The Forgotten River: Saving The Upper Murrumbidgee

Overview‍

The Forgotten River is an ARRC-led advocacy campaign fighting for one of Australia's most neglected waterways: The Upper Murrumbidgee River.

The Upper Murrumbidgee River has been left behind by Federal and NSW water management reforms that are designed to improve the health of our waterways.

Once a magnificent river defined by deep pools, cascading waterfalls and thriving fish populations, the Upper Murrumbidgee now receives less than 10% of its natural headwater flows, and as little as 1% in dry years. Tantangara Dam has operated this way since 1960, protected from Basin reforms by a legislative framework that explicitly excludes the Snowy Hydro Scheme. The consequences have been severe across biodiversity, water quality, cultural connection, and community wellbeing, most visibly in 2019 and 2025 when the river ran completely dry at Tharwa.

The campaign brings together researchers, government agencies, community groups, and everyday people to build the public and political will needed to change the rules that threaten its long-term future.

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Progress

2022 - 2025:

Through sustained advocacy, the campaign secured the following commitments from the Australian Government:

• $55.6 million committed toward restoration, drought response, and governance reform

• $30 million specifically designated for contingency water releases from Tantangara Dam

• A formal SWIOID review initiated for the first time in more than two decades

• A national Upper Murrumbidgee River Health Strategy released

• A Drought Operating Framework developed to guide future water management

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2026:

We mobilised our community to hold governments accountable on existing commitments and drive public participation in the SWIOID review:

• 136 submissions to the independent SWIOID review panel

• Two webinars attracting over 500 sign-ups combined

• A community mobilisation across our channels that reached over 100,000 people

• The Drought Operating Framework was signed

• Environmental water was released from Tantangara Dam

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Where we are today:

The SWIOID review is now a live, structured process with an Independent Review Panel expected to deliver recommendations to government by mid-2026. For the first time in more than two decades, the rules controlling flows from Tantangara Dam are being formally reconsidered, with river health, First Nations cultural values, community wellbeing, and water security all on the table alongside energy. ARRC CEO Dr Siwan Lovett sits on the Stakeholder Advisory Group, ensuring the campaign has a direct voice in shaping the outcome.

The Drought Operating Framework has been signed and an agreed operating protocol between the NSW Government and Snowy Hydro now establishes a clear pathway for drought contingency releases from Tantangara Dam. Environmental water has already been released under this framework. The $55.6 million committed in 2023 remains allocated and available. The tools, the funding, and the process are all in place.

What comes next depends on governments following through, and this community staying engaged to make sure they do.