Research Theme Leads: La Trobe University and Griffith University
The ecological health of the Basin’s rivers and other water systems is central to a healthy, working Basin now and into the future. Recent severe droughts and extreme ecological events in parts of the Basin have highlighted the significant challenges ahead in adaptively managing Basin ecosystems (and environmental water) to achieve environmental outcomes under a changing climate.
Key knowledge gaps have emerged in our understanding of Basin management to sustain the health of these ecosystems (Table 4). Better understanding of the factors maintaining ecological resilience during low flow periods (including the role of persistent riverine waterholes and hydrological connectivity) is critically important to inform water planning and management, particularly under a changing climate. First Nations’ traditional knowledge of these systems is an essential source of knowledge which, alongside western science, will help identify risk factors for low flows to help planners and policy makers.
Increasing water scarcity will require prioritisation of environmental assets and values for targeted management to sustain and restore their conservation values. There is a significant need to include First Nations’ perspectives on what is valuable and where priorities should be.
Improved predictive capability using models and tools will also allow research end-users to understand the spatial distribution of environmental assets and values, how they respond over time to water management, and the risks to future species population and ecosystem sustainability. This work/research will provide a more deeply informed basis for decision-making to support the ecological health of the Basin.
Summary of key questions, outputs, and outcomes for the Environmental Outcomes theme.
Key research questions
Key research outputs and outcomes
What are the key factors that influence ecological resilience of refuge waterholes during low flow periods?
How do we maintain ecological resilience at riverscape and whole-of-population scales?
How can we best prioritise water-dependent ecosystems for management to ensure representative populations and communities of native biota are protected and, if necessary, restored?
How can predictive ecological modelling be used to evaluate environmental outcomes of water management?
Improved understanding of low flow requirements of the Basin’s environmental assets and values to inform water planning and management, particularly under a changing climate.
Prioritisation of environmental assets, values and functions for targeted water management and complementary measures to sustain and restore their conservation values.
Development of predictive models to better understand the spatial distribution of environmental assets and values, how they respond over time to water management, and the risks to future population and ecosystem sustainability from ecosystem stress.
Research Theme Leads: La Trobe University and Griffith University
The ecological health of the Basin’s rivers and other water systems is central to a healthy, working Basin now and into the future. Recent severe droughts and extreme ecological events in parts of the Basin have highlighted the significant challenges ahead in adaptively managing Basin ecosystems (and environmental water) to achieve environmental outcomes under a changing climate.
Key knowledge gaps have emerged in our understanding of Basin management to sustain the health of these ecosystems (Table 4). Better understanding of the factors maintaining ecological resilience during low flow periods (including the role of persistent riverine waterholes and hydrological connectivity) is critically important to inform water planning and management, particularly under a changing climate. First Nations’ traditional knowledge of these systems is an essential source of knowledge which, alongside western science, will help identify risk factors for low flows to help planners and policy makers.
Increasing water scarcity will require prioritisation of environmental assets and values for targeted management to sustain and restore their conservation values. There is a significant need to include First Nations’ perspectives on what is valuable and where priorities should be.
Improved predictive capability using models and tools will also allow research end-users to understand the spatial distribution of environmental assets and values, how they respond over time to water management, and the risks to future species population and ecosystem sustainability. This work/research will provide a more deeply informed basis for decision-making to support the ecological health of the Basin.
Summary of key questions, outputs, and outcomes for the Environmental Outcomes theme.
Key research questions
Key research outputs and outcomes
What are the key factors that influence ecological resilience of refuge waterholes during low flow periods?
How do we maintain ecological resilience at riverscape and whole-of-population scales?
How can we best prioritise water-dependent ecosystems for management to ensure representative populations and communities of native biota are protected and, if necessary, restored?
How can predictive ecological modelling be used to evaluate environmental outcomes of water management?
Improved understanding of low flow requirements of the Basin’s environmental assets and values to inform water planning and management, particularly under a changing climate.
Prioritisation of environmental assets, values and functions for targeted water management and complementary measures to sustain and restore their conservation values.
Development of predictive models to better understand the spatial distribution of environmental assets and values, how they respond over time to water management, and the risks to future population and ecosystem sustainability from ecosystem stress.
