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JULY 2021 EDITION
Keeping connected ✋
Hi everyone,
With some of us still in lockdown around Australia, now more than ever staying connected is important for us all. This month the ARRC team have been looking at the interconnections in our own environment and ecosystems, and the importance of promoting good communication between stakeholders, especially when it comes to fish and flows.
The letter to Canberrans from the Murrumbidgee River reminds us of the importance of staying connected to nature and rivers, particularly during times of crisis. We also have another film looking at how to build roads and tracks so that they last and don’t become sources of sediment runoff.
From our Finterest team, we have several new exciting research stories on healthy Murray cod populations in Queensland, a major breakthrough for the conservation of endangered native fish, as well as an article from Mikayla on the recent Upper Murrumbidgee Recovery Reach Fish and Flows Forum.
The Flow-MER team has benefited from the Indigenous cadetship program run by Charles Sturt University, focused on inspiring future river managers. We take a look at ‘metabolic fingerprinting’ of ecosystems, and its influence on the management and monitoring of food webs and water flows.
And below, Siwan shares some photos of the stunning river systems she experienced during her June trip into Northern Queensland.
We hope you enjoy our newsletter and for those in lockdown we send you our thoughts and hopes that it will end soon.
Kate and the ARRC team 🙂
ARRC
At the ARRC, we promote a holistic river management approach by integrating environmental, social and cultural factors.
A Letter to Canberrans from the Murrumbidgee River on the extraordinary last 18 months it has witnessed. From the Tharwa Bridge, Andy Lowes recalls how the world and the Murrumbidgee river have drastically changed since the bushfires of the summer of 2020.
Rivers of Carbon Program
Our on-ground river and riparian restoration work is founded on our belief that sound science and strong relationships are needed to ensure successful implementation. Learn more about our approach or visit the Rivers of Carbon website to see our various projects.
In Improving farm roads and tracks to withstand erosion Peter and Ashley demonstrate how to create good diversion banks and track drainage as a long-term solution for good quality tracks and reduce sediment runoff into rivers and creeks in a new video.
Latest Resources from our Programs
Finterest
Finterest shares new research and stories about the work being undertaken across Australia to bring back native fish. These articles incorporate recent studies to highlight current threats and important recommendations for species conservation.
In a major breakthrough for conservation of threatened fish, scientists in Queensland have found a new method for ageing native endangered fish without harming population numbers.
A Fish and Flows Forum held last month with stakeholders involved in managing fish and water flows in the Murrumbidgee River presented the opportunity to communicate and share their work with others working on the river.
Murray cod populations are on the rise in Queensland according to a survey in the Oakey Creek earlier this year that showed promising results of the success of riparian rehabilitation that has been undertaken to support native fish populations.
Flow-MER
The Flow-MER program uses research and monitoring to ensure that water for the environment generates the best possible outcomes. Collaborative partnerships allow for new scientific knowledge to be gained. Currently, there is a strong focus on the impacts of recent flooding events in supporting our ecosystems and biodiversity.
The Murrumbidgee catchment Flow-MER’s Indigenous cadetship program has taken on its first cadet, Paul, who describes his experience of the cadetship and what it means for him to be working out in the field on Nari Nari land.
Metabolic fingerprinting, a new method for measuring changes in an ecosystem’s energy levels, is being used by the Flow-MER team to inform environmental water flow management. Learn how water flows, the food web and energy levels are all interlinked in an ecosystem.
The Lower Murray team show what they do in a day with three different techniques for measuring how fish, vegetation and river flows respond to water for the environment.
A trip along our northern rivers
Before the recent lockdowns started, Siwan travelled north across North Queensland, experiencing some amazing river systems with a constant reminder that our country is full of so much diversity and beauty, and so incredibly flat! Here are her favourites with a brief description of each.
"Our first camp was at Culgoa River which, following recent flooding was full of life. On our first morning I looked out over the water and saw a Rakali swim past as the birds chorused sunrise. "
"From Culgoa we headed through Cunnamulla, Quilpie and then to Windorah. The vastness of the country was astounding as we moved on to Diamantina Creek."
"I have always loved the name 'Diamantina', and the park was as glimmery and shiny as the name suggests. Rain meant that there was water everywhere, and for the first time I saw large topiary like balls of lignum - a powerhouse of floodplains. This was the view from our campsite."
"After Diamantina we headed to Mount Isa where we collected my son from the airport and headed to Boodjamulla National Park (formerly known as Lawn Hill). Words cannot describe the wonder of this place, we had five incredible days of soaking in this ancient, stunning country. Riparian zones of palms, azure water, red cliffs and wildlife."
" We did not think anything could top Boodjamulla, but when we got up to the Gulf of Carpentaria we were given the opportunity of a balloon ride over the Albert River. WOW. I felt humbled, grateful and joyful to fly over this awe inspiring landscape. It was even more special because is it Indigenous owned land and the Elders had just given permission for the balloon rides to go ahead. We were the first commercial passengers to ever experience this breathtaking landscape. This is one of the most special things I have ever had the privilege to experience - it was wonderful to share it with my son."
"On our way home through Winton, Longreach and Charleville we had our last camp on the Parro River at Currawinya National Park. I cherish these inland rivers - their peacefulness, their age and the feeling of stillness and hope they engender within me."
"As I got home Covid-19 took off in Sydney and we dodged hotspots to make it back to Canberra. I know how incredibly lucky we were to take this trip. I hope that these photos give you hope and joy that these places exist in Australia, and I encourage you to revisit those places, even if it is through photos, as they will still resonate and provide you with the trust that we will come through difficulties together."
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ARRC Public Fund
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Account: 198844
If using direct transfer please have as the reference your name & date of donation. I can send you a receipt if required, just email enquiries@arrc.com.au with the details of your donation. Thank you 😊