MD-WERP Theme: Environmental outcomes
MD-WERP Research question: What are the low-flow needs of the environment?
Project title: Drivers of ecological resilience and persistence during low and cease-to-flow conditions in the northern Murray–Darling Basin
Research Lead: La Trobe University and Griffith University
The project was conceived when the Darling River was in drought and suffering severe low flows, however, by the time the project commenced the system was in flood with high flows remaining for the duration of the project. The initial aims were unable to be achieved, and a project variation saw the project focus on understanding the ecological response to low flow (conceptually and within the Barwon–Darling through literature review) and then exploring low flow signals in the ecosystem after returns to high flow through a field program and the analysis of a long-term fish dataset.
The final project, therefore, consisted of several separate tasks:
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Development of a conceptual understanding of the ecological impacts of low flows
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A broad literature review of low flows in the Barwon–Darling River system
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An analysis of the long-term fish dataset from across the northern basin for evidence of low flows; and
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A field investigation to look for long-term signals of periods of low flow.