Science helps us track how plants and animals respond to watering actions. It also helps us track water quality and flow in the Border Rivers and Moonie Valleys.
Lessons learnt
Monitoring, evaluation and research shows us what's working and what's not. This knowledge helps us manage water for the environment in real-time and in the future.
Native fish
The Border Rivers are home to many fish species that act as population sources for other rivers. These species include:
- Murray cod
- freshwater catfish
- purple-spotted gudgeon
- olive perchlet.
The Severn River has a distinct fish community, including silver perch. However, monitoring in late-2021 revealed there wasn't enough fish recruitment and an absence of small-bodied fish.
Silver perch may be spawning in the Severn, but there is little proof they are surviving. This species wasn't found in the Dumaresq or the Macintyre rivers.
Low flow events and water deliveries in the Dumaresq and Severn rivers in 2017 saw a range of benefits. This included:
- greater numbers of young Murray cod
- greater numbers of unspecked hardyhead and Murray–Darling rainbowfish
- greater numbers of carp gudgeon
- improved freshwater catfish nests, breeding and growth.
In the Dumaresq River, we've mapped key fish habitat like undercut banks (Murray cod nests) and woody snags. Monitoring has helped us know how much water needs to cover aquatic plant beds so small fish can lay eggs.
In the Moonie, long and deep waterholes are crucial for keeping native fish alive between flows. When waterholes connect back up in wet periods, fish can travel up to 70 kilometres.
The Moonie is also a source of golden perch populations.
Connectivity and refuges
The Moonie River provides key inflows to the Barwon–Darling during natural flow events.
The Moonie River has around 8.8% of refuge waterholes that remain wet even during peak drought. This is less than the Border Rivers at 22%, but more than catchments further west such as Warrego and Paroo.
Summer connectivity events from the Border Rivers can also support refuge pools and connect the Barwon–Darling.
Waterbirds
Various wetlands and waterholes of the Border Rivers support internationally, nationally and state significant waterbirds such as:
- Brolgas
- Australian painted snipe
- Black-necked stork
- Magpie geese.
The Moonie catchment also provides habitat to several protected species of birds, including the Australian painted snipe and the freckled duck.
CEWH science
We support several projects through our CEWH science programs.
In the Border Rivers and Moonie Valleys, we work on these projects with:
- state departments
- the Murray-Darling Basin Authority
- scientists
- First Nations people
- local community.
Flow-MER Program publications
On-ground activities for the Flow-MER Program are underway. Read the Border, Barwon and Namoi science publications containing detailed information on the monitoring, evaluation and research activities planned for 2024-2029, including updates and reports.
You can also visit the Flow-MER website to learn more about monitoring in the Border, Barwon and Namoi Area.