Evaluation methods and protocols· A communication and engagement planThe project management plan, risk assessment, quality planning; and health, safety and environmental plans are provided as standalone documents.