The drought was reducing water allocations for all users, according to Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, David Papps.
Dr Papps said allocation decisions were made by state governments, based on how much water was in the system, and the environment didn’t recieve any special treatment. “Environmental water entitlements receive exactly the same amount of annual allocations as irrigators entitlements,” Dr Papps said. “I am committed to being a diligent, responsive and prudent water manager.” He was responding to claims water was being taken for the environment, at the expense of agriculture.“I do not waste water,” Dr Papps said.
“In dry years, environmental water is targeted at meeting critical environmental needs, such as improving water quality and providing drought refuges for plants and animals. Many wetlands have not yet recovered from the millennium drought and are in poor ecological health. This means they may require more frequent watering to restore their health.”