Western Australia’s mighty Fitzroy River has high environmental, economic and cultural significance and there is increasing interest in developing its substantial water resources for irrigated agriculture.
Important environmental values, such as the iconic barramundi, are likely to be impacted if the river’s natural flows or groundwater levels are altered. To minimise risks to these natural values, we need to understand how they may respond to potential water resources development.
People, animals and plants may be potentially impacted by water resource development in the Fitzroy River.
This project is working in collaboration with the Australian and Western Australian Governments, Traditional Owners and pastoralists to improve the available information on the water needs of key natural values in the Fitzroy River. This knowledge will underpin future water allocation and planning decisions.
The primary aim of this project is to improve our understanding of the environmental water needs of key plant and animal species in the Fitzroy River to inform sustainable water planning and management decisions.
Project activities
The project includes three major components:
- Reviewing the current information on environmental water needs and developing initial conceptual models to predict the impact of various water use scenarios on key environmental values
- Undertaking targeted research to determine water needs of environmental values, including significant plant and fish species
- Using the new research to revise conceptual models and recommendations to reduce the risk to environmental values from water resource development.
Anticipated outputs
- Conceptual models of ecohydrological relationships and potential risks from water resource development
- Recommendations of environmental water needs for important riverbank plants and aquatic animals in dry season pools and the implications of wet season water use for fish
- Peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Project update February 2019.
The project is focused on the Fitzroy River catchment in Western Australia. Most activity is occurring downstream of Fitzroy Crossing.
Martin Kainz presents how fatty acids can be used as biomarkers in analysing food webs and trophic flow.
David Crook discusses how otolith chemistry can help explain and document fish life history.
The project is being led by Professor Michael Douglas from The University of Western Australia (UWA). Professor Douglas is being assisted by researchers from UWA, Charles Darwin University, Griffith University and the Western Australia Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
Gooniyandi Aboriginal Corporation PBC, Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation PBC, Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation and Yi-Martuwarra/Yanunijarra Aboriginal Corporation PBC are collaborators in this research.
This project is due for completion in June 2021.
Contact
Professor Michael Douglas, UWA
michael[email protected]
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