Priority Rivers based on the Index of Stream Condition

Priority Rivers was created from two primary input datasets:(1) Victorian Priority Rivers 2008 (DEPI);(2) Significant Rivers (Melbourne Water Corporation (MWC)).The Priority Rivers 2008 dataset indicates high priority rivers across Victoria and relates to a combination of environmental, social and economic values. This information was derived from the Regional River Health Strategies that were developed by the various Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs). The RRHSs use a tool called RiVERS to assess waterways, of which the Index of Stream Condition (ISC) is a significant information source.Given that the ISC was developed for rural rivers and creeks, it is not relevant to MWCs urban waterways and hence MWCs jurisdiction was not included in the Priority Rivers 2008 dataset. Instead, MWC utilises a tool called the Index of River Condition (IRC), which was modified to account for the urban rivers and creeks in their operating area. For this reason a second dataset called ‘Significant Rivers’ was used for the MWC area to indicate the presence of high priority waterways.