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Freshwater flow requirements of estuarine – dependent Fisheries – data review and research needs

Conceptual models of the likely impacts of freshwater flows have been developed for seven species or species complexes that are regularly caught in the commercial and recreational fisheries of the Gulf of Carpentaria and reviewed by researchers with experience in the Gulf of Carpentaria. These conceptual models have been used to develop a range of research that could potentially elucidate the linkages between the importance of freshwater flows and fisheries production.

Flow impacts on estuarine finfish fisheries of the Gulf of Carpentaria

Ian Halliday of the Southern Fisheries Centre identified that this project will provide greater knowledge of the role of freshwater flow in estuarine-dependent fisheries production across northern Australia. This knowledge will allow for informed sustainable development of tropical water resources, with minimal impacts on fisheries resources. View this project on the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge website. (more)...

Assessing the Potential for Algal Blooms in Clear Water Phase Tropical Rivers

Associate Professor George Ganff, from the University of Adelaide studied the rivers of northern Australia and particularly those in the Top End of the Northern Territory which are subject to major seasonal changes in flow and inter-annual variability. During the dry season, spring water maintains flow with different water chemistry from the rainfall run-off that constitutes wet season flow.

The increasing density of shrubs and trees across a landscape

Woody thickening is a global phenomenon whereby the density of trees and woody shrubs is increasing in the landscape. Although most commonly seen in arid and semi-arid landscapes, it also occurs in other environments. This process has a number of impacts on landscape function. Woody thickening can be a naturally occurring phenomenon but is being enhanced by climate change, changes in fire regimes and other human land use activity. Woody thickening influences carbon storage and (more)...

Water regime dependence of fish in the wet-dry tropics

This project has improved understanding of the potential ecological impacts of changes in dry season flow regimes of tropical river ecosystems caused by water resources development in these catchments. The project investigated variation in fish distribution and ecological requirements across a natural flow regime gradient using field sites, and document indigenous knowledge on fish in the Daly River. This information has been used to develop models, based on BBNs, to predict the impact of different (more)...

Environmental Water Allocation required to sustain macroinvertebrate species in ephemeral streams

Project Objectives: To determine the key drought refuges used by macroinvertebrate species in intermittently-flowing streams and determine the level of threat to each refuge posed by prolonged drying and unpredictable flow regimes To determine the role played by different types of drought refuge in restocking macroinvertebrate populations in rivers and therefore the consequences for river communities of loss of each type of drought refuge. To determine the (more)...

Watering wetlands, Impediments and challenges to the transfer of knowledge between wetland managers and scientists

The degradation of Australia’s wetlands has brought into sharp focus the need to manage factors such as altered flow and water regimes. Exchanging knowledge between wetland managers and wetland scientists and putting knowledge into practice is an essential part of this management. Yet environmental watering of wetlands is a relatively new type of intervention, especially where engineering infrastructure is used. It is largely restricted to south eastern Australia. Thus, while there is (more)...

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)...

How much water does a woodland or plantation use: a review of some measurement methods

Determining the water balance of a landscape is important to sustainable management of water, vegetation and land resources. Water flow through vegetation is the principle pathway for the discharge of water from Australian landscapes. The rate of this discharge is determined by solar radiation, leaf area index, vapour pressure deficit and soil moisture content. Tree transpiration from plantations and native woodlands and forests is an important determinant of the water balance of much of the (more)...