These reports focus on key river and riparian management topics, and are generally produced as outputs from research projects as well as workshops and conferences. Some of the topics covered to date include: inland river management, legislative approaches to river management and assessing the ecological value of rivers.
Assessment of information needs for freshwater flows into Australian estuaries
David M. Scheltinga, Rob Fearon, Alicia Bell and Lana Heydon
There is a large body of national and international research on the effects of flows on freshwater ecosystems and to a lesser extent on the functioning and health of estuaries. However, while many studies discuss the links between water quality and production within estuaries, few have discussed the links between freshwater flows and estuarine production. This report assesses the information needs to fill this knowledge gap, arising from a review of current literature and the outcomes of an expert panel workshop.
Download » Assessment of information needs for freshwater flows into Australian estuaries
(includes links to the Summary Report and Individual Chapters)
Capacity building and knowledge exchange methods for community-based river and riparian management
(report of Canadian travelling fellowship)
Dr Siwan Lovett undertook a travelling fellowship to Canada in June 2004 to study capacity building and knowledge exchange methods for community-based river and riparian management in Canada. The trip involved travel to the Provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta, with visits made to a range of organisations involved in river and riparian management. Siwan also attended the 4th Canadian River Heritage Conference and gave a presentation on work being undertaken in Australia on capacity building. This report brings together the results of the trip with an executive summary introducing readers to the content of the report, by comparing and contrasting Canadian and Australian approaches to capacity building and knowledge exchange. The executive summary is supported by an introduction, key findings, in-depth 'snapshots' of organisations and ideas that Australia can learn and benefit from, and finally, suggestions as to how the findings from the trip can be developed into products and events that will benefit those involved in river restoration across Australia.
Download Click here for the pdf version (canada.pdf, 763Kb)
Tropical Data Audit
In response to the need to better understand Australia's tropical river systems, the Tropical Rivers Data Audit was commissioned with funding provided by the Natural Heritage Trust's Rivercare program. The project was undertaken between July and December 2003, by NGIS Australia in conjunction with Gutteridge Haskins Davey and Ecobyte Systems. The data audit covered major themes of Typology and classification, Water resources, River condition, Biodiversity, and Estuary condition. The project collected over 250 data and metadata sets across the catchments and north-flow rivers in the Gulf of Carpentaria and Timor Sea drainage divisions of northern Australia.
Available from Canprint and on the web at Tropical Data Audit.
Assessing Community Capacity for Riparian Restoration
Thomson, D. & Pepperdine, S.
This report brings together the findings of a study examining whether capacity has been built in communities undertaking riparian restoration. The report provides the theory behind the ideas of capacity and capacity building, as well as the basis upon which a tool to assess capacity has been developed.
Download »The Capacity Assessment Tool.
Available from Canprint and on the web at Assessing Community Capacity for Riparian Restoration
Environmental water allocation: principles, policies and practices
Schofield, N.
The state of Australia's rivers, particularly icons such as the Murray and Snowy, is now firmly in the national spotlight, but how to improve the health of our waterways through environmental water allocations remains poorly understood. A new report from Land & Water Australia is aiming to change this by providing a comprehensive analysis of the science behind environmental water allocation, as well as identifying key gaps in our knowledge.
Available from Canprint and on the web at Environmental water allocation: principles, policies and practices.
Improving Water-use Efficiency in Irrigation Conveyance Systems: a study of institutional arrangements
Marsden Jacob Associates
The study of institutional arrangements reports on the policy, legal and other institutional factors under which water authorities are established, and how these operate to promote or impede greater efficiency and sustainable use of water. The report suggests options for improving institutional arrangements whereby water use efficiencies can drive improvements in sustainability, and make water available for re-allocation to environmental or consumptive uses.
Available from Canprint and on the web at Improving Water-use Efficiency in Irrigation Conveyance Systems: a study of institutional arrangements.
Improving Water-use Efficiency in Irrigation Conveyance Systems: a study of investment strategies
Marsden Jacob and Associates
The study of investment strategies reports on current government and industry strategies, activities and progress to reduce transmission losses, and identifies where the most significant potential gains can be made through investment in reducing transmission losses.
Available from Canprint and on the web at Improving Water-use Efficiency in Irrigation Conveyance Systems: a study of investment strategies.
Multipurpose Stream Rehabilitation - Report of Study Tour
Kapitzke, R.
The purpose of this study tour was to examine international practices in stream rehabilitation, natural resource management, and fish passage remediation at road-stream crossings. The researcher's interest was in the planning and design of multipurpose projects, and the evaluation of a number of conceptual frameworks, planning and design procedures, and technical practices in resource management and sustainable infrastructure design.
Available on the web at Multipurpose Stream Rehabilitation - Report of Study Tour
Salt Sensitivity Database
Boon P., Bailey P., and Morris K., 2002
The Australian Biodiversity Salt Sensitivity Database contains information on the sensitivity and tolerance of over 1200 species of Australian taxa to salt. The database is supported by interpretive notes and a statistical analysis of species groupings.
Available on the web at Salt Sensitivity Database
Identifying and Protecting Rivers of High Ecological Value
Dunn, H. 2000
The report provides a framework to assess the ecological values of riverine systems. The core elements are a checklist of criteria and attributes, guidelines for determining significance and comparisons between rivers or river sections.
Available from CanPrint and on the web at Identifying and Protecting Rivers of High Ecological Value.
Estimating the Water Requirements for Plants of Floodplain Wetlands
Roberts, J., Young, B. & Marston, F. 2000
The guide provides advice on how to go about estimating the water requirements of plants of floodplain wetlands. It draws on expertise in plant ecology and hydrology, and includes up to date technical information on how to obtain water regime and vegetation data.
Available from CanPrint.
Australian River Management - A Legislative Framework for the Twenty First Century
Maher, M., Cooper, S. & Nichols, P. 2000
This report defines a best practice legislative framework for Australian rivers. This includes protecting rivers as a vital part of our natural capital; managing conflicts between users; enabling management and improving performance in response to change; and protecting the public interest.
No hard copies available.
Available on the web at Australian River Management - A Legislative Framework for the Twenty First Century.
Factors controlling algal growth and composition in reservoirs
Download the Adobe Acrobat version (reservoir.pdf, 838k)
Physical and nutrient factors controlling algal succession and biomass in Burrinjuck Reservoir - January 2000
Download the Adobe Acrobat version (technical.pdf, 2.5Mb)
