All in Rivers and Wetlands

Protection of Rivers, River Reaches, and Estuaries of High Conservation Value

superuser — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:21:56 +0000

The objectives of this project whose principle investigator was Professor Richard Kingsford were to develop broad, Australia-wide support for:

A coordinated and national approach to protecting and managing rivers, river reaches and estuaries.
A sharing of management and protection strategies and concepts so all States and Territories can learn from each other as they implement various protection measures and invest in protective management actions.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National Rivers Consortium

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

NNP3

Subjects

Subjects:

Water (General)

Rivers and Wetlands

Keywords:

River protection

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Modelling Microbial Utilisation of Macrophyte Organic Matter Inputs to Rivers under Different Flow Conditions

superuser — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:54:43 +0000

This thesis by Patricia Bowen, University of Canberra investigates the timing and composition of organic matter (OM) inputs to rivers. These are important as carbon plays a major role in river functioning.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National River Contaminants

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

UOC19

Researchers:

Patricia Bowen

Subjects

Subjects:

Threats and Pests

Contaminants

Rivers and Wetlands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Development of a Catchment Contaminant Cycle for Stakeholder Use

superuser — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:31:56 +0000

The aims of this project were:

To develop a catchment modelling framework to integrate and link component models developed by various researchers, including those contributing to other projects under the Contaminants Program.
To conduct initial stakeholder workshops in two regions to articulate broad focus of the project and solicit input viz-a-viz modelling needs.
To Conduct technical workshops with modelling specialists (including other NRCP project teams) to discuss appropriate model algorithms, scale issues and model validation.
To develop a comprehensive contaminant cycle model applicable to large catchments, giving consideration to sediment, nutrients, salt and ecology, and the interlinking of land, groundwater and rivers
Via stakeholder consultation, ensure that the model addresses the right questions and is presented in a form that is meaningful to both technical and lay people.
To apply the model to two regions as case studies, engaging stakeholders throughout the process

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National River Contaminants

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

CLW55

Researchers:

Kit Rutherford

Subjects

Subjects:

Contaminants

Rivers and Wetlands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Risk-based Approaches for Managing Contaminants in Catchments

superuser — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:26:43 +0000

The project, undertaken through a research collaboration between Monash University, the University of Melbourne and CSIRO, and in partnership with regional natural resource management agencies, aimed to:

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National River Contaminants

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

UMO43

Subjects

Subjects:

Contaminants

Rivers and Wetlands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Integrated Impacts of Contaminants and Flow on Riverine Ecosystem Production

superuser — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:23:11 +0000

This project identified key sources and sinks of nutrients, sediment and salts; their interactions with in-stream primary production and flow regime to effect ecosystem production in the Murrumbidgee river.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National River Contaminants

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

UNE47

Host Organisation:

University of New England

Researchers:

Sue vink

Darren Ryder

Subjects

Subjects:

Contaminants

Rivers and Wetlands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Catchment Nutrients and Sediment budgets: identification of knowledge gaps

superuser — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:18:57 +0000

This project aimed to:

To compile a database on nutrients (N, P and possibly C) and sediment movement for the following rivers: the Murrumbidgee River (NSW), the Brisbane River (Qld), the Latrobe River (West Gippsland, Vic), and the Johnstone River (Qld).
To develop a nitrogen, phosphorus, (carbon where possible) and sediment budget for each of the selected catchments using a combination of empirical and modelled data. The modelled data will be generated by the CSIRO models developed for the NLWRA (SEDNET/ANNEX). In the Johnstone catchment, the SEDNET/ANNEX model outputs will be compared with those from a water quality model calibrated for the catchment.
To determine the critical processes controlling each contaminant transport and transformations and how these processes vary with environmental conditions (flow variability, magnitude, temperature, vegetation, land uses, sediment types) and identify key knowledge gaps that will assist in the development of parameterisation of new processes to include in catchment management models.
Assess the effectiveness of current monitoring strategies and propose improved methods.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National River Contaminants

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

CLW54

Host Organisation:

CSIRO Land & Water

Researchers:

Myriam Bormans

Subjects

Subjects:

Contaminants

Rivers and Wetlands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Identifying sources of sediment in river basins to help develop revegetation priorities

superuser — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:12:30 +0000

Scott Wilkinson and Chris Kennedy from CSIRO Land & Water developed a modelling tool to assess spatial patterns in the sediment sources and sediment transport at the river basin regional scale. SedNet has enabled Catchment Management Authorities to target areas for riparian restoration, measures to reduce bank erosion or general catchment management activities to reduce soil erosion in order to address the source of erosion and sediment problems.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National River Contaminants

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

CLW89

Host Organisation:

CSIRO Land & Water

Researchers:

Scott Wilkinson

Chris Kennedy

Subjects

Subjects:

Contaminants

Rivers and Wetlands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Better Fertiliser Decisions

superuser — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:06:31 +0000

The aims of the project were to

provide regionally specific and scientifically validated fertiliser production responses for various seasonal, climatic and soil conditions
identify landscape, soils and fertiliser management practices that impact on the environment
to integrate the production and environmental information for key fertiliser stakeholders.

Dairy Australia was the project manager for this project, with Ken Peverill and Cameron Gourley as principle investigators.

More information

See chapter 6 of “Salt, Nutrient, Sediment and interactions: Findings from the National River Contaminants Program” below.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National River Contaminants

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

DRD5

Host Organisation:

Dairy Australia

Researchers:

Ken Peverill

Cameron Gourley

Subjects

Subjects:

Contaminants

Rivers and Wetlands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Instream and riparian zone nitrogen dynamics

superuser — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:59:47 +0000

This project investigated broad patterns of nitrogen cycling in freshwater streams and their associated riparian zones, with an emphasis on the potential for riparian vegetation to buffer nitrogen inputs to surface waters. The focus of past studies has typically been on either the riparian zone or stream, but not both. This project took a unique perspective in examining both ecosystem components, and doing so in multiple sites across three distinct biogeographic regions: southeast Queensland (SEQ), southern Victoria (VIC) and southwestern Australia (WA). These regions were chosen as a result of their contrasting climates and soil types, and so the development of conceptual models could draw on data from past and ongoing research being conducted in these regions.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National River Contaminants

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

GRU28

Subjects

Subjects:

Contaminants

Rivers and Wetlands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Alternative Stable States: a potential paradigm for managing salinised ecosystems

superuser — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:10:40 +0000

This project has tested the applicability of the concept of alternative stable states (clear water dominated by macrophytes versus turbid water dominated by phytoplankton) to a range of saline and colored systems encompassed by inland rivers and wetlands in south-western Australia.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National River Contaminants

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

UMU18

Researchers:

Associate Professor Jenny Davis

Subjects

Subjects:

Contaminants

Rivers and Wetlands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Determining transition thresholds between alternative ecological states in saline waterbodies

superuser — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:51:13 +0000

This PhD study by Lien Sim used experimental and observational data from seven saline wetlands in the wheatbelt of south west WA in order to identify some of the potential mechanisms for the transition between a salt tolerant submerged macrophyte dominated regime and a benthic microbial community dominated regime. The applicability of existing conceptual models for ecological regime shifts were then tested against these data.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National River Contaminants

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

UMU19

Researchers:

Lien Sim

Subjects

Subjects:

Contaminants

Rivers and Wetlands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Predicting salinity induced loss of biodiversity

superuser — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:40:42 +0000

The objectives for this project were to develop and test a management tool to predict the loss of instream fauna biodiversity (micro-, macro- invertebrates and fish) due to changes in salinity. Extensive experimental data were collected from the southern Murray Darling Basin (MDB) with proof-testing in the northern MDB and Tropical Australia to see whether the results transfered across Australia. The effect of salinity in combination with changes in other key water quality variables (such as nutrients, pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen) were investigated and incorporated into the tool.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National Rivers Consortium

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

RM112

Researchers:

Ben Kefford

Subjects

Subjects:

Contaminants

Rivers and Wetlands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Algal availability of phosphorus discharged from different catchment sources

superuser — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:01:56 +0000

Algal Management Strategies, Nutrient Management Strategies and Catchment Management Plans frequently have as a major focus the reduction of phosphorus loads to surface waters. The expressed intention of the nutrient control is to reduce the frequency and intensity of algal blooms, particularly blooms of toxic cyanobacteria. In many instances a direct link between the magnitude of algal blooms and phosphorus loads has not been demonstrated. However, there is appreciable information in the scientific literature reporting on eutrophication that indicates phosphorus supply is likely to exert a major control on the intensity of algal blooms (Hecky and Kilham 1988). Certainly continued reduction in supply, if possible, will eventually restrict algal growth (Sas 1989).

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National Eutrophication Management

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

LWMD17

Researchers:

Dr Rod Oliver

Subjects

Subjects:

Water (General)

Rivers and Wetlands

Keywords:

phosphorus

algal blooms

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Sources and delivery of suspended sediment and phosphorus to Australian rivers

superuser — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:39:49 +0000

“Combining tracers and landscape modelling to predict sediment and phosphorus from different landuses and erosion processes”

Sedimentation in streams and rivers draining agricultural land has resulted in severe environmental degradation. Eutrophication is a major associated issue, and the persistent occurrence of algal blooms has been linked with excess available P. The total amount of P in these systems has been shown to be dominated by the sediment bound load derived from erosion of diffuse sources, although fertiliser P has also been implicated. In this NEMP sponsored project we determine the relative contributions of both sediment and sediment bound P from these different landuses and erosion sources in two contrasting catchments.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National Rivers Consortium

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

ANU 9

Researchers:

CE Martin

Subjects

Subjects:

Water (General)

Rivers and Wetlands

Keywords:

phosphorus

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Catchment assessment techniques to help determine priorities in river restoration

superuser — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:00:43 +0000

The intent is for the assessment techniques described to provide an improved rational basis for setting stream rehabilitation priorities. Focus catchments were chosen that had issues aligned with those in the project objectives. Two existing assessment techniques; SedNet (Prosser et al., 2001) and RARC (Jansen et al., 2004a), were selected to be developed for regional scale priority setting, based on the project team’s expertise with these techniques. These techniques were developed using data from the focus catchments.

IDs and People

Program:

River Landscapes

Program Theme:

National Rivers Consortium

LWA Project Code:

CLW44

Host Organisation:

Land and Water Australia

Researchers:

Scott Wilkinson

Subjects

Subjects:

Water (General)

Rivers and Wetlands

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Aims:

Through the following steps, develop and apply catchment assessment techniques to help regional catchment agencies to determine priorities for rehabilitating riverine water quality, habitat sedimentation and riparian condition:

Identify 3 or 4 focus catchments where the above three stream problems are issues for management agencies and where management agencies are keen to apply catchment assessment techniques to assist their river restoration and management plans
Determine the data available to assess those management issues, working closely with agencies and communities
Adapt and further develop catchment assessment techniques to data available at the regional scale and the management issues using current knowledge and test them against independent field observations
Undertake the assessments to identify where in the catchment (rivers or reaches) rehabilitation actions are most likely to result in significant improvement in the management issues. These actions may include erosion and pollutant control, flow management and riparian restoration. Identify the magnitude of improvement
In each focus region, demonstrate the use of the techniques for identifying rehabilitation priorities, given a specified management vision and investment scenario
Evaluate the benefits of the techniques in achieving river rehabilitation goals. Examine the effectiveness of planning of past rehabilitation projects, and how using the catchment assessment techniques developed might assist such projects 7. Prepare protocols for wider use of the techniques by agencies, catchment authorities and community groups (eg Rivercare). Explore how agencies can best routinely use the methods, through avenues such as technical consultants

More information

Download the following reports from the CSIRO website.