Managing our Rivers
Rivers assume a special significance ecologically, economically, socially and culturally in Australia. Currently there is increasing competition for use of scarce surface waters, within and between consumptive and environmental uses. At the same time, there is also abundant evidence that many Australian rivers are in poor condition, and their condition continues to deteriorate.
This situation has led to an increasing level of interest and high community aspiration in river management. However, action is limited by major knowledge gaps, and by a lack of tried and tested methods for river protection and restoration. Whilst some advances have been made in the provision of river restoration frameworks, there is much work to be done in demonstrating that these approaches are effective and economically viable. Understandably, these knowledge gaps hinder community capacity and confidence to act.
Land & Water Australia's Landscapes Arena seeks to provide useful and practical information that addresses knowledge gaps and covers important river management issues. The Fact Sheets listed below cover eleven of the most common river management issues faced by people living and working along Australia's rivers. The Fact Sheets aim to set out the general principles and practices for sound management. Other information that focuses on local conditions and management issues is available from state government agencies, local governments, catchment management authorities, rural industry bodies and community organisations. Together, this information should assist people understand the key issues in river and riparian management, and enable them to adapt general management principles to their particular situation, and to know where to go for advice specific to local conditions.
Land & Water Australia's Landscapes Arena seeks to provide useful and practical information about important river management issues. First and foremost we believe it is important to protect rivers and river reaches in good condition. It is more cost effective and prudent to direct efforts to protect rivers or river reaches before undertaking rehabilitation works that are expensive and technically difficult. While it is important and necessary to tackle degraded environments where salinity, erosion and clearing have damaged rivers, it is also prudent to not let systems in good condition reach the same state of degradation due to neglect. We have produced two reports to guide and underpin river protection planning across Australia. These are Identifying and Protecting Rivers of High Ecological Value by Helen Dunn, and Guidelines for Protecting Australian Waterways by Bennett et al.
When moving beyond protecting our rivers to restoring our rivers, Land & Water Australia's Landscapes Arena has produced Fact Sheets and Guidelines to cover the most common river management issues faced by people living and working along Australia's rivers. The Fact Sheets listed below aim to set out the general principles and practices for sound management, and area a first step for people to gain an understanding of key river management issues and how they can be addressed. Other information that focuses on local conditions and management issues is available from state government agencies, local governments, catchment management authorities, rural industry bodies and community organisations. Together, this information assists people understand the key issues in river and riparian management, and enables them to adapt general management principles to their particular situation, and to know where to go for advice specific to local conditions.
Managing Riparian Land
Streambank Stability
Improving Water Quality
Maintaining In-Stream Life
Riparian Habitat for Wildlife
Managing Stock
Managing Woody Debris in Rivers
Inland Rivers and Floodplains
Planning for River Restoration
River Flows and Blue-green Algae
Managing Phosphorus in Catchments
Riparian Ecosystem Services
