The Murray swells to minor flood level from Tocumwal to Barham and the government’s environmental water plan to flood the bush now must ‘adapt’ as a river flood takes the reins. Community concerns were raised again at the Barham Floodplain Management listening tour on June 16. Community members cited that the pre-wetting of the forests by government agencies can change flooding patterns and removes the sponge of the forest floor that absorbs the initial flood peak. The increase in flooding duration by filling forests before river floods also may increase the potential for black water. 

Government agencies hold more than 4,600 gigalitres of former consumptive w