system

SIGNAL scoring system for river bio-assessment by community groups

SIGNAL stands for ‘Stream Invertebrate Grade Number – Average Level.’ It is a simple scoring system for macro-invertebrate (‘water bug’) samples from Australian rivers. A SIGNAL score gives an indication of water quality in the river from which the sample was collected. Rivers with high SIGNAL scores are likely to have low levels of salinity, turbidity and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. They (more)...

Gulf of Carpentaria field validation

As part of the developmental phase of the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) Program this project was instigated to undertake a reconnaissance of all rivers draining into the Gulf of Carpentaria, as well as collecting baseline data and undertaking regional stakeholder consultation.

The Bayesian Network Models for Environmental Flow Decision-making

This final report summerises the activities and outcomes of the Land & Water Australia Project - Environmental Flow Bayesian Network Decision-Making Framework. The development of two Bayesian Network models used as a decision-support tool for determining environmental flows in major rivers in Australia are reported on. The first eFlows BN model was for the Latrobe River in Victoria, a river system that is highly regulated and (more)...

Dynamic Non-Market Valuation of Ecosystem Services

This study combines non market valuation and bio economic modelling in a dynamic model of ecosystem services.  First, because non market valuation and bio economic models use different concepts of valuation, the values of ecosystem services are defined. Next, an analytical solution is derived which includes a dynamic Lancaster demand system and new methods for welfare analysis.  Finally, both revealed and stated preference methods are proposed for estimating the value of ecosystem (more)...

Detecting Pinus radiata in Bushland Technical Report

The primary aim of the projec t is to develop an automated remote sensing system to identify large pine wildlings in remnant vegetation, using satellite imagery. As such it is a preliminary study of a new application of automated remote sensing.

Benchmarking the distribution efficiency of an irrigation supply system

Project objectives To benchmark the distribution efficiency (DE) of the various components of a small, open channel gravity irrigation system and irrigation return flows from farms to the surface drainage system. To develop strategies to overcome water losses in the distribution system, including the implementation of smart systems for improved channel operations, system planning and services to improve the integration of distribution systems (more)...

Waterwheel Newsletter 14

New Tools for Measuring Evaporation from Farm Dams

This bulletin describes the results of a modelling study of evaporation from farm dams and a ‘ready reckoner’ in the form of a spreadsheet that:

• Calculates the cost of installing an evaporation reduction system
• Calculates how much water is saved from evaporating.