diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 8b0f1f7b..d5d93fe7 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 Package: rSOILWAT2
-Version: 6.0.4
+Version: 6.1.0-9000
 Title: An Ecohydrological Ecosystem-Scale Water Balance Simulation Model
 Description: Access to the C-based SOILWAT2 v7.2.0 and functionality for
   SQLite-database of weather data.
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index e5bec335..356ed867 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# rSOILWAT2 v6.1.0-9000
+
+
 # rSOILWAT2 v6.0.4
 * This version produces the same output as the previous version.