The objectives of Water for Rivers is to recover 282GL of water, sufficient to restore 212GL or 21 per cent of the average natural flow in the Snowy River and provide 70GL of water for environmental flows in the River Murray system by June 2012. This water recovery process is to be completed in a manner that enhances and balances environmental economic and community outcomes.

To achieve this objective, Water for Rivers is to identify, investigate and implement water efficiency projects on diversions from the River Murray (upstream of the South Australian border), and in the Murrumbidgee and Goulburn River systems.
 
The graph below highlights the status of water recovery projects in achieving the average 282 GL target for both the Snowy and Murray Rivers.

There is currently approximately 263 GL of water listed on the environmental water register however the actual volume of water available is dependent on annual allocations.

Projects are now underway to recover a further 46 GL and approx 2 GL of water on the Water for Rivers project register is currently subject to scoping. These projects are in the various stages of development.