Influence of the Camballin Barrage on Fish Communities in the Fitzroy River, Western Australia

superuser — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:02:55 +0000

The Barrage on the Fitzroy River presents a considerable barrier to fish migrations in this ecologically, culturally and socially important system.

IDs and People

Program:

Tropical Rivers Research and Development

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

KLC7

Subjects

Subjects:

Water (General)

Rivers and Wetlands

Keywords:

fish

communities

Fitzroy

River

Western

Australia

species

Creek

camballin

barrage

migrations

predatory

fauna

restore

fish-way

upstream

pool

Snake

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Water regime dependence of fish in the wet-dry tropics

superuser — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:16:44 +0000

This project is by Michael Douglas from Charles Darwin University.

IDs and People

Program:

Environmental Water Allocation

Program Theme:

Environmental water allocation in poorly understood aquatic ecosystems across Australia

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

NTU21

Host Organisation:

Charles Darwin University

Researchers:

Dr Michael Douglas

Subjects

Subjects:

Tropical Rivers

Keywords:

fish

Project Information

Outcomes:

Sample the dry season fish communities in the middle- and upper-reaches of the Daly River Basin in areas with contrasting flow and hydraulic habitat characteristics
Document spatial and temporal variation in patterns of fish biodiversity, habitat requirements and other ecological traits (e.g. reproductive, morphological, migratory, trophic) across this natural gradient of dry season flow regime
Determine the flow and hydraulic habitat requirements of particular species and determine the degree of habitat and flow-dependence
Collaborate with Aboriginal traditional owners to document indigenous knowledge of fish distribution and ecology in the middle and upper-reaches of the Daly River Region
Collaborate with Aboriginal traditional owners to record the indigenous use and cultural significance of fish in the middle and upper reaches of the Daly River Region
Provide new information on the identity, distribution and ecology of freshwater fish in the Daly River Region
Develop a conceptual model (based on 1-6) describing the role of the dry season flow regime in driving spatial and temporal variation in fish community structure and function drawing on the range of historical river flows
Make recommendations to the NT Government on the minimum flow requirements to protect fish species and critical freshwater fish habitats based on the conceptual model and hydraulic modelling over the range of historical rivers flows
Make recommendations to the NT Government on scientifically based monitoring of the ecological outcomes of altered flow regimes based on changes in the populations or distribution of flow-dependant fish species
Develop and evaluate a predictive model which will integrate knowledge from a wide range of sources (empirical data and expert knowledge gained from Aboriginal people, other long-term residents and environmental managers) and which can be used to determine the likelihood of particular outcomes of water allocation scenarios on freshwater fish
Develop collaborations that will enhance the capacity of researchers and managers in the Northern Territory to undertake studies of the flow requirements of fish
Improve the technical ability of government to manage the environmental flow requirements of the Daly River and other groundwater dependent rivers of northern Australia
Undertake appropriate consultation with stakeholders throughout the project

Current Activities

Status:

Active

All in fish

Influence of the Camballin Barrage on Fish Communities in the Fitzroy River, Western Australia

Water regime dependence of fish in the wet-dry tropics