 MDBA Basin News e-Letter, Issue 7, August 2009
Basin News – The Murray–Darling Basin Authority eLetter No. 7, August 2009 No. 7, August 2009 Welcome to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority monthly eLetter with reports of happenings across the basin. Please feel free to pass this eLetter along to anybody who might be interested. If you do not wish to continue receiving this eLetter please reply to this message with “unsubscribe” in the subject heading. To subscribe online go to www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/mdba_eLetter/subscribe An online html version is available at: www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/mdba_eletter
In the latest Murray-Darling Basin Authority drought update released today Chief Executive Mr Rob Freeman says Murray System inflows for July were about 330 GL. “This was well above the historic minimum of 130 GL (in July 2006), but still only about 30 per cent of the long term average (1,170 GL). “The two month total for June – July 2009 is tracking as the eleventh driest in 118 years of records” he said. Mr Freeman said that large areas of the northern Basin, while not quite as severe as in the southern Basin, were also suffering from eight years of rainfall deficits. “Elsewhere in the Basin, storage levels are still low. The total volume of water in all Basin storages managed by the MDBA and by State governments, has increased by only 900 GL over the last two months to about 21per cent of capacity. Mr Freeman said the situation in the lower Murray remained dire. During July, the target flow to South Australia was 1,800 ML a day compared with a normal entitlement rate of 3,500 ML a day. “Flow to South Australia has now been below normal entitlement rates for more than two and half years and we expect it to remain that low. “With another El Nino event predicted to bring dry conditions, the overall outlook for the 2009-10 water year unfortunately remains very poor. “The overall objective of Authority river operations will continue to focus on maximising water availability by reducing evaporation and transmission losses,” Mr Freeman said. For more information and to download a copy of the latest Drought Update go to www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/drought_updates Moree Authority meeting highlights Basin-wide water planning Chair Mr Mike Taylor said this was the second meeting to be held in a regional area since the Authority members first met in June. The last meeting was at Mildura/Wentworth at the confluence of the Murray and Darling Rivers in July. The establishment of the Authority means that, for the first time, a single agency is now responsible for planning integrated management of the water resources of the entire Basin. Mr Taylor said the Authority was holding meetings in regional areas as it was crucial to understand the issues faced by communities in the field. “Having a meeting in the northern part of the Basin so early in our existence underlines the importance we place on an approach which covers the entire Basin,” he said. At their Moree meeting, Board members considered a wide range of Basin resource issues related to the new Basin Plan. They also reviewed progress on development of the Plan and discussed climate scenarios and the identification of key environmental assets and systems. Before the meeting, authority members toured a property outside Moree which uses integrated irrigation resources (ground, river and overland harvesting of floodwater) to grow cotton, wheat, chick peas and sorghum; and a pecan nut farm. They also met community members and industry leaders at a gathering in Moree. The members of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority are: Mike Taylor (Chair); Professor Barry Hart; Dr Diana Day; David Green; Dianne Davidson; and Rob Freeman (Chief Executive). For more information on the proposed Basin Plan go to www.mdba.gov.au/basin_plan Forum to present MDBA native fish program report card The open invitation event to be held at the Albury Entertainment Centre will discuss the achievements of the program and future directions. The Forum will provide:
The Native Fish Strategy was released in 2003 to guide the management, protection and rehabilitation of native fish and their habitats within the Murray-Darling Basin for the next 50 years. In the long-term, the strategy aims to rehabilitate native fish populations to sustainable levels across the whole Basin. To reserve place email kate.scanlon@mdba.gov.au as soon as possible as places are filling fast. For more information on the MDBA Native Fish Strategy go to www.mdba.gov.au/programs/nativefishstrategy
In a move funded by the Victorian Government with contributions from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (the MDBA), 394 Barred Galaxias and 35 Macquarie Perch have been taken into “temporary captive maintenance”. The affected fish species have been moved to safe refuges at Heidelberg and Snobs Creek until stream conditions recover. Scientists from the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research feared the fish populations could be in danger from a drop in water quality if rain washed ash and sediment into streams and waterways in the bushfire affected areas. The protected fish have come from Robertson's Gully, Upper Taggerty River, Little Rubicon River, Keppel Hut Creek, Luke Creek, Criss Cross Creek, Kalatha Creek, Stony Creek, Torbreck Creek, Rubicon River, King Parrot Creek and Hughes Creek. The nationally endangered Barred Galaxias is only known in 21 populations worldwide and exists in a small area of Victoria that has been severely damaged by fires in 2006 and 2009. Victorian Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Mr Gavin Jennings said the fires had a disastrous impact on Victoria's wildlife. “We need to ensure that sensitive species including the nationally endangered Barred Galaxias and Macquarie Perch are protected to the best of our ability.” Only a small number of fragmented populations of Macquarie Perch now exist in Victoria and, prior to the fires, one population was being supported by the local community along King Parrot Creek between Kinglake and Strath Creek. MDBA Chief Executive Mr Rob Freeman said the Authority has a strong interest in the native fish of the Basin. “We are aware of the plight of native fish and we manage the Native Fish Strategy – a major program to return native fish populations to 60 per cent of their estimated pre-European-settlement levels,” he said. “We were pleased to be able to help Victoria in this extremely important project.” For more information go to www.dse.vic.gov.au/ari For more information on the MDBA's Native Fish Strategy go to www.mdba.gov.au/programs/nativefishstrategy New Basin Community Committee holds first meeting Murray-Darling Basin Authority Chair Mr Mike Taylor said that all elements were now in place to start developing the new Basin Plan. “The Authority sees the community committee's primary role as one of information gathering and communication around the development of the Basin Plan,” he said. “The committee will gauge the community's reactions to Basin Plan elements, listen to and compile views of the various stakeholders and community members and present a whole of Basin perspective to the Authority.” In addition to the Basin Plan advice, the 16-member community committee will also provide a community perspective in advising the Authority and the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council on a wide range of water resource, environmental, cultural and socio-economic matters. “Comprising members from all Basin states and the ACT, the committee is chaired by Joan Burns from Victoria. They bring a comprehensive mix of knowledge and skills relevant to Basin communities, irrigated agriculture, environmental management, Indigenous issues, and water use,” Mr Taylor said. At their meeting in Canberra committee members were given an overview of their role and responsibilities, an outline of the key elements of the Basin Plan and an explanation of the importance of stakeholder engagement processes and opportunities. For more information go to www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/media_releases/mr-first-BCC-meeting Lake Mokoan visitors urged to be careful G-MW's Land and Water Officer Shane Papworth said G-MW is concerned about damage caused by unauthorised recreational 4WD vehicles and motorbikes to the many informal access tracks on the exposed lake bed area, as well as the public safety risks. “People need to be aware that the informal access tracks are not designed or constructed for use by recreational vehicles and can be dangerous, particularly in wet conditions when the sudden collapse of poorly compacted track surfaces is a real possibility,” Mr Papworth said. “As well as potential risks of damage to vehicles and personal injury, damage to access infrastructure may hamper emergency service access later in the year.” Under the Water Act unauthorised use of recreational vehicles on this area is prohibited, and vehicular access is restricted to management and emergency services vehicles only. “As ever, the lake bed and foreshore areas remain open for pedestrian access, and we are more than happy for people to continue to come to access the area for general picnicking, sightseeing, wildlife observation or to simply enjoy the surrounds,” Mr Papworth said. For more information call (03) 5833 5500 Proof of catchment science is in the paddock The theme of this year's forum is ‘The Proof is in the Paddock'. Organisers say it will facilitate change in the Catchment through knowledge accumulation and networking inform the community about the latest research currently being undertaken. The forum also aims to encourage contributions and feedback from landholders on catchment-wide issues. This year's forum will follow a similar format to the 2008 event, but will include more landholder input. The aims of the 2009 Science Forum will:
A 'market-place' type session will also be running with trade displays where participants can display own information and field enquiries on own work. For more information contact Kerry Wratten on 6895 1107, mobile 0429 982 197 or email kerry.wratten@cma.nsw.gov.au or go to www.lachlan.cma.nsw.gov.au/index.cfm?objectid=3B7990C2-1708-51EB-A6BB7C116BD76E2F National workshop looks at managing blue green algae Organisers say the workshop, which will be held at Parramatta, New South Wales on 12 and 13 August will have a practical focus. The National Cyanobacterial Workshop will discuss current bloom issues and management options. (Cyanobacteria is the scientific name for blue green algae). The workshop idea emerged in response to an 800km algal bloom outbreak during March-April along the upper Murray. It is intended for people involved in the management of public health, water resources and water supplies, and those involved in core cyanobacterial research. The workshop will be hosted by the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW), in association with NSW Health, the Sydney Catchment Management Authority and Water Quality Research Australia. For more information download the brochure at www.wqra.com.au/temp/National_Algal_%20Workshop_Flyer.pdf End |
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