Floodplain Wetlands Management Overview

Wetlands are vitally important to the Murray-Darling Basin's aquatic systems and everything that depends on its water resources, including the economic well-being of the Basin. The preservation, protection and management of floodplains or riparian zones and their wetlands are the key to protecting the health of the total riverine environment (Sharley & Huggan 1994; MDBMC 1995, 26-27).

To complement the responsibilities and activities of the relevant state and territory authorities, the Murray-Darling Basin Commission has prepared a Floodplain Wetlands Management Strategy. Its goal is

to maintain and, where possible, enhance floodplain wetland ecosystems in the Murray-Darling Basin for the benefit of present and future generations.

To achieve its goal, the Strategy has the following objectives:

to support community initiatives in managing floodplain wetlands;

to develop sound scientific understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes operating within wetlands and of the relationships between floodplain wetlands and adjacent floodplain and river environments;

to evaluate and manage river flow regimes and water allocations to maintain, restore and enhance floodplain wetlands;

to develop sustainable-use guidelines for various uses of floodplain wetlands and dependent wetlands, and to prepare wetland management manuals to support wetland rehabilitation programs;

to improve management of introduced species in floodplain wetlands;

to develop inventories and information standards for monitoring and mapping the floodplain wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin;

to improve the understanding of social, cultural, economic and environmental values of wetlands;

to increase awareness of wetland values and wetland management issues (including impacts from activities in contributing catchments)

The objectives for the implementation of the Floodplain Wetlands Management Strategy are that:

floodplain wetlands will be better understood;

integrated catchment plans and local action plans will address the needs more effectively; and

wetland health will be improved.

Not only will the Strategy contribute to the well-being of the Basin's wetlands, it will be of benefit to the Murray-Darling Basin as a whole.

References

MDBMC (1995): An Audit of Water Use in the Murray-Darling Basin. Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council, Canberra.

Sharley, T. & Huggan, C. (Editors)(1994): Murray-Darling Basin Floodplain Wetlands Management: proceedings of the Floodplain Wetlands Management Workshop, Albury NSW 20-22 October 1992. Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Canberra.