The future of environmental flows into the Snowy River are in doubt after the NSW government released a plan to replace its independent scientific committee with an industry-funded advisory group.

It has called for the existing Snowy Scientific Committee to be abolished and replaced with a new advisory board paid for by Snowy Hydro Limited, the electricity generator that is owned by the NSW, Victorian and federal governments.

The mouth of the Snowy River where it meets the sea in Orbost. Credit:Jason South

Critics say the plan meant river flows would be regulated purely for profit, not environmental health.

The Primary Industries Minister, Katrina Hodgkinson, said in a statement that the changes would be ''more flexible and adaptive to changing needs, and be more responsive to the community and government''.