Water Use under Increased Climate Variability

It is anticipated that annual average rainfall in the south-west, in parts of the south-east and in Queensland will decrease in coming decades. These changes, combined with the general drying trend over large parts of the continent due to increased temperatures and evaporation, are likely to adversely impact on our water resources. This program is undertaking research that will enable us to track, manage and allocate water so both society and the environment gain the greatest net benefit from the available water.

Effects of urbanisation and introduced species on rivers and estuaries: A whole of catchment approach

Over 84 % of Australians live within 50 km of the coast. Human-induced alterations to coastal watersheds have contributed to changes in the ecology of aquatic systems, such that estuaries and rivers are some of the most degraded systems on earth.  A PhD student will model fish-environment relationships in estuaries using novel methodologies, including predictive models to determine future changes to fish assemblages given different environmental scenarios. A second PhD student will examine the impacts of trout and other introduced species on assemblage structure of freshwater fish.  Outcomes will lead to sustainable management of freshwater and estuarine systems and training of high quality post-graduates.

Project team
BM Gillanders,  HR Maier, TS Elsdon (University of Adelaide)

Funding
ARC Linkage

New approaches for protecting stream health in temperate Australia: Devising nutrient and salinity guidelines using diatoms

New indices for determining river health using diatoms, a sensitive type of algae, will be developed. They will allow the rapid assessment of river health at a given site. Ecological thresholds for salinity and nutrients will be identified for upland and lowland river reaches. These will allow the partner organisations (the South Australian and Victorian Environment Protection Authorities) to set guidelines for maintaining and improving river health. The guidelines will be used in day-to-day assessment of river health by a wide variety of government and industry bodies. Ultimately, healthier rivers are an outcome.

Project team
J Tibby, PA Gell (University of Adelaide); PJ Leahy (EPA Victoria)

Funding
ARC Linkage

WaterLog - A mathematical model to implement recommendations of The Wentworth Group

The purpose of this project is to construct a mathematical model, WaterLog, which will provide a fundamental basis for optimal water management decisions and a mantra for the necessary computational tools.  In many water storage systems and most rivers, both supply and demand are random and highly variable, but relatively little is known about stochastic control of river systems and maintenance of a desirable storage regime.  For any chosen management policy, stability is determined by a stochastic balance between supply, storage capacity and demand. We will use these concepts to develop key measurement and management principles for the Murray-Darling and other river systems.

Project team
NG Bean, CE Pearce, AV Metcalfe (University of Adelaide); PG Howlett, SC Beecham, JW Boland (University of South Australia)

Funding
ARC Discovery

Innovative approach to the optimal management of water resources and application to the Upper South-East of South Australia 

This project will develop an integrated approach to the optimal management of water resources. This approach will be used to develop a decision support system and to obtain optimal integrated management strategies for the complex system of drains in the Upper South East region of South Australia in order to balance the needs of flood protection, combating soil salinisation and providing environmental flows to the region's approximately 200 wetlands. The project will also provide an increased understanding of surface/groundwater interactions, the ecological water requirements of wetlands, the impact of the drainage of saline groundwater on soils and pasture and the capabilities of regional natural resources management organisations.

Project team
HR Maier, GC Dandy, GG Ganf, MB Lane (University of Adelaide); CT Simmons (Flinders University);  CT de Koning (PIRSA)

Funding
ARC Linkage

Explaining the interactions between drought and fertiliser use efficiency using tracing and imaging techniques

This project aims to determine the effect of climate changes and associated drought on the efficiency of fertiliser use by crops. Immobile elements in soil, such as phosphorus and trace elements, can be markedly affected by changed soil moisture status. Advanced isotopic tracing and spectroscopic imaging techniques will be employed to examine the effects of changing soil moisture on the dissolution and crop recovery of phosphorus and trace elements. The project aims to provide growers with nutrient management advice when drought conditions occur, or when climate change causes changes in the normal patterns of soil moisture status.

Project team
Mike McLaughlin (CSIRO Land and Water); David Chittleborough; Ganga Hettiarachchi (CSIRO Land and Water; JK Kirby

Funding
ARC Linkage