HomeFeature Sessions
Providing environmental water for unregulated systems, with emphasis on the Western Australian approach
Towards better water management decision-making: Putting eWater’s models to the test
Towards better water management decision-making: Putting eWater’s models to the test
Demonstrating a difference to make more fish…naturally
This session examines the impacts of projected climate change on rivers and includes - changes in water availability, impacts on surface water use and impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Evaluation of impact sharing between water users and the environment and ways to adapt systems to mitigate climate change impacts will be discussed.
Presented by CSIRO
Providing environmental water for unregulated systems, with emphasis on the Western Australian approach
In the southwest of Western Australia, most environmental assets rely either partly or fully on groundwater. The session will describe, (1) the differences between providing environmental water for regulated, unregulated and groundwater systems;(2) the approach taken in Western Australia and in unregulated systems in eastern Australia; (3) our current understanding of ecosystem dependence on groundwater and how this understanding is incorporated into water plans; and (4) monitoring environmental outcomes from unregulated plans and incorporating the results back into adaptive management.
Presented by the National Water Commission & Department of Water, WA
Natural resource managers addressing complex water quantity and quality issues at key sites throughout Australia are road-testing eWater’s integrated water modelling system, Source. This session features insights from these projects which include optimising environmental water allocation in the Murray-Darling Basin, managing sediment in the Great Barrier Reef, low oxygen water in the Yarra River and developing future water supply options for Canberra.
Presented by eWater CRC
The East Kimberley hosts mining interests, hydropower generation, agricultural production, environmental assets, tourism and is home to 8,000 people, of which approximately 40% are Indigenous. The long awaited expansion of the Ord River irrigation area is about a lot more than increased agricultural production. The project is also aimed at addressing social and economic disadvantage within the Indigenous population and the current deficiencies in the available social, community and common-use infrastructure in the East Kimberley.
Presented by Department of Regional Development and Lands, WA
This session will outline the findings from a National Water Commission project which trialled a suite of tools to improve the legitimacy, efficiency and transparency of water allocation and management planning in Australia. The tools and learnings from each locations and the final synthesis presentation will show how the lessons learnt in these studies have contributed to the development of best-practice tools to address gaps in the delivery of NWI compliant water plans.
Presented by Griffith University
The Swan Canning Research and Innovation Program focuses priority research on key river science relevant to improved management of the Swan Canning Riverpark. This session will provide: an overview of the program and related research; presentations of results from researchers investigating catchment and estuary processes; and factors affecting fish and aquatic fauna.
For further information including speakers and topics, click here.
Presented by Swan River Trust
The Native Fish Strategy is a long term plan to rehabilitate the Murray-Darling Basin’s native fish populations. Demonstration reaches involve multiple management actions for rehabilitation of native fish populations. Their scope and multiple partnerships with community, government and private industry provide a focus for wide ranging stakeholder involvement, ownership and empowerment.
For further information including speakers and topics, click here.
Presented by Fisheries Queensland, a service of Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
The session will focus on the management of large rivers and will provide insight into which elements have been important in achieving successful intergovernmental cooperation and effective water management. The experiences of commissions managing large rivers will be shared. The elements of achieving success in differing cultural and geographic circumstances including the key institutional arrangements and organisational methods will be examined.
For further information including speakers and topics, click here.
Presented by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
This session will present a range of strategies for anticipating extinctions through understanding climate change threats and monitoring programs to mark and identify fragmented populations. Methods effective towards preventing these extinctions include techniques for rearing endangered species, captive breeding programs, restocking programs, conservation genetics and molecular tools.
Presented by Western Australian Fisheries
The future development of Pilbara water resources will play an important role in the region’s economic diversification. $2.5 million was allocated under the Pilbara Revitalisation Plan to further explore and test “on the ground” pilot projects on the use/reuse of water abstracted pre, during and post mining operations and ground and surface water supplementation. The focus was on projects that create secondary economies such as agriculture, silviculture, aquaculture, tourism and recreational development and Indigenous capacity building within the Pilbara hinterland.
For further information including speakers and topics,click here.
Presented by the Department of Regional Development and Lands, WA
This session will explore how to engage the hearts and minds of the many people involved with river management. Featuring Perth’s Swan Canning river system, presentations from a range of urban and rural project partners will demonstrate what it takes to keep best-practice actions happening to meet long-term objectives and effect real change.
For further information including speakers and topics, click here.
Presented by Swan River Trust
Groundwater resources are being increasingly used and committed for irrigation, mining and public water supply. However groundwater use can have significant effects on surface water, ecosystems as well as on the aquifer material itself. Groundwater depletion, especially in arid areas can take generations to be recovered. This session will present a range of thought provoking perspectives on how our current groundwater management challenges are being dealt with and will explore emerging threats to sustainable groundwater use. Specific challenges around climate change and cumulative impacts will be covered.
Presented by SKM
This session will examine the development of Australia's water markets. Well developed water markets help ensure that water can move to where it is most valued, including where it is used for the environment. The session will examine the reforms undertaken to facilitate water trade, the outcomes to date, and what lessons can be learnt from the reform process. The session will include a panel discussion that will bring together a range of perspectives on these issues about reform in the context of improving the sustainability of water use.
Presented by the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Enquiries
If you have any questions regarding the 2010 program or any other general enquiries please contact the Riversymposium Office.
Carla Mathisen
Event Producer
T +61 (0)7 3123 7766 ext 202
F +61 (0)7 3103 4574
F +61 (0)7 3103 4574