Tropical Rivers

Contents

• Theme:Tropical rivers
• Classifying the diversity of Gulf rivers
• Clear water phase tropical rivers and the potential for algal blooms
• Ecosystem processes in tropical rivers: conceptual models and future R&D
• Australia's tropical rivers: an integrated data assessment and analysis
• Freshwater needs of estuaries in the Gulf of Carpentaria
• Stopping the cane toad invasion of the Kimberley
• Northern Australian Irrigation Futures
• Rapt in rivers
• Participatory research to incorporate indigenous knowledge into NRM
• Biodiversity and cultural significance of the fishes in the King Edward River
• Fish passage on the Fitzroy River in the Kimberley Region
• Addressing indigenous cultural requirements in water allocation planning
• Looking after freshwater country - Indigenous research priorities for tropical rivers
• Providing water resource information to the people of the Top End

Tropical Rivers

The rivers, floodplains, wetlands and estuaries of northern Australia are key resources. They are relatively undisturbed and are highly distinctive compared with other regions of Australia. Fundamental to the vision for sustainable growth in northern Australia will be the development of these water resources, the industries that prosper and the values of rivers to be protected. Industries including pastoralism, mining, aboriginal enterprises, fisheries, cropping and tourism are linked by access to water resources, the consequences of using that water and the need to protect the quality of the environmental systems that produce the resources. Water resource development will influence all of these industries both directly and indirectly.

From the Editor

Australia's Tropical Rivers capture the imagination with their beauty and incredible diversity.This edition of RipRap is looking at new projects being funded by Land & Water Australia that are focused on the 'Top End' of Australia, its rivers, people and culture.Through these projects we will learn how to integrate Indigenous and Western knowledge of our rivers so that management strategies can be developed that protect and maintain the social, economic and environmental values of these largely unregulated waterways. I encourage you to think about applying some of the approaches being taken in these projects, as they seek to ensure that people and the knowledge they have about their rivers is incorporated with science, enabling a more complete understanding about these riverine environments to be gained. As we say 'hello' to the new Tropical Rivers Program, we are saying 'goodbye' to three Land & Water Australia Programs - the National Riparian Lands R&D Program, the National River Contaminants Program and the National Rivers Consortium. These three Programs have been running over the last 5-10 years and are now entering their final communication phase, so watch out for lots of new products over the next 6-12 months. RipRap will also be having a 'make-over as Land & Water Australia moves into a whole new brand and image for the 21st century, so watch this space!

Download Adobe Acrobat version of Tropical Rivers (on LWA site)

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