Presenters: Prof Ross Thompson (University of Canberra), Dr Emily Barbour (CSIRO) and Nerida Sloane (CEWH)
Resilience is the ability of a system to ‘bounce back’ after it has been affected by disturbance. Murray Darling Basin rivers are constantly subject to disturbance from blackwater events, algal blooms, fire, drought, land-use change and water abstraction. One of the objectives of the Murray Darling Basin Plan is to manage for “Ecosystems resilient to climate change and other risks”.
Presenters: Assoc Prof Skye Wassens (CSU), Dr Damian Michael (CSU) & Erin Lenon (CEWH)
The Murray-Darling Basin supports over 300 frogs and reptiles, many of which are restricted to floodplain environments. Monitoring the ecological responses of frogs to environmental flows is a key objective of the Flow-MER Program’s Murrumbidgee Selected Area. The benefits of flow delivery and environmental water are likely to aid many other wetland dependant vertebrates – including frog-eating snakes – so what can they tell us about water management?
Presenters: Dr. Kris Taniguchi-Quan and Dr. Eric Stein, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
The talk provides an overview of the functional flows approach for the establishment of environmental flow requirements aimed at protecting multiple ecological endpoints, and evaluating catchment conditions. It further discusses the integration of this approach in the Basin-wide modelling being undertaken in the Flow-MER project.
Presenters: Dr Geoff Vietz (Streamology), Neil Sutton (Streamology), Daniel Lovell (GBCMA) & David Straccione (CEWH)
Monitoring of waterway ecology and geomorphology have for a long time involved arduous days in the field with lots of time on hands and knees. While at the moment some of you may be missing the inevitable dirt under the fingernails, the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or ‘drones’ are changing our approaches and options. Beyond their more common use for pretty aerial pictures, drones have dramatically increased our ability to spatially assess waterway condition as it relates to specific characteristics of river flows. Geoff and Neil will provide an overview of techniques, analysis and opportunities, including relationships to hydraulics, with particular reference to current Flow-MER monitoring in the Goulburn River, Victoria, and Edward-Wakool, NSW. Daniel and David will reflect on how important this work is proving to be for on-ground environmental water management decisions.
Presenters: Dr Danial Stratford (CSIRO), Dr Ashley MacQueen (Deakin University) and Bruce Campbell (CEWH)
This seminar will overview the modelling work being undertaken by the CSIRO and Deakin University team to develop methods to understand how improvements in hydrology translate into improvements in ecology. Danial and Ashley will discuss the tools and frameworks being developed to support extrapolation to unmonitored areas and the understanding of watering outcomes at basin-scales. Bruce will provide a CEWH perspective on how this modelling work will assist in their on-ground environmental water delivery.
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The Flow-MER program team acknowledge and respect the Traditional Owners as the First Peoples of the lands and waters of the Murray Darling Basin.
We recognise their unique ability to care for Country and their deep spiritual connection to it. We honour Elders past and present whose knowledge and wisdom has ensured the continuation of culture and traditional practices.
We are committed to genuinely partner, and meaningfully engage, with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities to support the protection of Country, the maintenance of spiritual and cultural practices and their broader aspirations in the 21st century and beyond. In particular we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the seven Selected Areas where Flow-MER research is focussed.
Artwork credit: Wiradjuri Artist Rebecca Salcole
Artwork credit: Wiradjuri Artist Rebecca Salcole
The Goulburn River is known by several names as it travels first through Taungurung country in the hilly upper and middle reaches. Here, the river is called Waring.
As the river meanders downstream of Murchison and into the northern flatlands, the river winds through Yorta Yorta country and is called Kaiela, meaning ‘father of waters’. Eventually, the river flows to a confluence with the River Murray near Echuca. This confluence of rivers is known as Koninner.
We acknowledge and respect the Traditional Owners of the country this story has been written about, Taungurung and Yorta Yorta, and all the countries through which the Goulburn river flows. This story was written on Ngunnawal country. Sovereignty was never ceded, and we pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.