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Murray-Darling Basin Commission
e-Letter No. 83 November 2008
Welcome to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission monthly e-letter with reports of happenings across the basin. Contributions are welcome. Please send items of up to 300 words to the editor at http://www.mdba.gov.au/contact An online html version is available at: www.mdbc.gov.au/communications/s-scribe/eLetter_menu (Also see our monthly children's e-newspaper The River, with regular features and activities, at: http://www.mdbc.gov.au/subs/The_River/index.html ) Please feel free to pass this e-letter along to anybody who might be interested. To subscribe online go to www.mdbc.gov.au/communications/s-scribe To be removed from the mailing list, please reply to this message with "unsubscribe" in the subject heading. This newsletter currently has 1990 subscribers.
Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik AM said that while this was not new information, the report is a landmark study. "It provides new, important data on how parts of the system such as soils, topography, fish, birds, vegetation and aquatic ecology are linked to the hydrology or water flow variations into the system," Dr Craik said. The four-year study was commissioned by the MDBC and carried out by the e-Water Cooperative Research Centre. "While water flow over the years has been highly variable, the lakes have been inundated in 27 of the past 32 years," Dr Craik said. "But under current water use levels upstream of the reserve, the dry periods could increase from 1-2 years to nearly 20 years. "This suggests that the impact of land use and water resource development on the frequency, timing and duration of inundation could outweigh any potential climate change impacts. "While we need to be cautious in drawing conclusions about this modelling, it does it gives us a greater understanding of the water requirements needed to sustain and conserve this important wetland." The Narran floodplain wetland system is located in north west of New South Wales and is a key refuge for many aquatic and water dependent plants and animals in a dry landscape. The Narran Lakes Nature Reserve, which occupies the northern section of the floodplain wetland complex, was listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 1999. The Narran floodplain wetland ecosystem is part of the Lower Balonne floodplain region within the Condamine Balonne catchment. Unlike the other river systems of this region the Narran River does not flow into the Barwon Darling System, but flows into a terminal floodplain wetland complex. The Narran Lakes last flooded in January this year boosted in March by a watering of 11 gigaltres the MDBC bought to maximise the environmental benefits for the flora and fauna in the internationally important Ramsar wetland site. Four weeks into the watering, expert ground surveys were showed that about 75 per cent of 30,000 pairs of straw-necked ibis attracted to the lakes were successfully producing healthy, full-fledged offspring. "This study is one of the very few of ephemeral wetlands showing the interactions between physical, biological and hydrological factors," Dr Craik said. "While the research has not been designed to be used directly as a management tool, it will increase our understanding of where to target our actions. A copy of the reportNarran Ecosystem Project: The response of a terminal wetland system to variable wetting and drying is available at www.mdbc.gov.au/news New
MDBC report maps Basin farm dams
The finding is contained in a newly released Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) report of a project which mapped man-made water bodies in 15 of the eastern Basin catchments. Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik AM said the study provides more accurate information on the development of artificial water bodies within the Basin, especially changes in the number, location and size of dams. "Covering an area of 509,000 square km, the study provides snapshots of the level of man made water development, including farm dams," she said. "The report does not measure the amount of water in these dams, the impact of the dams on stream flow nor the purpose for which the dams were built. "However, it does show that the highest density of dams are located within peri-urban and rural residential areas around major population centres. "The catchments estimated to have the greatest overall increase were the Condamine-Culgoa, followed by the Namoi, Moonie and the Gwydir." Dr Craik said the study was part of the MDBC's Risks to Shared Water Resources program which sees increased numbers of farm dams as one of the major risks. "However, it does not show how or when these changes occurred and therefore it doesn't measure the effectiveness of the extensive amount of regulatory controls that have been implemented during this period, Dr Craik said. "This will be determined from future studies. But in the meantime the report will boost the ability of modellers, water managers and policy makers to monitor the development of dams into the future." Dr Craik said the next phase of the project will map the western parts of the Basin. It will investigate the development and impact of regulatory controls on dams and determine what drives development of dams. "It will also analyse the relationship between dam area and volume and the resulting impacts on stream flow under various scenarios," Dr Craik said. A copy of the report Mapping the Growth, Location, Surface Area and Age of Man Made Water Bodies, including the Farm Dams, in the Murray-Darling Basin is available at www.mdbc.gov.au/news For more information on the MDBC risks program go to www.mdbc.gov.au/nrm/Risks_to_Shared_Water_Resource Basin
Authority seeks community advice members
The Authority was has been established to give one Commonwealth agency overall responsibility for Basin-wide water planning. Headed by Acting Chair and Chief Executive Mr Robert Freeman, the Authority will absorb the functions and staff of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission which will cease to exist. The community committee will provide a formal structure for the views and interests of the community and will advise the new Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council on its functions under the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement. The federal Water Act 2007 which established the MDBA requires that the community committee consist of a chair and up to 16 part-time members. The committee must include one member of the MDBA and at least eight individuals who are water users or representatives of one or more water users. A water user is someone engaged in irrigated agriculture; or engaged in environmental water management; or who uses water for industrial purposes; or uses stock and domestic water. A water user can also be a person engaged in interception activities with a significant impact on water resources (whether on an activity by activity basis or cumulatively). To be eligible to be appointed to the committee, a person must have a high level of expertise or interest in:
Members of the committee will be appointed part-time for up to four years. The Committee will meet at least six times a year. While the Murray-Darling Basin Authority is located in Canberra, Committee members will be required to attend meetings and undertake community consultation at centres across the entire Murray-Darling Basin. The format for expressions of interest is flexible -'fancy' presentation is not required, but the submission needs to be easy to read, accurate and concise. Expressions of interest, preferably in Word format, should be emailed to: Contact Hard copy expressions of
interest can also be faxed to (02) 6275 2858 or posted to:
Expressions of interest close on Monday 17 November 2008. For more information contact Kathy Eyles or Linda Reid on 02-6275-9843 or 02-6275-9844 or email Contact or Contact or go to www.mdba.gov.au MDBC
Youth Environment Conference off to Tamworth country
The event is based on the highly successful Kids Teaching Kids concept held every two years in Mildura, Victoria, Australia since 1999. Organiser Arron Wood says the conferences have highlight the importance of providing the next generation with a sense of place. "They also emphasise that a realisation of proper management of their place will ultimately have an impact on their planet," he said. 'Satellite' events have now been held in Broken Hill, Toowoomba, Narrabri, Adelaide, Wagga Wagga, Canberra, Melbourne and Bendigo. "Using the 'Kids Teaching Kids' learning model, these river health conferences have developed thousands of resilient children," Arron said. "Children who are motivated, have high self esteem and respect for others. The Conference will use the 'river' or 'ocean' as a theme around which students design presentations and workshops which they present to other young people at the Conference. The involvement of celebrities and public figures is a key feature of the conference. "The celebrities reinforce the key conference theme, that young people can make a positive contribution to environmental change, Arron said. The MDBC has been a major sponsor since the river conference began in 1999. Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik Am said students of today would have to live with the decisions that are now being made on critical environmental issues. "MDBC is happy to support the education of students on natural resource management issues but also encourages them to pursue careers in engineering and environmental sciences. "The future will see more focus being placed on the environment and therefore more jobs becoming available in these fields. The MDBC cares about the environment and our future decision-makers," Dr Craik said. For more information go to www.onelifeoneworldourfuture.com/index.php?pageid=272 Community
groups offered new weapon in war on carp
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) funded the development of the cages as part of its Native Fish Strategy which aims to return native fish populations to 60 per cent of pre-European settlement numbers. Researchers at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) have modified the cages to work with carp in wetlands. MDBC Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik AM said that together with a range of other options being investigated under the Native Fish Strategy, the cages will boost efforts to control carp in the Murray. "These wetland carp cages and their new cousin, carp pushing traps, are welcome refinements which can only enhance this process," Dr Craik said. The modified SARDI wetland carp separation cages contain specialised combination carp jump/push traps. These are being trialled in a project funded by the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, at the Kingston-on-Murray Banrock Station wetland in SA's Riverland, following its refilling in early June. The cages are designed to exploit two unique behavioural traits displayed by carp: jumping over and pushing under in-stream obstacles. SARDI Senior Research Officer, Dr Leigh Thwaites says researchers hope that the traps will eventually be used to help control carp throughout the Murray-Darling Basin. "We are now identifying carp recruitment hotspots and the best locations to exploit their behaviour, such as wetland outlets where they are drawn to the wetland smells by the flowing water, to make the traps as effective as possible," Dr Thwaites said. Groups interested in using the cages are urged to seek advice from the Invasive Species team at SARDI Aquatic Sciences. Email smith.ben2@saugov.sa.gov.au or Dr Leigh Thwaites at thwaites.leigh@saugov.sa.gov.au. The designs for carp push traps are available on the SARDI website, along with further information about carp separation cages and SARDI's work with invasive species - simply follow this link to the Invasive Species Sub Program Home Page http://tinyurl.com/653umo. For more information on the MDBC's Native Fish Strategy go to www.mdbc.gov.au/NFS Water
trading through Barmah Choke extended to early 2009
Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik AM said the 2008/09 water season has been dry with low allocations. At the end of September 2008, minimal net trades through the Barmah Choke show that there was virtually no risk of exceeding the channel capacity of the river. "While there may be an increase in trade activity through the Barmah Choke, the outlook for the Murray system remains very serious and water use is likely to be well below the long term average, similar to the last two years," Dr Craik said. "It is unlikely that channel capacity constraints would be experienced between now and February next year as a result of extending the Barmah Choke relaxation rule," she said. Dr Craik said extending the relaxation rule would enable entitlement holders above the Choke to sell their water allocations to downstream users which will assist them in managing their irrigation businesses. "Allocation transfers downstream through the Barmah Choke are not normally allowed because the Choke constrains the volume of water that can pass and we cannot guarantee delivery every season." "However, because of the extended drought conditions and the lower than normal flows in the river, we are able to guarantee any transferred allocations." "If weather conditions change and we have more water within the river, we may need to cease this trading arrangement. However, any allocation transfers approved up until that time would be honoured," Dr Craik said. Trade in entitlements from above to below the Choke will continue to be prohibited. For more information on water trade go to www.mdbc.gov.au/nrm/water_issues/water_trade 'Remarkable'
river project wins MDBC Rivercare Award
MDBC Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik AM said the award was made for a remarkable project carried out by a group of concerned citizens. In 1999 residents formed Mount Roland Rivercare to tackle serious degradation in parts of the Dasher and Minnow Rivers - tributaries of Mersey River in Tasmania. They developed Rivercare plans, built a number of in-stream structures to slow the river flow, and repair and stabilise banks and erected more than 48 kilometres of fencing. They installed off-stream watering troughs, removed willow, revegetated using native plants which dramatically reduced bank erosion and significantly improved the quality of the water." "We are proud to sponsor this Rivercare award for the Landcare movement and we are delighted it has gone to such a worthy project this year," Dr Craik said. "We're living at a time when people are more aware than ever of the need to protect and preserve our precious land and water resources. "We salute all the finalists. Landcare is all about fixing problems and taking action. Congratulations to everybody involved with this huge event. Acknowledging our Landcare heroes is just so important," she said. For more information on the Landcare Awards go to www.landcareonline.com/ Southern,
northern hemispheres drought management studied
The event is the first stage of an ANU Water Initiative international project that will compare d the world's southern and northern temperate zones - southern Australia, southern Africa, southwest US, the Mediterranean rim (Portugal, Spain and Turkey), northern China and South America. The conference will also discuss the themes to be investigated in the larger project, including:
For more information on the conference www.water.anu.edu.au/events/dpf/index.php Paringa's
Lock 5 re-opens to navigation
SA Water has undertaken the work on behalf of the Murray Darling Basin Commission (MDBC). MDBC Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik AM said the lock was closed in July as part of a six-year maintenance program on all of the locks along the river. Lock 10 at Wentworth which closed in May this year for similar refurbishment also re-opened, ahead of schedule, in October. "We chose this time of year for both locks as it is the quietest period for tourist craft, the main users of the river," Dr Craik said." Works carried out on Lock 5 included:
"The empty locks allowed SA Water to do a comprehensive inspection of the underwater components," Dr Craik said. "The works have not had any impact on the water levels in the adjacent weir pools." SA Water will advise local councils, visitor centres, boating associations, boat hire companies and registered owners of houseboats in the area likely to be affected by the reopening. "With these major works done, the lock will be in top operating condition for decades to come," Dr Craik said. The next lock scheduled for maintenance is Lock 1 at Blanchetown and it is anticipated work will begin at the end of January 2009. The public will be notified prior to the closure of the lock. For more information on the Murray River locks and weirs go to www.mdbc.gov.au/rmw/dam_and_weirs_menu Business
and NRM Funding offered in Border Rivers-Gwydir
Projects and business ideas need to demonstrate a measurable, positive improvement in natural resource management or condition through their activities. Eligible applicants can be individuals, businesses and community groups and can be either a nonprofit organisation, or a business enterprise. Examples of activities that could attract funding include:
Tender Information is available at http://brg.cma.nsw.gov.au/uploads/IBTenderInformation.pdf The application form is available at http://brg.cma.nsw.gov.au/uploads/IBTenderAppForm.doc For more information contact Wendy Miller on (02) 6728 8039 or email Wendy.Miller@cma.nsw.gov.au The
cost of managing high conservation value areas
The area needs to be a culturally significant site, uncommon vegetation or landscape, native animal habitat, wetland or riverine corridor. If you qualify, the CMA will pay 100 per cent of infrastructure costs such as fencing and off-river watering points, and management costs (including labour) for pest control and maintenance. A technical panel will assess all proposals. Those projects considered to best meet the criteria and contribute towards meeting the Western CMA's High Conservation Value Areas catchment target will receive funding. The target states that "ecological communities of high conservation value (including threatened species) are identified by 2009 and adequately protected throughout the Catchment by negotiation with landholders by 2014." Areas of "high conservation value" are rare or irreplaceable or of particular conservation value, and therefore need to be carefully managed. There is $400,000 available in total with no maximum limit for each project. Funding is sourced from both the NSW and Australian Governments as part of a $23 million commitment to the Western Catchment over a four year period. Generally, stock would be excluded from the high conservation value area, except in specially negotiated situations, such as flood refuge. Deadline for applications is 14 November 2008. For more information phone the freecall number 1800 032 101 or go to www.western.cma.nsw.gov.au 'Recycle
right' during National Recycling Week
Organisers, Planet Ark, say events throughout the country will highlight the need to save water, conserve resources, reduce contamination and combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions. More than 90 per cent of Australians use household kerbside collections to recycle the bottles, cans, jars and paper they use at home. "This is a great start, however, we must remember to recycle right," says Planet Ark "When we put the wrong items in a household recycling bin, we contaminate the entire contents of the bin and reduce the effectiveness of the whole recycling process." They say the more people recycle, the greater the environmental benefit as we are not only minimising the output of carbon dioxide - which is the biggest contributor to climate change - but we're also conserving valuable resources and saving vast amounts of water and energy. For example, a single plastic bag can shut down an entire material recovery facility if it gets caught in its machinery and just five grams of drink ware glass in a recycling bin can contaminate a tonne of bottle and jar glass because it melts at a different temperature. When we recycle right we minimise contamination, we conserve resources and we reduce our impact on the environment. For more information about recycling or how you or your school can be involved in National Recycling Week go to www.RecyclingWeek.PlanetArk.org or call the National Recycling Hotline on 1300 733 712. end |
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