 MDBA Basin News e-Letter, Issue 9, October 2009
Basin News – The Murray-Darling Basin Authority eLetter Issue 9, October 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 this issue:
Murray gets welcome rain but drought continuesDuring the last three months (July- September) the southern Murray-Darling Basin has received average rainfall and this has provided a welcome boost for inflows to the River Murray System. MDBA chief Executive Mr Rob Freeman said September inflows were about 640 GL - the highest monthly inflow since November 2005. “However, it is still well below the September long term average of 1,590 ML/day,” he said. “Murray System inflows for the first four months of the 2009-10 water year are 1,500 GL which is better than the last three years, but remains well below the June to September long term average (5,000 GL). The current water year is tracking as the 15 th driest in 118 years of records. “The recent boost in inflows has allowed the States to announce increases to water allocations, and these are now tracking higher than this time in 2007 and 2008, but are still well below long term averages. “In contrast to the south, the northern Basin has been very dry for the last four months and flows along the Darling River are close to zero.” Mr Freeman said water storages remain very low for this time of year. MDBA total active (usable water) storage for the Murray system is about 2,230 GL or 26 % capacity, which is higher than this time last year (1,980 GL) and early October 2007 (1,860 GL) but well below the long term average of about 6,500 GL. Storage in Menindee Lakes (which remains under NSW control) also remains very low at 213 GL or 12 % capacity. Likewise, total storage across the entire Basin remains very low at only 27 % of capacity (6,030 GL compared to a total capacity of 22,600 GL). “The situation remains very serious for the environment, and floodplain ecosystems along the Murray have once again not received any watering from overbank flooding during winter or spring. The health of these ecosystems continues to decline,” he said. “The Lower lakes also remain at record low levels for this time of year, and unless there is a very significant improvement in water availability over the next few months, the water level will continue to fall during the summer months.” Mr Freeman said the Bureau of Meteorology has reported that the three month (October to December) outlook for rainfall in the southern Basin shows a moderate shift towards drier than normal conditions. An El Niño event, which is persisting across the Pacific Ocean, is forecast to peak late in 2009. El Niño events are usually associated with below normal rainfall in the second half of the year across large parts of southern and inland eastern Australia. For the latest information on inflows and water storage go to www.mdba.gov.au MDBA board to meeting at Shepparton, VictoriaThe board members of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority will hold their next regional meeting at Shepparton, Victoria. Chair Mr Mike Taylor said the Authority was holding meetings in regional areas as it was crucial to understand the issues faced by communities in the field. The establishment of the Authority late last year means that, for the first time, a single agency is now responsible for planning integrated management of the water resources of the entire Basin. “We want to emphasise the importance we place on an integrated, Basin-wide approach to the sustainable management of water resources,” he said. “Shepparton is a major centre of dairy, fruit growing and agrifood processing industries ,” Mr Taylor said. “It's also an important water management centre in the Murray system.” After the media opportunity, the Authority members will conduct a public information session where they will meet the mayors and representatives of the Shepparton and surrounding shire councils, local federal member Dr Sharman Stone, Indigenous community representatives , growers, water managers, industry and business representatives, and water managers from local catchment management authorities. The Authority members will tour the Barmah State Forest-Wetlands. They will inspect the Lower Goulburn Floodplain, a modernised rotary dairy, a modern orchard and receive briefings on the fresh fruit and canning industries. The following day (13 October) the Authority members will hold their scheduled board meeting in Shepparton. 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). Information kiosk at Shepparton Mall - Authority staff will be available to provide infroamtion about the Basin Plan and its development at a kiosk at the Shepparton Mall on 13 October, 10am – 2pm. For more information call 1800 230 067 or visit www.mdba.gov.au Murray-Darling Basin Community Committee holds first regional meetingThe new Murray-Darling Basin Community Committee held its first regional meeting at St George in Queensland on Wednesday 7 October. The Committee is made up of 16 members with a mix of knowledge and skills from all Basin states and the ACT. It provides a community perspective in advising the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council on a range of water resource, environmental, cultural and socio-economic matters. Committee members met with local community leaders, irrigators, growers and other business representatives and conducted an information session at the Balonne Skill Centre. The committee is working with the Authority through the process of developing a Basin Plan - the first to tackle sustainable management of resources across the entire Basin, including sustainable limits on surface and groundwater use. Committee chair Joan Burns said that while individual members of the committee had good knowledge of their own areas, it was important to understand the issues facing all regions across the Basin. “These regional meetings will help us to do that and will ensure that all Basin communities are involved in the development of the new Basin Plan,” she said. " The issues we face in regard to future water security emphasises the importance of community consultation. "The membership of the Basin Community Committee is broad, with members bringing a comprehensive mix of knowledge to the table so, together with the basin communities, we should be able to make this plan relevant and workable for all." For more information go to www.mdba.gov.au/about/governance
Narrung wetland to receive environmental waterNarrung wetland, on the margins of Lake Alexandrina and part of the Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth Icon Site, will receive 250 megalitres (ML) of environmental water from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's ‘The Living Murray' program. The water will be pumped into the wetland in mid October and late November to promote growth of submerged aquatic plants which are an important food source for swans, ducks and other aquatic birds. Monitoring at the wetland over the past few years has shown that rainfall will partly fill the wetland for a few weeks, resulting in germination of underwater plants. However, when rains stop the wetland dries out, and the plants don't have enough time to flower and set-seed, and thus complete their life-cycle. There is a risk that if these ‘false starts' occur frequently enough, there will be no more viable seeds, and this important habitat will be lost forever. The aim is to keep water in the wetland for long enough for seed-set to occur, to preserve the wetland and the seed bank for the future. The watering will also test the effectiveness of the new flow control structures that have recently been installed by the Coorong and Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning (LAP) groups and the Coorong District Council. Along with aquatic plants; waterbirds, invertebrates and frogs are expected to flourish in the wetland this spring, as a result of the watering. Monitoring of the Narrung wetland will take place at the wetland through the SA MDB NRM Board, the Narrung Wetland Group, SARDI Aquatic Sciences and the University of Adelaide. The Living Murray is a joint initiative funded by the New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, Australian Capital Territory and the Commonwealth governments, coordinated by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. For more information on this watering project contact Jenny Phillips, on (08) 8532 1432. For more information on the Living Murray program go to www.mdba.gov.au/programs/tlm MDBA River Health conference will launch National Water WeekMore than 2000 year 5-11students from around Australia and New Zealand will converge on Canberra from 18-20 October for the tenth MDBA International River Health Conference. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is a major sponsor of the conference. Organisers say the students will teach each other with drama, comedy, song, and imagination about issues and action needed, as well as get their hands dirty in environment work. Convenor Arron Woods says they will also get to quiz senior politicians, celebrities and activists on climate change. Registrations for the event sold out months ago with a ll states now represented, including a small group from the Northern Territory and students and teachers from eight fire affected Victorian schools who have received funding help. “It's less about a conference and more about a lasting commitment to our youth and the sustainable use of our river, land, coastal and terrestrial environments,” he said. “The most exciting part of this event is that almost all teaching is conducted by the students themselves. “This process involves students from across Australia and internationally working with expert mentors many months prior to the event, and results in curriculum materials that will be in schools for many years after the event. “It aims for a cultural change in the way we view, use and perceive our natural environment.” “The conference is the culmination of a process which involves students working with expert mentors many months prior to the event. “It results in children with strong motivation, high self esteem, respect for others and a belief in a bright and compelling future – they realize they can have an impact.” Arron says the 2009 Conference will provide students with skills in environmental education, build students who are optimistic, have a sense of future, are capable public speakers and can communicate ideas in many different forms. “Most importantly, the process is about promoting ‘kids teaching kids' as the highest form of learning and aiming for a cultural change in the way we view, use and perceive our natural environment.
For more information go to www.onelifeoneworldourfuture.com New Australian Standard for greywater treatment systems for vessels operated in inland watersStandards Australia in collaboration with the South Australian Environmental Protection Authority (SA EPA) has just released a new uniform national Standard for the design, installation and operation of greywater treatment systems for vessels operated on inland waters. AS4995 Greywater Treatment Systems for Vessels Operated on Inland Waters sets out specifications for the design, construction, installation and operation of onboard greywater treatment systems to minimise the environmental and public health risks caused by untreated Greywater discharge. The Standard will help boat builders, manufacturers, vessel owners and operators to comply with the new Standard. The Standard was initially developed to support new Greywater management legislation introduced by South Australia to help reduce potential risks posed by the discharge of greywater into the River Murray and South Australian waterways. The Australian Standard can now deliver environmental benefits to all Australian inland rivers. Greywater is the waste water from baths, basins, sinks, washing machines and dish washers and contains fats, oils, harmful chemicals, bleaches and germs that affect human health. Untreated, it can have impacts on water quality and public health through high bacterial loads, nutrient discharge, biological oxygen demands and salinity impacts. It can turn septic if left untreated for less than 24 hours and poses a significant risk to the surrounding aquatic environment and local communities. It is estimated that more than 2,000 recreational and commercial vessels operate on the River Murray, many discharging untreated greywater directly into the river. New Greywater treatment systems built and operated in compliance with AS 4995 will help reduce the negative environmental and public health impacts caused by untreated greywater released into inland waterways such as the River Murray. The Authority was part of the Committee (WS-037) which helped draft the new Standard. The stakeholders represented on Committee WS-037 were:
For more information and to purchase a copy of the Standard go to http://www.saiglobal.com/ Relaxation of water trading rules through Barmah Choke extendedThe Murray-Darling Basin Authority today announced that the relaxation of the trading rule controlling the transfer of water allocations from upstream of the Barmah Choke downstream to other stretches of the Murray River will be extended from 1 October 2009 to 30 June 2010. Chief Executive Mr Rob Freeman said the decision, supported by all Basin governments, was based on the extended drought and the low water resource outlook for the 2009/10 water season. “It is highly unlikely that c hannel capacity will be reached between 1 October 2009 and 30 June 2010 as a result of extending the relaxation of the Barmah Choke trading rule,” he said. Net trades from above to below the Choke and the low water resource availability for the last two seasons have had limited impact on channel capacity. In general the Victorian Murray Valley allocations are often the best indicators of resource improvement. The highest available allocation for this valley in the last two seasons was 40 % which had limited impact on channel capacity of the Choke. The outlook for the Murray system for the remainder of the 2009/10 season shows that t here is a low risk of exceeding the channel capacity of the Choke. Mr Freeman said extending the relaxation rule would continue to enable entitlement holders above the Choke to sell their water allocations downstream. The relaxation of the trading rules will be reconsidered based on improved system inflows, available allocation levels in the Victorian Murray Valley and net trades from above to below the Choke. “However, any allocation transfers approved up until that time would be honoured,” Mr Freeman said. The Barmah Choke constrains the volume of water that can pass for downstream users and delivery of additional flows from trading water allocations from upstream to downstream cannot be guaranteed. Because of the extended drought conditions and the lower than normal flows in the river, transfers of allocations are guaranteed. Trade in entitlements from above to below the Choke will continue to be prohibited. An announcement on this relaxation will be made on the 15 June 2010.
For more information go to www.mdba.gov.au New ‘artificial intelligence' software to boost river system planningThe Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has installed new “artificial intelligence” software to enhance its river system planning. Executive Director of the MDBA's River Murray Water, Mr David Dreverman, said the Authority worked with Adelaide firm Optimatics for more than two years to adapt appropriate software. He said the new system was being used conjunction with the MDBA's existing BIGMOD river simulation model. "Optimatics' software is very powerful,” he said. “With all the challenges in the Murray system, there is growing pressure to look at variations to optimise systems and process our problems faster. "Running BIGMOD and Optimatics' software together will allow us to significantly increase the number of options what we can consider in trying to find optimisation outcomes for the rive management challenges that we are working on. The new system was developed using two case studies to assess the software's efficacy and to provide feedback for further enhancements. The two Case Studies were:
“The software can also be used for reviewing model calibration or developing sets of operating policies for the short to medium term,” Mr Dreverman said. The software will help the Authority to develop the best short-term operating procedures and medium to long-term management policies for the Murray River.
For more information call (020 6279 0100) Cullulleraine to host 11th River Health student forumFrom 5 to 8 November 40 enthusiastic year 9 and 10 students will explore the balance between human and environmental demands on the Murray system when they gather at the 11 th Health of the River System Youth Forum at Lake Cullulleraine in Victoria. The event is a co-operative venture between Rotary (District 9520) and the Murray- Darling Freshwater Research Centre (MDFRC). The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is a major sponsor Students participate in a range of activities examining the social, economic and environmental aspects of river management. This is achieved by working with environmental scientists from the MDFRC's laboratory in Mildura to explore the ecology of the river and the impacts of regulation and extraction. Highlights of the program include visits to the fishway at Lock 9, canoeing on Lake Cullulleraine, hands on practice with GPS units and fish identification. In addition to introducing students to various scientific sampling methods commonly used to examine fish, invertebrates, aquatic plants and water quality, the forum has a strong team-work focus. Rotarians and school teachers get involved with student supervision and catering. Rotary clubs generously sponsor students from within their area, so families need not go out of pocket to give students this great opportunity. Locally, many businesses and organisations also support the forum, helping to make it possible year after year. For more information Greg Missen on 5025 8746 or go to www.mdfrc.org.au |
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