Issue 243 – Murray Darling Basin feature

Understanding ecosystem response to water management in the Murray-Darling Basin

While knowledge of water availability is key to managing Murray-Darling Basin water resources, a commensurate understanding of ecosystem ecological response to flow regulation is also required to aid environmental management.

The upside of blackwater river flows

There’s an upside to the carbon-rich, black water that sometimes flows off the floodplains and into the rivers of the Murray–Darling Basin.

The story of Australian waterbirds – the length and breadth of the Murray-Darling Basin

Elvis, Eric, Gracy - these ibis and spoonbill are telling their own journeying stories thanks to satellite tracking. Along with scientists on the ground monitoring populations and their movements, research will help drive effective environmental water management decisions.

Delivering flows to help native fish thrive again

Computer models will inform the delivery of Murray-Darling environmental waters to restore the flows that support thriving native fish populations.

Managing our water-spoiling pests

CSIRO scientists have developed new tools to help control two feral pests wrecking havoc above and below the waters of the Murray-Darling Basin: the willow tree and the carp.

The water needs of floodplain trees – the inside view

For the first time, scientists have quantified how much water trees on the Murray-Darling floodplain need, and when they need it. The results show that we cannot tell the health of a tree just by looking at its canopy—we need to look inside the tree.