The Broken River is an important waterway in north-east Victoria. The River supports a range of values to both local and regional communities.

The river supports various forms of agriculture ranging from grazing to fruit production and is home to a number of rare species including the Murray cod, Crimson-spotted Rainbow Fish, Mountain Galaxias and Great Egret. Significant wetlands and important vegetation types on its floodplains are also supported by the river system. Fishing, canoeing and swimming are popular recreational pursuits undertaken along its length.

Complementing the Mokoan - return to wetland project is a range of river health and water quality initiatives being delivered by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority. These initiatives will provide an ecologically sustainable future for the Broken River valley by increasing flow, improving water quality, revegetating riparian zones and floodplains, improving habitat and fish passage.

	Vision for the Broken Basin
	Currently in its second year the Broken River Vision project aims to develop a strategic and integrated approach to catchment management to achieve sustainable development, healthy ecosystems and the current and future prosperity of the Broken Basin. Some of the key initiatives undertaken include:
	A joint initiative of the Shire of Moira, Goulburn Murray Water and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority and the local fishing club to protect the condition and numbers of native fish in the Boosey Creek at Tungamah
	Ongoing monitoring of the effects of the Caseys Weir / Major Creek pipeline, including design of refuge zones for fish in both Broken and Boosey Creeks
	Completion of an Environmental Flow Determination Study for the upper reaches of the Broken Creek.
	Wetland system Plan for the Broken Creek and focussed wetland studies for Greens Swamp, Black/Purdies Swamp and Moodies Swamp.
	Ongoing investigations into the drivers of azolla (water plant) growth and low Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in the lower Broken Creek
	A trial of harvesting azolla from Broken Creek has been completed and a report is in preparation. The report will include comment on:  success of the trial, quantity and quality of material and management implications
	Completion of the Decision Support System (to set water quality targets and monitoring needs) as part of the Irrigation Drainage Memorandum of Understanding.
	In addition, the Authority's Drought Employment project enabled the protection of a significant reaches of the Broken - Boosey State Park, in association with Parks Victoria. The project has been funded under the State's "Our Water Our Future " initiative.

These flows are important to prevent the unnatural drying of the river, and allows the aeration of water and flushing of the river system. It also allows for the migration of fish and provides habitat to instream fauna.

Since European settlement, our rivers and wetlands have been used to store and deliver water for use when required. Dams and infrastructure on waterways hold water and release it on demand, changing the natural flow of many rivers.

In some cases the seasonal flow regime (or pattern) of regulated rivers has been reversed to enable water to be provided for water users when it is needed. These changes have affected the health of our rivers and today, salinity, increased algal blooms and a reduction in native plants and animals are evident.

The provision of environmental flows, or water that is allocated for environmental purposes aims to produce a more natural flow regime to maintain biodiversity and ecological functioning while protecting water quality.