AFTER a decade and more than 300 gigalitres of water returned to the much-loved Murray and Snowy rivers, the successful Water for Rivers project will dry up by the end of the month.

Set up in 2003 by the Victorian and NSW Labor government, and John Howard's Commonwealth government, the Water For Rivers group was given the task of improving the health of the Snowy and Murray by finding 282 gigalitres of water savings - 212 for the Snowy and 70 for the Murray. The threegovernments committed $425 million and the program was remarkably successfully, delivering 314 gigalitres.

Unlike the controversial Murray Darling Basin renewal project spearheaded by federal Labor, Water for Rivers did not principally engage in water ''buybacks'' from farmers and other land users. Instead, the project focused on improving infrastructure and reducing wastage, with 80 per cent of the recovered water coming from infrastructure.

Chief executive Neville Smith said the key to their success was working with already existing groups who were working locally to save river systems.